I'm a senior in high school, and I was honestly flabbergasted when my teacher (who at times is quite leftist) told us that we're reading this book (and surprisingly, one of her favorites). I've only read two chapters so far but it's clear that I can already see some parallels between the USA and the World State (lack of education, nobody reads books anymore, consumerism, thought police) and it made me wonder why it hasn't been banned yet. Most people say that Orwell (or in these times oh-well) was right, but I think that both Huxley and Orwell were right. The United States (and Europe and such) is a Huxlian society transitioning to Orwellian while more anti-democratic countries (China) are the opposite. What are your guys' thoughts on this? Are we truly a captive culture?
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scvoon ago
I think it's notable that you picked up on how supposedly "anti-democratic" China seems to be becoming less Orwellian compared to the United States.
Here's the thing about Chinese government control...at least they're honest about it. Everyone knows they're being watched, and for better or worse, they know propaganda for what it is.
Compare this to the USA where social control is maintained through a kind of double-speak mental conditioning while the government espouses freedom and liberty.
A lot of people will disagree, but I've been starting to believe that once China establishes economic world domination, it will end up becoming the example of personal liberty that America always touted itself to be.