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ORIGINAL: MarsBonfire

1984 was Orwell's "science fiction" treatment of Stalin's Russia. (Hint: "Animal Farm" isn't about agricultural practices, either.) As such, the nightmares he told about are somewhat out of date.

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ORIGINAL: MarsBonfire
No, if you want the American version of "1984" you need to just go down to your local video palace, or to your Netflix cue (rentals of which are also monitored by Homeland Security, BTW, alsong with your library check outs and credit card purchases) and take a look at the movie of Margret Atwood's "A Handmaid's Tale."

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ORIGINAL: colouredin

I loved that book, i read it then brave new world right after, I have to say brave new world scared me more, i guess the reason was consciousness, 1984 everyone is aware of the fear and that is what keeps them alive, brave new world they are so drugged up they have no clue about the inequalities among them, that terrified me.

It is amazing how much of what 1984 is a reality today, however i dont think that it is urgent that the younger folks absorb the deeper meaning of orwell. Its a fantastic book and I would recomend it to anyone with an interest in politics, sociology, philosophy or a good read. However though there are links between the book and now its important to not over stress them, which is something I think that many can do.

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ORIGINAL: slaveluci

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ORIGINAL: MarsBonfire
No, if you want the American version of "1984" you need to just go down to your local video palace, or to your Netflix cue (rentals of which are also monitored by Homeland Security, BTW, alsong with your library check outs and credit card purchases) and take a look at the movie of Margret Atwood's "A Handmaid's Tale."

Just an aside here:  I love a good conspiracy theory as much or more than the next guy but, as a librarian, I must tell you that Homeland Security really doesn't "monitor" your check outs like so many people think.  By law, your library patron record is private and we are bound to not even discuss it with your family members, let alone the government.  If, for some wild reason, the "government" does become interested in your library usage (and what we have seen is that usually involves library computer usage, not book checkouts), they must have an official subpeona, specifying exactly what they are looking for if they approach library management.   They absolutely cannot just come in on a "fishing" expedition and look around.

Those of us in library management take your privacy very seriously and there have already been instances of library personnel willing to go to jail rather than violate that.  I'm sure the "government" would love to have a big snoop around but, as long as there are dedicated libary staff devoted to protecting patron rights, they're going to have to follow the rules...............luci

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ORIGINAL: Araven

Another good book along these lines is "A Handmaids Tale".. same theme. 

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Hand

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ORIGINAL: MarsBonfire

1984 was Orwell's "science fiction" treatment of Stalin's Russia. (Hint: "Animal Farm" isn't about agricultural practices, either.) As such, the nightmares he told about are somewhat out of date.

No, if you want the American version of "1984" you need to just go down to your local video palace, or to your Netflix cue (rentals of which are also monitored by Homeland Security, BTW, alsong with your library check outs and credit card purchases) and take a look at the movie of Margret Atwood's "A Handmaid's Tale."

Loss of liberties, the US as a theocracy, gays being hung on street corners for "gender treason" ...all a wet dream of Christian conservative republicans.

Thank God the majority of us said no to a third Bush term by proxy.