Marching Toward “1984”

          In his famous novel entitled “1984” first published in 1949, George Orwell attempted to imagine what the world would look like in 40 years if the global political trend toward authoritarianism accompanied by exclusive & total government control of communications technology were to dominate national and global politics.  There is one “hero” in the novel named Winston Smith who tries vainly to hold on to his independence in the face of this governmental system of total control.

         One writer describes the novel  this way: “Winston Smith wrestles with oppression in “Oceania” ( a fictional name for America), a place where the Party scrutinizes human actions with ever-watchful Big Brother. Defying a ban on individuality, Winston dares to express his thoughts in a diary and pursues a relationship with Julia. These criminal deeds bring Winston into the eye of the opposition, who then must reform the nonconformist.

         Today the rise of Authoritarianism in many parts of our world, including the growth of fascist-like forces in America,  including right-wing “Trumpism” pose threats to constitutional Democracy and give some substance to Orwell’s warning. Are we Americans unconcernedly “Marching toward “1984”?