Re-reading George Orwell’s ‘1984’

In the days that followed Trump's inauguration, George Orwell’s magnum opus “1984” became the best-selling book of any genre on Amazon. While some literature helps us make sense of our current world, others foreshadow a reality we can’t yet imagine. It is impossible to discuss authoritarianism, surveillance, and the manipulation of the truth without invoking “1984” or Orwell’s name. The book is full of lessons that can help us to understand our political world today — from book bans to “alternative facts.” Williams Professor James McAllister and “Boy Erased” author Garrard Conely join Ali Velshi to discuss the book’s relevance today. “One of the ways that you check against fundamentalist thoughts is you have to be open to challenging your own beliefs and listening to your own side and criticizing your own side when that happens,” Conely says. 


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#1984 #GeorgeOrwell #BannedBooks

[janbrittingham]

Thankful that I grew up in a society (and the school) where Animal Farm and 1984 were actually on reading curriculum and discussed openly.
learned how to consider- weigh possibilities & outcomes - alternate worlds- think.
We discussed government, we discussed religion. No one blackballed the teachers pulled us from classes. No one tried to convert us. In fact, we were encouraged to voice our questions and our opinions (with our young minds & limited experiences) we discussed what led us to have discussions in differing thoughts. LEARNING . THINKING.

[chelittle]

George Orwell especially 1984 is not only a must read but a must have for anybody's personal library. I will even to go as far as to say it is a must have in all high school history and government civics class. Sorry English lit of course you need it too.

[alexaales]

growing up in the 80s in germany at the height of the cold war, 'the day after' comes to mind, i decided to read '1984', 'fahrenheit 451' and 'brave new world' back to back. boy, did that freak me out, as if that aforementioned movie wasn't enough, right? but i'm glad i did, these books are ever so relevant these days! the fact that '1984' was or is banned in some places is frightening and also telling, it should be a MUST read! so is 'animal farm'!

[StephenFlynn-xlfw]

The act of writing 1984 was itself heroic, since Orwell was literally dying of tuberculosis at the time. in letters he describes the tremendous difficulty he had in maintaining concentration.

[brianmelendy]

Always question authority. Always consider a different POV. Always challenged your own beliefs. Read banned books.

[charlesbrowne]

Power is the power to inflict pain. If you’re not inflicting pain, you do not really know if you have power.
- George Orwell

This explains the behavior of tyrants everywhere.

[mky]

Don't forget, Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury...

[michaelvaladez]

This book was banned..a sign of Big Brother looming overhead...I had read this in high school it was assigned reading and we had a debate about it..critical thinking

[kevinmcconnell]

I was in 6th grade when I read “animal farm”, I learned everything I needed to know about government, and how some move toward authoritarianism!!

[brentharrington]

In times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act.

[micheleconner]

I remember reading this book when I was in 8th grade. It fascinated me, and I'd shake my head at some of the 💩that was happening! Here we are, so many years later living the book! How prophetic Orwell was!

[janetmckenzie]

Thank you, Ali Velshi, for highlighting these banned books that were crucial to understanding the dangers of absolute government control. The banning of these books in high school libraries is distressing, but what is very disturbing is the banning of these books from public libraries. So much for the statement, if you want your children to read these books outside of school, you can do it yourself. Not if the books are banned from the public library--not everyone can afford to buy the ever accumulating stack of banned books. Are bookstores next? I fear for them.

[mikecaetano]

"Then the face of Big Brother faded away again, and instead the three slogans of the Party stood out in bold capitals: WAR IS PEACE, FREEDOM IS SLAVERY, IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH. But the face of Big Brother seemed to persist for several seconds on the screen, as though the impact that it had made on everyone's eyeballs was too vivid to wear off immediately." --George Orwell, Nineteen Eighty-Four (1949)

[crispincoque]

'The lie passed into history and became Truth Social.'

- George Orwell

[TheYorkjosh]

“The truth is treason in an empire of lies”

[Serai]

The reason Orwell titled the book "Nineteen Eighty-Four" and NOT "1984" was that he was very adamant that people not take the book as a prediction, but as a _warning._ And he was right. The book got reprinted with "1984" as the title, and when the year came and went, everybody heaved a big sigh of relief and decided the danger was over. Big big big mistake.

[brentchattin]

You might want to read another novel by Sinclair Lewis written before 1984, "It Can't Happen Here." This depicts a populist takeover of America set in the 1930s. When there were a lot of fascist sympathizers among the very wealthy, including Henry Ford, who was also an anti-Semite. And really lays out a more realistic scenario for a MAGA takeover in America today than the unexplained takeover by Big Brother. But also lays out the collapse of that autocracy when people become dissatisfied and another equally autocratic group replaces the first one. I think given what Trump and MAGA have stood for, "It Can't Happen Here" is a more chilling and and accurate description of what MAGA and the Heritage Foundation plans ( which are getting very little publicity by news organizations) if Trump is elected than "1984" or "Brave New World" are. And shows how easy it can be for it to happen here if you have a complacent, poorly informed public.

[michaelburk]

Great segment. 1984 has stayed relevant since the day it was written.
Totalitarianism is a constant factor in every nation and culture.
The pull of surrendering one's will and thoughts to another. Its easy and simple.

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood is another book that intemately portrays the reality of totalitarianism.

[terrencekane]

"The party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command." --- Orwell, 1984.
George Orwell was a prophet. Vote Blue.

[carmencolon]

It's so strange but I graduated from an all girls Catholic High School and 1984 was part of my required reading. The Right has gone off the rails