June 18, 2004
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Doublespeak is alive and well in the twenty-first century.
Greyfox and I had a pleasant though brief conversation with a young
woman who was behind us in the checkout line at the supermarket last
night. It started when she overheard him telling me about a
recent amazing revelation from the Dubya administration. By
imperial fiat, batter-breaded frozen french fries are now officially a
fresh vegetable. Dontcha just love it?My response to him was, “…and George Orwell is giggling in his grave: doublespeak.”
The young woman, grinning broadly, caught my eye and said she had just finished reading 1984.
She said she had to order it through interlibrary loan because the
local library didn’t have it. She went on to say that it amazed
her how many of the things that had been future-fantasy when Orwell
wrote the book were present reality now. We were all in general
agreement that it’s a great book.Greyfox told her if she liked Orwell, she’d love Brave New World
or anything else by Aldous Huxley. She made a note and vowed to
check it out. Such intergenerational moments help restore a
little of my hope for the future. The whole world isn’t asleep.
Comments (9)
wow…I absolutely LOVE A Brave New World. I was the ONLY person in my AP English class to actually read anything over the summer, and that was one of the 10 books I read. Not overachieving, just bored and not wanting to swelter in the intense heat. I don’t know how many times I’ve read that book. All I know is I’ve had 2 copies. The first one fell apart.
..shadow..
Every time I think it is, a student does something to remind me that it isn’t. Today, one of the biggest thorns in my side all year shook my hand and thanked me for teaching him.
I believe the printed word should be forgiven
Doesn’t matter what it said
Wisdom hotline from the dead back to the living
Key to the larder for your heart and head
[..]
I believe the printed word is more than sacred
Beyond the gauge of good or bad
The human right to let your soul fly free and naked
Above the violence of the fearful and sad
-XTC, ‘Books Are Burning’
Speaking of Huxley: ‘Brave New World’ is the disease, ‘Island’ is the cure.
Good to know. A recent visit by my son, a high school teacher of honor class, said that he gave them a think question to solve at the first of the year…no one could think it through. He was apalled. He is making it his goal to get our programmed children to use their minds again!
Brave New World is one of my favorite books!
I read “Island” by Aldous Huxley. Then I read “Dynasty’s Burning Passion” by Danielle Steele. Hee-hee, kidding about the second one. But if you haven’t read the first one, read it!
I love 1984. Have you ever seen the 50s movie of the book? I really like the cartoon version of Animal Farm too…
ok… I just found a copy of that George Orwell book 1884 in a box that was buried in my garage today….
wierd… it was the only book I decided to keep out of the bunch….
I loved that book.