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Post by Ammy Fae on Nov 11, 2008 20:45:04 GMT -5
A copy of George Orwell's prophetic novel 'Nineteen Eighty-Four' to every Member of Parliament. The books will be inscribed with the words, 'This book was a warning, not a blueprint'. thejournal.parker-joseph.co.uk/blog/_archives/2008/11/4/3962135.htmlDo you think this will effect - or, god forbid, change - the views of the members of Parliament, or go unnoticed? Do you think the old, elitist men will actually pick it up to read it or toss it to the trash? Finally, do you think this is a bad or good thing to do - will it have the opposite effect and give them ideas or make them a bit more cautious with their Big Brother attitudes?
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Post by ladytera on Nov 12, 2008 0:29:39 GMT -5
I don't know what the impact will be, but it might not be a bad idea to send copies to all our elected officials here as well, perhaps along with a copy of the constitution with their job descriptions highlighted.
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Raivynn
Journeyman
...my winter storm
Posts: 187
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Post by Raivynn on Nov 12, 2008 14:20:18 GMT -5
Maybe it's the cynical side of me, but I doubt many would take any heed to Orwells words at all. In fact I'm sure some of our politicians on both sides of the pond have read the book, they've just paid no attention to the message behind it.
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Post by ladytera on Nov 12, 2008 20:13:04 GMT -5
I gotta say I agree, to an extent. I think some of our leaders on both sides of the pond have read it and taken it as gospel on how best to run a government. That's not cynical, that's just a reality check. 'Twoud behoove us all to make all students read it, and explain that it's not a good thing.
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Raivynn
Journeyman
...my winter storm
Posts: 187
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Post by Raivynn on Nov 13, 2008 12:06:57 GMT -5
It was one of our required reading in High School. Though I have no idea what students are reading now in our schools.
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Post by Ammy Fae on Nov 13, 2008 15:45:42 GMT -5
I had to read it my Sophomore year, but I'm homeschooled so that's a different story. A lot of my friends in other schools DON'T have to read it[though The Jungle is still required reading], though I've heard that some specific teachers assign it to their classes regardless of school policy.
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Raivynn
Journeyman
...my winter storm
Posts: 187
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Post by Raivynn on Nov 13, 2008 18:18:14 GMT -5
With the exception of the Lord of the Rings (inc: Silmarillion & Hobbit). 1984 is my all time favourite book. Everyone should read it, hell if I could find my copy I'd re-read it. I'm so grateful that our High School had it as part of the English lessons.
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Post by ladytera on Nov 13, 2008 18:43:17 GMT -5
They used to require it when I was in High School, but there wasn't much discussion on the history of when it was written and what the author was trying to illustrate. It was sort of treated as an impossible science fiction type story, rather than a warning against the creep of government control. I need to get a copy again and re-read it myself. I haven't read it since high school, and it was one of the better books I'd read as well.
These days, it wouldn't surprise me if it treated as delusional fantasy by any teachers that are required to teach it, and that's a little infuriating. So many of the early signs of that kind of oppression are present in so many supposedly "free" nations around the world, it's frightening that kids aren't being taught in depth on the themes and the context the book was written in.
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