Hey Cyberspace. It's another beautiful day in Halifax.
Today's topic is another that is borne of my reading of 1984. I'm sorry I just can't help it...there were a few themes in the book that really stuck with me...and this one is by far the scariest - history.
I've long been a supporter of the idea that both individuals and society must learn from their mistakes in order to move forward. We must use past mistakes as a template of what not to do. After all...trial and error will eventually give a workable solution to any problem as long as time and resources are available.
Having said that, it is extremely easy to make the argument that we as a society haven't learned anything from past civilizations. While we say we live in a democratic society, we live more in a world of corporatism. While this exact model hasn't necessarily been used before, the inherent problems that have ruined entire Empires (such as the Romans) still exist. The power and influence lies in the hands of a few...and those few are easily convinced to go against the wishes of the many. So have we really learned?
I don't know...but I also can't say for sure that the Romans ever even existed. I'm told that they did...I'm told that there is lots of evidence. But how do I know for sure? I don't write the history books. I don't have any connection to the people that do. And this is what's scary. I can sift through every single website on the internet and every book in the library that have to do with any subject - but I can't prove that those words are true. I mean, how could we ever learn from a society that never existed? Interesting thought if nothing else.
"And if all others accepted the lie which the Party imposed – if all
records told the same tale – then the lie passed into history and became
truth. "Who controls the past," ran the Party slogan, "controls the
future: who controls the present controls the past." That is a quote from 1984...Book 1, Chapter 3, Paragraph 18.
It's a scary principle. I've done a lot of research into a lot of different things. After reading 1984, I began to question the very facts and ideas that have formed my personality. The idea that everything I know is completely manufactured...it scares the shit out of me.
Of course, I don't believe that our leaders have gone to such extremes at present (although I can't say so for sure)...but I can definitely see it happening in the future. I guess that my education concerning Public Relations is the reason that this idea bothers me so much. PR involves picking and choosing which information to release and when to release it...once the flow of information becomes controlled, how far are we really off of completely altering the facts? While I will concede that withholding the truth is not necessarily the same as lying, it becomes a very fine line - a line that will eventually be crossed.
While the internet remains an invaluable resource and forum for free thought and expression, legislation such as the SOPA bill in the US even being proposed show that our leaders are nervous about the spread of unedited and unfiltered information. And yes, I am aware that the SOPA bill's goal was to stop copyright infringement (yeah right)...but if I'm not mistaken, if passed it would have given the government the power to shut down ANY website.
The idea is scary...the "tangible" evidence for the enactment of such an idea is even scarier.
Just a few thoughts that I had to get out.
Peace and Love
The Critical Stranger
As always thoughts, comments and suggestions are encouraged and appreciated!
I just had to share this idea.
