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allegorical oracle

(6,139 posts)
Mon Apr 7, 2025, 08:19 AM Apr 2025

And now for a few words of warning from George Orwell's 1984

“How does one man assert his power over another, Winston?“

Winston thought. “By making him suffer”, he said.

“Exactly. By making him suffer. Obedience is not enough. Unless he is suffering, how can you be sure that he is obeying your will and not his own? Power is in inflicting pain and humiliation. Power is in tearing human minds to pieces and putting them together again in new shapes of your own choosing.
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“Every record has been destroyed or falsified, every book rewritten, every picture has been repainted, every statue and street building has been renamed, every date has been altered. And the process is continuing day by day and minute by minute. History has stopped."
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“Now I will tell you the answer to my question. It is this. The Party seeks power entirely for its own sake. We are not interested in the good of others; we are interested solely in power, pure power.

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And now for a few words of warning from George Orwell's 1984 (Original Post) allegorical oracle Apr 2025 OP
History is being erased as we speak Easterncedar Apr 2025 #1
They'll just get rid of that annoying little treatise and any Tadpole Raisin Apr 2025 #2
Except they'll keep it, it's their playbook. Ligyron Apr 2025 #7
If they haven't already banned it from being taught. llmart Apr 2025 #9
I've just been re-reading 1984 radical noodle Apr 2025 #3
I've just begun reading it for the third time. StarryNite Apr 2025 #4
For the young'uns here... WinstonSmith4740 Apr 2025 #5
Wow! That's pretty neat! Thanks for sharing. KPN Apr 2025 #16
"How many fingers am i holding up, Winston?" rubbersole Apr 2025 #26
'How can I help seeing what is in front of my eyes? Two and two are four. WinstonSmith4740 Apr 2025 #28
tsf's bimbo press secretary says five... rubbersole Apr 2025 #31
Yes. How DARE we question Press Secretary Barbie? WinstonSmith4740 Apr 2025 #33
In our public Jr. High DENVERPOPS Apr 2025 #30
Chilling! some_of_us_are_sane Apr 2025 #6
Read it years ago. Re-reading. Thanks, allegorical oracle. wordstroken Apr 2025 #8
Happily done. Seems so meaningful, now. allegorical oracle Apr 2025 #13
And there's this one: Charlie Chapulin Apr 2025 #10
Can I copy that to BlueSky? Nictuku Apr 2025 #11
By all means -- allegorical oracle Apr 2025 #14
I read it for the first time recently LittleGirl Apr 2025 #12
I think I was 18 when I read it Nictuku Apr 2025 #15
Also, a revisionist history warning from "1984," and I paraphrase somewhat .. Bo Zarts Apr 2025 #17
Brian Tyler Cohen explains this perfectly Owens Apr 2025 #18
Also from George Orwell. . Stargleamer Apr 2025 #19
There are two ways of reading 1984. markodochartaigh Apr 2025 #20
No-one ever needed to read Orwell for a plan. All they had to do was read accounts the Third Reich, Mao's Cultural Martin68 Apr 2025 #23
Good point. I see it as a warning about a plan. nt allegorical oracle Apr 2025 #34
Latest edition is called Plan 2025 thought crime Apr 2025 #35
Brilliant man. We ignore his prophecies at our own peril. People turned him onto a cliche, but now they will understand Martin68 Apr 2025 #21
1984 is a banned book in my local school district Clouds Passing Apr 2025 #22
Animal Farm is also good to read mdbl Apr 2025 #24
"Some animals are more equal than others.." Permanut Apr 2025 #38
2084: The End of the World EricL Apr 2025 #25
How on earth did the Fourth Estate pillage itself? SleeplessinSoCal Apr 2025 #27
Newspeek is how our society communicates. Doc_Technical Apr 2025 #29
How long Cherokee100 Apr 2025 #32
"Bwaaa ha ha ha ha." - Satan (R) BoRaGard Apr 2025 #36
Nothing about this on Truth Social thought crime Apr 2025 #37
Ionesco Paul-EM Apr 2025 #39
painting Paul-EM Apr 2025 #40
I have read "1984" three times Larissa Apr 2025 #41
"Power is in inflicting pain and humiliation." calimary Apr 2025 #42
Another 1984 quote: anamnua Apr 2025 #43
In 1984 the world was divided into three spheres: anamnua Apr 2025 #44

Easterncedar

(5,422 posts)
1. History is being erased as we speak
Mon Apr 7, 2025, 08:22 AM
Apr 2025

The thought of the Smithsonian being pillaged by these racist goons fills me with rage.

Tadpole Raisin

(1,889 posts)
2. They'll just get rid of that annoying little treatise and any
Mon Apr 7, 2025, 08:24 AM
Apr 2025

Discussion or movie associated with it.

And if you prevent schools from discussing the subject through threat of termination or jail , well - Problem solved!

llmart

(17,302 posts)
9. If they haven't already banned it from being taught.
Mon Apr 7, 2025, 10:13 AM
Apr 2025

It wouldn't surprise me if they started book burnings any day now.

radical noodle

(10,468 posts)
3. I've just been re-reading 1984
Mon Apr 7, 2025, 09:17 AM
Apr 2025

I notice so much more in the book now than I did years ago when I first read it.

StarryNite

(11,965 posts)
4. I've just begun reading it for the third time.
Mon Apr 7, 2025, 09:21 AM
Apr 2025

The last time I read it was many years ago. I have a feeling I will notice a lot more this time too since we are actually living it now.

WinstonSmith4740

(3,412 posts)
5. For the young'uns here...
Mon Apr 7, 2025, 09:41 AM
Apr 2025

Go read the book. I started reading it in college (late 60's), got about 2/3 through and thought, "Well, obvious condemnation of authoritarianism as practiced by the Soviet Union, but this is America. This will never happen here." Put it down, because I had finals to study for.

Picked it up again IN 1984, with Reagan in office, and it scared the hell out of me.

So when I first found DU back in it's early days, my screen name was a no brainer.

WinstonSmith4740

(3,412 posts)
28. 'How can I help seeing what is in front of my eyes? Two and two are four.
Mon Apr 7, 2025, 12:29 PM
Apr 2025

It was always 4, regardless of what O'Brien said. We have to remember that, because the Rethugs keep insisting it's five.

WinstonSmith4740

(3,412 posts)
33. Yes. How DARE we question Press Secretary Barbie?
Mon Apr 7, 2025, 01:41 PM
Apr 2025

Expecially with this critical thinking bullshit. It's so...Democratic.

DENVERPOPS

(13,003 posts)
30. In our public Jr. High
Mon Apr 7, 2025, 12:31 PM
Apr 2025

here in Denver, 8th grade, 1962 we had a teacher for social studies who was an absolute FANATIC about us learning every last thing about the history of the U.S. and we had to MEMORIZE the bill of rights, the amendments, the intro to the Gettysburg address, the preamble to the constitution, etc etc.
He then assigned us outside reading, which we were tested on......1984, Animal Farm, The Jungle, and The Ugly American.....
(He almost got FIRED for those reading assignments!!!!!!) And he was devout Old Guard Republican, believe it or not.....I am sure he is rolling over in his grave right now as so many of the Old, True, Republicans........

These "Powers To Be", have eradicated Civics, and meaningful history classes, including world history, AND most certainly, American history....creating a population of citizens with a "Three Day News Cycle Memory". Including Members of the U.S. House and U.S. Senate....... People who have learned to memorize the facts only long enough to take that week's test, and then forgotten..........

I have seen an article on how med students are learning "Studying To Take The Tests" but are not RETAINING it long term, and are having to CRAM BIG TIME when it comes to taking/passing their NATIONAL MEDICAL BOARDS......

I see it in my grand kid's friends........if you ask them a question about something they should definitely know, about anything,, they grab their iPhone to look up the answer...

If you want to challenge a MAGAot who is coming at you......try this.....it shuts them up every time:
I ask them if they can tell me how many U.S. Senators there are? Then I immediately ask them if they can tell me how many U.S. House Members there are and how many are from each state and does that number ever change? Then I ask them if they can tell me how many U.S. Supreme Court Justices there are, and how they each lean, left or right????

It shuts them up every single time, even the ones with College Degrees or Master degrees....

It goes a long ways to explaining how Rural Colorado elected Bang-Bang Boebert, who didn't have a high school degree...And prior to her trying to get elected had to take the GED test THREE TIMES, or how the Republican Party could make Sarah Palin a VP Candidate....

Charlie Chapulin

(371 posts)
10. And there's this one:
Mon Apr 7, 2025, 10:19 AM
Apr 2025

Who controls the past, controls
the future: who controls the present, controls the past.

LittleGirl

(8,939 posts)
12. I read it for the first time recently
Mon Apr 7, 2025, 10:47 AM
Apr 2025

the whole book shouted "this is IQ45's world" it frightened me and I have never recovered.

Nictuku

(4,529 posts)
15. I think I was 18 when I read it
Mon Apr 7, 2025, 10:59 AM
Apr 2025

Since that is over 40 years ago, I think I might need to read it again.

Bo Zarts

(26,248 posts)
17. Also, a revisionist history warning from "1984," and I paraphrase somewhat ..
Mon Apr 7, 2025, 11:00 AM
Apr 2025

He who controls the history of the past, controls the future. He who controls the present, controls the past.

Stargleamer

(2,587 posts)
19. Also from George Orwell. .
Mon Apr 7, 2025, 11:10 AM
Apr 2025

"We have now sunk to a depth at which restatement of the obvious is the first duty of intelligent men (sic). If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear. In times of universal deceit, telling the truth will be a revolutionary act."

Martin68

(26,942 posts)
23. No-one ever needed to read Orwell for a plan. All they had to do was read accounts the Third Reich, Mao's Cultural
Mon Apr 7, 2025, 11:44 AM
Apr 2025

Revolution, or Pol Pot's reign in Cambodia. Much more precise instructions for the would-be despot.

Martin68

(26,942 posts)
21. Brilliant man. We ignore his prophecies at our own peril. People turned him onto a cliche, but now they will understand
Mon Apr 7, 2025, 11:39 AM
Apr 2025

what he was describing.

Clouds Passing

(6,842 posts)
22. 1984 is a banned book in my local school district
Mon Apr 7, 2025, 11:41 AM
Apr 2025

I own and have read it several times. It was required reading when I was in 10th grade.

EricL

(105 posts)
25. 2084: The End of the World
Mon Apr 7, 2025, 11:56 AM
Apr 2025

George Orwell's 1984 inspired Boualem Sansal's 2084: La Fin du Monde

Boualem Sansal is a French-Algerian writer currently imprisoned in Algeria for opposing the government.

2084 has been translated in English ; 2084: The End of the World.

Author : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boualem_Sansal

Book : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2084:_The_End_of_the_World

"Abistan, a vast empire, takes its name from the prophet Abi, Yölah's sole "delegate" on earth. His system is based on a collective amnesia and submission to the one God."

Worth reading IMHO

Cherokee100

(429 posts)
32. How long
Mon Apr 7, 2025, 01:21 PM
Apr 2025

How long before, 'Benedict donald'/draft dogger' turns the Whitehouse, into one for his sleazy hotels?

thought crime

(1,145 posts)
37. Nothing about this on Truth Social
Mon Apr 7, 2025, 03:54 PM
Apr 2025

I haven't seen one Truth on Ministry of Truth Social that mentions this so-called novel.

Paul-EM

(34 posts)
39. Ionesco
Mon Apr 7, 2025, 08:34 PM
Apr 2025

In 1959, Eugene Ionesco wrote "Rhinoceros," a play about a town whose inhabitants steadily become rhinoceroses (fascists or totalitarians). Great art never loses its relevance. The play can be seen on YouTube.

Larissa

(793 posts)
41. I have read "1984" three times
Mon Apr 7, 2025, 09:53 PM
Apr 2025

In these days it is no longer a work of fiction. Orwell knew it was coming.

calimary

(88,861 posts)
42. "Power is in inflicting pain and humiliation."
Tue Apr 8, 2025, 12:42 AM
Apr 2025

Well, that sounds like the donald and the dream he'd be holding close to his heart (if he had one).

anamnua

(1,493 posts)
43. Another 1984 quote:
Tue Apr 8, 2025, 02:25 AM
Apr 2025

Last edited Tue Apr 8, 2025, 05:07 AM - Edit history (1)

“The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.”

anamnua

(1,493 posts)
44. In 1984 the world was divided into three spheres:
Tue Apr 8, 2025, 02:28 AM
Apr 2025

Oceania, Eurasia, and Eastasia.
Now we have the Trumpshere, the Putinsphere, and the Xisphere.

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