1984

As we usher in a new year, it's only human nature that our thoughts drift to the past yet speculate about the future. I was eerily reminded of this recently after glancing at novelist George Orwell's 1949 masterwork, 1984.

Barely in my twenties and UPI's Iowa and Nebraska Newspictures Bureau Manager, in 1984, I recall generally pleasant times symbolized by our nation's first female Vice Presidential candidate and a renewed interest in our space program, not to mention my first hot air balloon ride and some awfully hot weather! To me, Orwell's vision of a depressing totalitarian society was simply preposterous.








But twenty-three years worth of sobering reflection later, now I seriously wonder if Orwell possessed psychic powers after all. Just contemplate these "predictions" from his book and consider their accuracy or relevancy today(courtesy of www.newspeakdictionary.com):

1984: Newspeak
Today: Politically correct speech

1984: Telescreens in every room. The programming runs 24 hours a day and the proles have no way of turning their screens off.
Today: Televisions in every room. The programming runs 24 hours a day and the proles rarely turn their screens off.

1984: Lotteries with very few(if any)winners, held just to collect income for the state and to give hope to the masses.
Today: Lotteries with very few(if any)winners, held just to collect income for the state and to give hope to the masses.

1984: Ministry of Peace
Today: Department of Defense

1984: People are steered away from consuming rare goods such as chocolate, steak, sugar, coffee, cigarettes, and alcohol by rationing.
Today: People are steered away from consuming rare goods such as chocolate, steak, sugar, coffee, cigarettes, and alcohol by warnings that declare these items are bad for your health.

1984: There is always war. If peace is made with one country, war is claimed on another nation to keep the military machine rolling.
Today: There is always war. If peace is made with one country, war is claimed(or threatened)on another nation to keep the military machine rolling.

1984: Songs are created by machines. This is done to make sure nobody can take credit for songs, or write songs not in line with Ingsoc.
Today: Songs are created by synthesizers. Nobody can realistically take credit for their own songs because most are re-mixes or a collage of dubs from other people's music.

In 2007, that's some food for thought!