Big Brother is watching you"
This is written on red posters with Big Brother's face, stuck on every wall in the city of Oceania. Oceania’s population consists of 85% proles and 13% outer party members, who are collectively overseen by the 2% inner party members. While the proles are not subjected to surveillance, as they seemed similar to animals and mobs, easily swayed by the party’s propaganda, the outer party members are constantly watched by telescreens in each and every home. Even the citizens themselves spy on each other to make sure that no one is planning nor acting against Big Brother.
You might think that this is just fiction made out of nonsense. But these systems actually exist. For example Prism is a code name for a program in which the United States National Security Agency (NSA) collects internet communications from various U.S. internet companies to check what their citizens were doing on the internet. In China there is a mass surveillance system called Skynet. Skynet was launched in 2005, to gain information about their citizens. The Chinese Government revealed Skynet's existence in 2013 by which time the network included over 20 million cameras. This Proves that this society of Big Brother is almost like the society we live in today.
The government officials say that they are just collecting this information for safety. But are they really doing this for safety? But, absolute power corrupts absolutely. Sooner or later, someone’s bad idea for safety and security will become fear mongering, and then lead to totalitarian society. Are we really just one step before coming under the watchful eye of Big brother?
People do not want any invasion of privacy nor do they want to be controlled. For example, even when the government tries to work for you by providing vaccines, people instinctively suspect the government of drugging their bodies. Of course people have supported dictatorships in the past, but they have ultimately overcome it. The fact that they should be forced to follow someone’s order is for their own interests. When the government works against their interests, they will resist. Even if anyone powerful tries to rule them, they will not simply obey, by protesting or through political activities. In extreme cases, they will try to overthrow the government by riots and even risking civil war. There is ample evidence throughout history. From England’s glorious revolution, the French revolution, the war of American independence, and even recently, the overthrow of the Mubarak presidency in Egypt, called the Arab Spring.
Strength cannot rule over other people. Even if it does, it will only last for a very short time. To make people truly listen to you, obey you, and help you, you must listen to them first. Then they will do so too in return. There are thousands of civilians in a country or a society. They will quickly outnumber the government and the army even if they are well equipped with guns and weapons. It is impossible for a government to overpower the citizens. Never try to make people obey you. But lead them to a better future.
In 1984, Winston and Julia were eventually brainwashed and turned on each other. Is this the society we want to live in? People build up societies not the government. Government officials are just hired to work hard for these citizens, lead them, and care for them. We have to remember that citizens build societies not the government.
By Justin
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