1984

George Orwell wrote his famous book, 1984, in 1949. I read it in about 1970. It seemed pretty far-fetched when I read it. I remember smiling in satisfaction when 1984 actually came and went and life wasn’t at all like the book.

Fast forward to 2008.

In many cities, Big Brother is watching you. Security cameras are place on the street to monitor what is happening.

What amazes me most about today is the “Doublethink” that happens. Its definition is the act of holding two contradictory beliefs simultaneously, fervently believing both.

I see this a lot in peoples’ opinions about the media. You mention blatent sexuality on our television screens and they will tell you that the violence is worse, yet nothing seems to be done to curb it. It is increasing.

I think it’s pretty safe to say that the portrayal of violence and sex does influence our society in a bad way. If you doubt me, watch the women in many hip hop or rap videos. If you protest against this, you are met with those crying out that you are hurting artistic freedom. What happened to my artistic freedom and right to protest?

Some people have trouble eating meat because an animal is killed. Others have trouble supporting capital punishment because a life, which is not so innocent, is taken. Some of these same people will have no problem with somebody “choosing” to end a life of an unborn child merely because it is a girl. And these vegetarians committed to fighting against executing a criminal will feel fully justified with abortion for any reason including determining the sex of a child. Somehow the taking of a life is different when it is an unborn child. It’s OK, but please don’t kill a cow or a mass murderer.

To me it all comes down to this. You will believe whatever you want to believe to be true merely by believing it. You will be able to justify anything. Unfortunately, it appears to me that when you have no absolutes, you have absolutely nothing.