Why George Orwell's 1984 still matters, 70 years since publication
CBC Radio·
The Ministry of Truth is a nonfiction book by Dorian Lynskey. (Doubleday, Alexandra Dao)
George Orwell's dystopian classic 1984 was published 70 years ago, on June 8, 1949. The novel was an immediate success, selling more than a quarter of a million copies in the first six months and spending 20 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. A grim depiction of an authoritarian future, it was compared to an earthquake, a bundle of dynamite and the label on a bottle of poison.
1984 is the story of two lovers, Winston and Julia, set in a brutal state of fear, perpetual war, mass surveillance and distorted reality. It has inspired many adaptations, including a 1949 NBC radio drama, a 1954 BBC teleplay and a popular 1984 movie, starring John Hurt and Richard Burton.
In 2017, the expression "alternative facts"— used by the office of U.S. President Donald Trump — prompted renewed interest in 1984. At the same time, English writer and critic Dorian Lynskey was working on a new book about the novel.
In The Ministry of Truth: A Biography of George Orwell's 1984, Lynskey traces the events in Orwell's life that shaped the writing of 1984. He also explores the novel's immense cultural influence — on politics, language, music and advertising — and how its relevance has shifted over the decades. Dorian Lynskey spoke to Eleanor Wachtel from the CBC's London studio.
George Orwell, pseudonym of Eric Arthur Blair, was a British novelist and essayist, journalist and critic. (Penguin Canada)
An ode to Orwell
"The idea for this book came about because I was interested in the history of dystopias, but I didn't know exactly how these dystopian tropes evolved. My research took me back to the utopian fiction boom of the late 19th century. From there, I thought the way to tell that story is through 1984.
"My book, The Ministry of Truth, however, goes in a different direction and becomes much more interested in Orwell's biography. As a journalist, I was drawn to Orwell's essays and some of his other nonfiction."
"The book 1984is one that tends to have a visceral effect on the reader, especially when you're young. It's so bleak. It's so vivid. But there's so much information in it that you can't really process. It certainly introduced me to the genre, particularly since there wasn't a lot of popular young adult dystopian fiction at the time.
"It was my introduction to the idea of dark futures. Even now, it's the quintessential dark future. As an adult revisiting it, it's very rewarding to discover how rich and complicated the book is. It doesn't necessarily strike you that way the first time you read it."
As an adult revisiting 1984, it's very rewarding to discover how rich and complicated the book is. It doesn't necessarily strike you that way the first time you read it.
Orwellian thought process
"He was a uniquely gifted essayist because he was able to get across quite complex ideas with the utmost clarity. He had this particular voice where he always seemed like he was on your side; he was just writing what a 'normal common sense guy' would think if that 'normal common sense guy' was uncannily articulate. I did read everything he wrote: The Complete Works of George Orwell is a twenty-volume series, which is estimated to be around two million words. So there's a lot.
"I became very drawn to his honesty and his trying to tell the truth while being aware that you can never tell a purely objective truth. His quest was to constantly acknowledge his biases, understand his mistakes and always to think more clearly.
"That's inspiring as a writer. It's also inspiring as a citizen in politically difficult times. It's about the attempt to try and prevent your brain from lying to you, which is, of course, one of the great themes of Orwell's work and a theme of 1984 — how you deceive yourself without necessarily needing anybody else to do it for you."
A boy reads a book next to copies of British writer George Orwell's 1984 at Hong Kong's annual book fair on July 15, 2015. (Aaron Tam/Getty Images)
Dorian Lynskey's comments have been edited for length and clarity.
157 Comments Plus Deletions I could not save the comments of the other dudes because they were already gone when I refreshed the page but I saved most of mine then emailed Rotten Raphy and the RCMP et al
David Raymond Amos Methinks Ralph Goodale and his minions should have studied the comment section by now N'esy Pas?
David Raymond Amos Methinks Mr Prime Minister Trudeau The Younger must be proud of CBC today N'esy Pas?
Chris Halford
Reply to @David Raymond Amos: Why? Because Orwell was brilliant? This article has zero to do with Trudeau but a lot to do with the alternative facts guys on the right.
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Chris Halford: Methinks you should scroll down N'esy Pas?
Evan Mulligan
Reply to @David Raymond Amos: Pssst... it's actually "n'est-ce pas", which, roughly translated, means "strange, isn't it?"
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Evan Mulligan: Have you ever heard the Chiac lingo spoken in the Fundy Royal area? Methinks Dominic Leblanc and his buddy the Health Minister with French/English name certainly have N'esy Pas?
Evan Mulligan
Reply to @David Raymond Amos: *faceplam*
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Evan Mulligan: Furthermore I have been called mon petit chou a time or two but never by a politician or a lawyer or a cop
Evan Mulligan
Reply to @David Raymond Amos: nobody cares, dave.
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Evan Mulligan: Methinks everybody knows that is the awful truth of it all N'esy Pas?
HOWEVER whereas we far from friends how dare you to presume to abbreviate my first name? Trust that it offends me and the ghosts I am namesake to. FYI the men I am named after fought defending the myths called Democracy and Justice two were killed and my Father was the sole surviour out 9 men when his aircraft crashed His friend David was awarded the Victoria Cross.
Evan Mulligan
Reply to @David Raymond Amos: same answer
nobody cares
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Evan Mulligan: Trust that the RCMP and their current liberal boss Ralph Goodale certainly do because I am about to email about you and your pals
Evan Mulligan
Reply to @David Raymond Amos: knock yourself out
Thank goodness for the "mute" function.
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Evan Mulligan: Methinks anyone can scroll to review who picked a fight with who N'esy Pas?
David Raymond Amos Reply to @Evan Mulligan: Methinks that no doubt your desperate liberal pals know that the emails I promised were sent and duly acknowledged by ethical governmental computers Plus its all been blogged if anyone you know happens to care N'esy Pas?
James Fish CBC has quickly become the Ministry of Truth over the past 4 years.
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @James Fish: Surely you jest
Doug Edmunds It is eerie in that it does mimic a lot of the world around us today. Especially in the 'big brother' surveillance department. We're always told that the removal of our rights, of humanity from humans, is for "everyone's benefit". I'm seriously starting to doubt that.
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Doug Edmunds: Methinks old Ben Franklin had something to say about trading freedom for security N'esy Pas?
Jordan F. Dorino
Reply to @David Raymond Amos: US Citizens have given up, in fact handed over willingly many Freedoms to feel Secure and/or Safe since Sept 11, 2001. Homeland Security is the biggest Trampler of Rights the US has ever had. I’m glad I’ll visit that wacko place
Jordan F. Dorino
Reply to @Jordan F. Dorino: Correction: I’m glad I’ll NEVER visit that wacko place
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Jordan F. Dorino: Methinks you should check my work N'esy Pas?
Don Brown 1984 is Trumps play book .
Elim Garak
Reply to @Don Brown: I'd say it's used more by Trudeau. Trump is terribly dishonest, but the only one he is convincing is himself, and I'm not even sure of that. Trudeau uses invented phrases and that glaring fake sincerity, all the while doing the opposite of what he says.
Trump is at least all over the map. He does what he says because he says everything and even a stopped clock is right twice a day. Trudeau says a lot of words with no meaning, and does no actions, at least no actions that match his words, particularly well exemplified by the Wilson-Raybould/Philpott matter and the blackface.
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Don Brown: Do you really think Trudeau is any better?
Jordan F. Dorino
Reply to @Elim Garak: Heir Harper was reconfiguring Canada into the Orwellian Dream
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Elim Garak: I concur
Douglas Blake Somebody needs to tell the online data miners that 1984 is not an instruction manual. Just about every form of surveillance from that book is currently in use... some of it was in use before 1984. It's frightening how Orwell's night mare has become our reality. Yes... your TV is watching you.
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Douglas Blake: Methinks the awful truth is that everybody knows that and not enough people care N'esy Pas?
Blacer Tomaszew Before I would even think about picking up this novel so I can fully understand it’s context; I would :
A. Cloak yourself with extensive knowledge about the history of both right/left totalitarian regimes. How did this happen? And what methods were used to keep the masses in check?
B. I would read all of these first, because it gives you a great insight into the personal experiences and character of George Orwell: “Down and out in Paris and London” “Burmese Days” “The road to Wigan Pier” “Homage to Catalonia.” Then jump into “Animal Farm”, and finish it with 1984.
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Blacer Tomaszew: Why waste your precious time over the musings of a dead dude? Why not watch the Donald and his many cohorts? Methinks they are giving us a fine Circus to watch Trust that it will affect everybody's future if the stock markets take a nosedive N'esy Pas?
Robert Edward Cox I have only recently considered that the dystopian novels, 1984, Animal Farm, Brave New World and Golding's Lord of the Flies were 'end-of-empire' regrets by British writers. In the present, these are now "old" models and Margaret Atwwod has supplied a few new ones, amidst a new crumbling of another empire, USA and the West. "Darkness" is now a regular theme in action movies, and I dare say the Canadian Liberal party is coming from darkness in their campaign posters of candidates wearing black shirts, and of course Justin now the epitome of Shadow personality.
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Robert Edward Cox: Welcome to the Circus Trust that you missed a lot a interesting comments
Mark Thomas In this day and age, where we are subjected to constant pressure to conform to a more-or-less official canon of "progressive" orthodoxy, and where critics of such orthodoxy are harassed and deplatformed. Orwell's dystopian future is upon us, and yet many seem not to realize it.
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Mark Thomas: Methinks I resemble that remark particularly after being falsely imprisoned in two countries after I filed Whistelblower forms with the US Treasury Dept beginning in 2002 N'esy Pas?
Jon Anderson Pretending that the CBC is an unreliable source of information is a biased view in itself....
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Jon Anderson: Oh So True
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Jon Anderson: However what if it is true?
Grant Hanchuk just wait for agent oranges ministry of false news (Truth)
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Grant Hanchuk: Why wait? We already have the CBC
Michael Peacock 1984 became our reality sometime around 2007 when we started buying into social media. Now it's a tool of mass manipulation. History is being altered, words sanitized. Freedom of expression for those who are not far left or right is done at your own risk. It feels like the world is becoming a weird place for those of us in the middle who try to be objective and have no real agenda to pursue. Oh yes, I'd like to have my more reasonable and objective friend named CBC back. Come back to the middle...we have cookies!
Philip Anderson
Reply to @Michael Peacock: very well said. I'd go further to say the way we use social media in the west is destroying our humanity. I think currently we in the west live in the diametric opposite world to Orwells vision - we are destroying ourselves not by endless restriction, but through endless freedom - freedom to harm others at will, whatever our reason. We turn and violently attack each other online with the most meagre of provocations. China & Russia, even in their rather Orwellian surveillance states, I have no doubt they look at how we treat one another, and justifiably wonder how we could ever think we have a better way of living than they do. The way we as north Americans conduct ourselves online is absolutely disgusting- not to mention profoundly uncivilized- future historians, should freedom of expression survive the next century, will convict us for our myopic, narcissistic, completely self destructive stupidity, and we will deserve every ounce of their criticism. Wed like to, but we cant blame this on the failures of christianity or politicians, this is a current mass collective failure as a society. Clear laws governing appropriate conduct online are needed as how it "works" now isn't working. Walking up to someone and spitting in their face is assault, so should online abuse also be prosecutable offenses. If we won't willingly choose to be civil to one another in our discourse with others, then perhaps some other forces need to make us, some other forces who are able to accomplish this goal yet wise enough to heed the warning given by Orwell stay away from creating the mirror image of the horrible world he envisioned.
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Michael Peacock: Methinks many would agree that 1984 was the reality before Orwell wrote his book trying to inform us of it just like the Wizard of OZ taught us something before WWII or Alice in Wonderland long ago N'esy Pas?
Michael Peacock
Reply to @Philip Anderson: you make some good points. I think a lot of us including me, need to govern ourselves better and be online a lot less. It skews our perception if we let it. We will always find examples of awfulness online at any given moment brought directly into our feed. I find that I don't often, or ever, see people being harassed or persecuted in my day to day life. I see a lot of people with mental health/drug addictions and the rest of us with our noses buried in our phones. Can we at least put our phones down and walk faster across the street again people.....but I digress. As soon as I login I see racism, sexism, all the isms. It's exhausting. Everyone's opinions can be exhausting too. I'm not on social media right now except for commenting on CBC articles because I feel like maybe my opinions in small doses should be heard from time to time. Is that crazy?
Michael Peacock
Reply to @David Raymond Amos: I agree with you on this but social media took things to a whole next level. We are very vulnerable now to outside influence. I feel like we are like frogs in a pot of water right now and things are starting to heat up. I'm going to step back out of the pot now and go drink beer with some proles and feel better lol!
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Michael Peacock: Trust that I have been very well known within Social Media since 2002 when I sued 3 US Treasury Agents and a host of lawyers and judges. Check out my Twitter Account to see that I have been Tweeting and emailing about this article just like I promised but I have yet to blog about it
Joanne Crozier Just reading those words Ministry of Truth is frightening. I don't remember the book well, but I remember that!
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @joanne crozier: Its a new book
Chris Halford
Reply to @David Raymond Amos: "1984" but you knew that, didn't you?
Lorraine Karuse
Reply to @Chris Halford: Required reading in Ontario High School curriculum in the 1980s. I still remember it along with the Animal Farm
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Chris Halford: DUHHH??? This story is about a new book The Ministry of Truth is a nonfiction book by Dorian Lynskey
Roger R. Fontaine If we accept that the great majority of citizens are sleeping their way through life, we can support the thesis that totalitarianism is inevitable because there are insufficient rebels or radical thinkers able to mount opposition to 'the makers of truth'. dystopia seems likely once social structures like capitalism are accepted as the most productive and fair, which it isn't. The opposite ideology of communism which is more supportive of dictators and manipulating truth to maintain power, dystopia seems to flourish in both societies. The opposition of Hongkongers to Chinese Beijing control raises the ire of leaders and the option of another Tian anmen Square suppression of opposition and democratic influences (activists). The Ministry of Truth is busy attempting to convince Hongkongers that they are Chinese first and free, Perhaps?
Chris Halford
Reply to @Roger R. Fontaine: I agree with some of what you say, particularly about Hong Kong. However, totalitarianism doesn't just rely on an apathetic population but also requires an unscrupulous and relentless leader who cows his or her immediate colleagues into submission - luckily, that doesn't happen all the time, in fact it happens rarely, although rarely is too often. I also disagree with the attempt to portray pure capitalism as the default system in most "democratic" countries when it isn't. As far as I know there are no countries that practice pure capitalism any more than there are any that practice pure socialism. There is an infinite number of potential mixtures of varying degrees of capitalism or socialism in practically any policy area. The political arguments are around that mix in realty, even when political parties pretend to be one or another. In my opinion, every government should have some aspects of socialsm because the whole purpose of government is to serve its people but you have to fund those services somehow.
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Roger R. Fontaine: Methinks you should pay the all knowing Mr Halford no never mind N'esy Pas?
Kevin Delaney I loved this book. As a 1969/70 high school student I was introduced to it along with Animal Farm & Huxley's Brave New World. I took the love of those books to University where I had a conversation with an English Literature Prof. The Prof was a wonderful man who said lets set up a special studies class for you, one on one. For 2 years I got to look at Utopian and Distopian literature and discuss with him in his office the workings and warpings of society. This Book Matters every bit today as it did the day it was written. Frankly even more so.
Evan Mulligan
Reply to @Kevin Delaney: You're very fortunate. In my high school, I wanted to do the exact same thing in my English class, but my teacher refused, saying she was "too busy"... too busy arriving late and leaving early.
Kevin Delaney
Reply to @Evan Mulligan: Sad re your experience. It was a very helpful & supportive English Lit teacher who got me into these books in grade 12. The University Professor was just wonderfully supportive in my 3rd and 4th years of study. Those years looking at those books & discussing them were key to my development of critical thinking.
Joanne Crozier
Reply to @Kevin Delaney: You are very lucky!
Chris Halford
Reply to @Kevin Delaney: I'm surprised nobody has dumped on you yet for being an ivory tower intellectual and how as a non-STEM graduate you must be a drain on society. (Sarc).
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @joanne crozier: In High School I studied Latin and extra French courses I was not obliged to because I truly believe you know as many people as you know languages. Methinks byway of my comment folks in Fat Fred City 50 years ago two of my favourite teachers were Mr Pert (French) and Mr Rutledge who caused me to love the Old Bard N'esy Pas?
Kevin Delaney
Reply to @Chris Halford: At the time in highschool I was a marginal and failing student who was struggling to find his way. Again, my high school grade 12 English Lit teacher saw something a bit more a reached out to help.
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Kevin Delaney: Nearly 50 years ago I was accepted into RMC without having to write my finals in High School but I decided not to go and paid UNB with my dimes for a couple of years Then quit the "Higher" education nonsense and went into business for myself and never looked back.
Philip Lucas One of the significant points in the novel and today is the increasing problem of getting the truth and having it exposed to the people.
More sources of media, more players who control large diverse media publications can in effect put their version of the facts or an entirely unfactual version of the story on so many sites nearly becomes truth. To the average person, knowledge of who owns or directs specific media is unknown, the writer, publisher, and money may come from very biased and directed representations of the political spectrum.
We all need to take many more sources of information in order to see the contradictions that hopefully will lead us to question the facts and dig deeper. Reliance on a website or single news outlet to tell us the untarnished facts is a risk and can lead into the world Orwell describes where the media telss us what we 'need' to know not what is true.
David Raymond Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @Philip Lucas: Methinks anyone who cares about the truth can scroll to the bottom comment and print hard copy of real documents N'esy Pas?
David Raymond Amos Reply to @David Raymond Amos: I am back and see that many things have gone "Poof" So much for Free Speech within our purportedly "Just Democracy" EH?
Chris Halford Orwell had one of the great insightful minds of the 20th Century. I wonder why the article makes no mention of his socialism?
David Raymond Amos Reply to @Chris Halford: Methinks you should think about it because the answer is rather obvious to the rest of us N'esy Pas?
Michael L'greb
Reply to @Chris Halford: And what ism do you follow?
Evan Mulligan
Reply to @Chris Halford: Because it's not relevant to the discussion.
Chris Halford
Reply to @David Raymond Amos: Is it? Please explain.
Chris Halford
Reply to @Michael L'greb: Liberalism mostly. My remark about Orwell's socialism was not an attempt to criticise Orwell but more a proactive defence against the idea that somehow the "left" are ones creating the Orwellian world while really it is the authoritarians and the surveillance crew on the right that are the threat - "If you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear". Sound familiar?
Chris Halford
Reply to @Evan Mulligan: It sure is!
Michael L'greb
Reply to @Chris Halford: Chris with that I concur.
Marvin Ballantyne
Reply to @Chris Halford: yes the cons have some surveillance of us but the champion of this is china with it's new social credit system ... the warning is to not let anyone be your master ... not to say my master is better than yours.
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Marvin Ballantyne: Yea Right
Mick Fontana Brave New World by Huxley is even better.
Dwight Williams
Reply to @Mick Fontana: Both books are terrific, and terrifically depressing.
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Dwight Williams: YUP and NOPE
Patrick Stuurman Orwell wrote 1984 as a warning to people, but unfortunately governments around the world have used it as an instruction manual!
Michael L'greb
Reply to @Patrick Stuurman: Has been part of human history since the beginning of our time on earth.
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Patrick Stuurman: YUP
Alex Forbes It's relevant because left-wing governments are still curtailing freedoms and process information through government approved filters.
Michael L'greb
Reply to @Alex Forbes: So tell us who is the best government?
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Alex Forbes: YUP
Michael L'greb
Reply to @David Raymond Amos: So who is the right government. No pun intended.
Drew Farrell
Reply to @Alex Forbes: You mean right-wing governments.
Jenny Kwong
Reply to @Michael L'greb: Libertarian government is best.
David Raymond Amos Reply to @Michael L'greb: Have you ever watched a debate of mine or read one of my lawsuits? If so then you would understand why I see no fun in your pun
Michael L'greb
Reply to @Jenny Kwong: Because.....
Michael L'greb
Reply to @David Raymond Amos: So enlighten me.....
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Jenny Kwong: I tend to agree with you but the lawyer Bernier is far from ethical. Methinks everybody knows I proved that to be a fact in 2006 when he was a Harper Cabinet Minister N'esy Pas?
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Michael L'greb: Google me
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Michael L'greb: I will Tweeting about you in short order
Michael L'greb
Reply to @David Raymond Amos: Why, because you believe you are special?
David Raymond Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @Michael L'greb: No because I think you are a Troll
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Michael L'greb: I don't believe that is your name
Jim Dandy
Reply to @David Raymond Amos: who cares?
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Jim Dandy: You do
Michael L'greb
Reply to @David Raymond Amos:
As you do....YUP
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Michael L'greb: Of course Why else would I sue your beloved Queen four years ago? Federal Court File No T-1557-15
Michael L'greb
Reply to @David Raymond Amos: Good for you, I’m not a monarchist.
Fiona Lang
Reply to @David Raymond Amos: No government is the best government.
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Fiona Lang: I disagree
Marvin Ballantyne
Reply to @David Raymond Amos: I am with fiona... if I can't govern myself .. or provide for myself .. why should I depend on Bill or tom or or a boy named sue?
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Marvin Ballantyne: What if a boy named sue wants your stuff?
Alex Forbes
Reply to @Drew Farrell: Maybe you didn't read the book but it was about SOCIALIST (i.e. left-wing) governments.
Alex Forbes
Reply to @Michael L'greb: As another person said I lean towards libertarianism
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Alex Forbes: Me Too
Vince Porter I think Orwell saw language as the most effective and the most dangerous weapon wielded by humans. He seemed almost obsessed with language. His admonitions on language is particularly relevant today. War is peace - and, deplatforming is free speech.
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Vince Porter: Methinks and old bard or two and many others throughout history agree that the word is mightier than the sword even if it is in the Chiac lingo N'esy Pas?
Chris Halford
Reply to @David Raymond Amos: "The pen is mightier than the sword" n'est-ce pas. At least be literate if you're trying to pretend to be literate!
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Chris Halford: Sue me
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Vince Porter: I agree
Michael L'greb Who controls the past controls the future: who controls the present, controls the past. George Orwell
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Michael L'greb: That not news
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @David Raymond Amos: Thats history
Michael L'greb
Reply to @David Raymond Amos: Of course not. It’s the norm.
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Michael L'greb: Google Fundy Royal Debate in order to see something not so normal
Chris Halford
Reply to @David Raymond Amos: Where did Michael say it was news?
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Chris Halford: Trust that I don't (care) what anyone with a fake name says particularly while I am running for a seat in Parlaiment and suing the RCMP at the same time. The questionable liberal in you (should) Google the following if you wish true news about Trump versus me the FBI and his lawyer named Michael Cohen in early 2017
Trump Cohen Amos FATCA NAFTA TPP
Kent Worthy I've lived long enough now to realize that nothing really changes. We see the same types of people over and over again. We think of society as a progressive entity, while in truth it's only the technology that changes around us. We emotionally stay exactly who we are.
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Kent Worthy: I agree
Bob Gillis
Reply to @Kent Worthy: Yah, naw. When Julius Cesar conquered Gaul, he chopped the arms off thousands of prisoners so they would starve. And while that was going on, his fellow citizens back in Rome offcially entertained themselves by forcing slaves to kill each other.
We have come a long way. I hope we don't eventually slide back.
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Bob Gillis: Have you been to Saudi Arabia lately?
Bob Gillis
Reply to @David Raymond Amos: Got a haircut there just the other day. They overdid it.
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Bob Gillis: I am happy you enjoyed your haircut I try to avoid such things. So I must ask you believe in stoning the young ladies merely because they don't wish to follow their Father's orders and marry some ugly old man who is a friend of his as long as Trudeau can sell them lots of military equipment to pummel their Arabian foes with?
David Raymond Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @Bob Gillis: Of that I have no doubt Methinks that is just another thing liberals do that the rest of us fail to appreciate N'esy Pas? I must ask were you dressed like Aladdin and in dark makeup like your beloved leader of Peoplekind?
David Raymond Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @Chris Halford: Methinks I told you to go the the bottom but you are more worried about Trudeau's failing reputation today rather than the awful truth of it all Hence you keep on taking pokes at me on your way down through the comments N'esy Pas?
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @David Raymond Amos: Oh My My 3 in a row go "POOF" Methinks desperate liberal do desperate thing N'esy Pas?
Bob Gillis I recall that when the year 1984 came along, George H Bush ironically proclaimed that Orwell was all washed up.
Since then, his progeny and his successors have proceeded to authorize the creation of a police state network the characters of Orwell's 1984 would recognize all too well.
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Bob Gillis: Trust that the RCMP and I remember those years very well Our computers keep perfect records yet they disagree
Bob Gillis
Reply to @David Raymond Amos:
?
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Bob Gillis: Ask Ralph Goodale
Brett Blaikie Orwell would have a field day if he was still alive - right here in Canada analyzing the CBC coverage (no disrespect to Eleanor Wachtel, her interviews are worth listening to)
Reply to @Brett Blaikie: Have you figured it out yet?
William Burnham The book is of particular relevance in today's world with the control of information through the internet, and the powerful gatekeepers such as Facebook, google,and twitter. As well as the group think of the MSM which made things like the Russia collusion hysteria possible. Trump exploited the new digital media information world, but I think he will be the last, judging by the censorship movements such as "twitter ban". A good example of this is an excellent candidate for democrats like Tulsi Gabbard who has a lawsuit against google as she and her campaign have been shadow banned and basically do not exist. As a combat veteran, experienced in Iraq, and social progressive, she is against American perpetual war, and that just won't do in our modern 1984.
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @William Burnham: Methinks whereas I am running for public office for the 7th time perhaps folks should check out my Twitter and Blogger accounts before my words go "Poof" N'esy Pas?
Brett Blaikie
Reply to @William Burnham: yes, but I've little sympathy for Tulsi Gabbard - you will recall that Kamala Harris opened up on Joe Biden in the first debate. By all appearances, rather than take on a minority female the Biden campaign fed another minority female the dirt on Kamala Harris - and that other female minority was Tulsi Gabbard who then attacked Harris on her record as a prosecutor - research that seemed unlikely for her to have gotten by herself.
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Brett Blaikie: Methinks Tulsi Gabbard is a far more important lady who embarrassed Kamala Harris bigtime all by herself. Trust that Trump and everybody else knows why I already contacted her people N'esy Pas?
David Raymond Amos Methinks it somewhat ironic that CBC would talk of this book in light of recent events N'esy Pas?
Brett Blaikie
Reply to @David Raymond Amos: N'esy Pas mon amigo Nes'y Pas
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Brett Blaikie: Methinks you enjoy jerking an old dog's chain Trust that I don't mind but I am no amigo of yours N'esy Pas?
David Raymond Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @David Raymond Amos: Did anyone but me notice that the fella who made a similar comment at the same point in time as I is already gone?
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @David Raymond Amos: Oh My My Why is it that I am not surprised? Do ya think the RCMP noticed?
Andrew Baldwin This was a wonderful interview about Orwell’s masterpiece. I particularly enjoyed Lynskey’s comparison of “1984” with Yevgeny Zamyatin’s “We”. The only thing I didn’t like about it was the whiff of Trump Derangement Syndrome that hung around it. It seems no CBC Radio program is uncorrupted by it. It was fair for Lynskey to mention Kellyanne Conway’s “alternative facts” remark, since apparently it did lead to an upsurge in sales of Orwell’s book. However to see the Big Brother figures in the world today as mainly right wing populists is a real stretch. Justin Trudeau has been mendacious about much more consequential matters than crowd sizes. Think of the headscarf ban. He has also tried to introduce his own slippery Newspeak (“tax on pollution”, “irregular border crossers”, “peoplekind”), and it is creepy. Trump, for all his faults, speaks standard American English
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Andrew Baldwin: Oh So True
Brett Blaikie
Reply to @Andrew Baldwin: it is fair - but to really be fair, the Trump White House is pretty clumsy at this stuff - a closer examination of what the Obama White House did or did not release (and how) would reveal a much more sophisticated manipulation of the message. Also the whole Cambridge Analytica/Russia/Trump allegations - as if the DNC never heard of algorithms and social physics puh-lease.
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From: "MinFinance / FinanceMin (FIN)"<fin.minfinance-financemin.fin@canada.ca> Date: Sat, 21 Sep 2019 16:46:33 +0000 Subject: RE: YOr Ralph Goodale Methinks this should stress the Integrity of the Globe and Mail and your minions in the RCMP N'esy Pas? To: David Amos<david.raymond.amos333@gmail.com>
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Anyone can checkout what is left of this CBC comment section today but the RCMP and the CBC should have access to every word that VIAFOURA deleted on behalf of the liberal party Correct?
Why George Orwell's 1984 still matters, 70 years since publication Social Sharing CBC Radio · Posted: Sep 06, 2019 2:16 PM ET
Lots of comments went "Poof" but at least I am a man of my word to even nasty political Trolls within the very unethical Crown Corp commonly known as the CBC
Michael Peacock 1984 became our reality sometime around 2007 when we started buying into social media. Now it's a tool of mass manipulation. History is being altered, words sanitized. Freedom of expression for those who are not far left or right is done at your own risk. It feels like the world is becoming a weird place for those of us in the middle who try to be objective and have no real agenda to pursue. Oh yes, I'd like to have my more reasonable and objective friend named CBC back. Come back to the middle...we have cookies!
Philip Anderson Reply to @Michael Peacock: very well said. I'd go further to say the way we use social media in the west is destroying our humanity. I think currently we in the west live in the diametric opposite world to Orwells vision - we are destroying ourselves not by endless restriction, but through endless freedom - freedom to harm others at will, whatever our reason. We turn and violently attack each other online with the most meagre of provocations. China & Russia, even in their rather Orwellian surveillance states, I have no doubt they look at how we treat one another, and justifiably wonder how we could ever think we have a better way of living than they do. The way we as north Americans conduct ourselves online is absolutely disgusting- not to mention profoundly uncivilized- future historians, should freedom of expression survive the next century, will convict us for our myopic, narcissistic, completely self destructive stupidity, and we will deserve every ounce of their criticism. Wed like to, but we cant blame this on the failures of christianity or politicians, this is a current mass collective failure as a society. Clear laws governing appropriate conduct online are needed as how it "works" now isn't working. Walking up to someone and spitting in their face is assault, so should online abuse also be prosecutable offenses. If we won't willingly choose to be civil to one another in our discourse with others, then perhaps some other forces need to make us, some other forces who are able to accomplish this goal yet wise enough to heed the warning given by Orwell stay away from creating the mirror image of the horrible world he envisioned.
David Raymond Amos Reply to @Michael Peacock: Methinks many would agree that 1984 was the reality before Orwell wrote his book trying to inform us of it just like the Wizard of OZ taught us something before WWII or Alice in Wonderland long ago N'esy Pas?
Michael Peacock Reply to @Philip Anderson: you make some good points. I think a lot of us including me, need to govern ourselves better and be online a lot less. It skews our perception if we let it. We will always find examples of awfulness online at any given moment brought directly into our feed. I find that I don't often, or ever, see people being harassed or persecuted in my day to day life. I see a lot of people with mental health/drug addictions and the rest of us with our noses buried in our phones. Can we at least put our phones down and walk faster across the street again people.....but I digress. As soon as I login I see racism, sexism, all the isms. It's exhausting. Everyone's opinions can be exhausting too. I'm not on social media right now except for commenting on CBC articles because I feel like maybe my opinions in small doses should be heard from time to time. Is that crazy?
Michael Peacock Reply to @David Raymond Amos: I agree with you on this but social media took things to a whole next level. We are very vulnerable now to outside influence. I feel like we are like frogs in a pot of water right now and things are starting to heat up. I'm going to step back out of the pot now and go drink beer with some proles and feel better lol!
David Raymond Amos Reply to @Michael Peacock: Trust that I have been very well known within Social Media since 2002 when I sued 3 US Treasury Agents and a host of lawyers and judges. Check out my Twitter Account to see that I have been Tweeting and emailing about this article just like I promised but I have yet to blog about it
David Raymond Amos Methinks Mr Prime Minister Trudeau The Younger must be proud of CBC today N'esy Pas?
Chris Halford Reply to @David Raymond Amos: Why? Because Orwell was brilliant? This article has zero to do with Trudeau but a lot to do with the alternative facts guys on the right.
David Raymond Amos Reply to @Chris Halford: Methinks you should scroll down N'esy Pas?
Evan Mulligan Reply to @David Raymond Amos: Pssst... it's actually "n'est-ce pas", which, roughly translated, means "strange, isn't it?"
David Raymond Amos Reply to @Evan Mulligan: Have you ever heard the Chiac lingo spoken in the Fundy Royal area? Methinks Dominic Leblanc and his buddy the Health Minister with French/English name certainly have N'esy Pas?
David Raymond Amos Reply to @Evan Mulligan: Furthermore I have been called mon petit chou a time or two but never by a politician or a lawyer or a cop
Evan Mulligan Reply to @David Raymond Amos:
*faceplam*
Evan Mulligan Reply to @David Raymond Amos: nobody cares, dave.
David Raymond Amos Reply to @Evan Mulligan: Methinks everybody knows that is the awful truth of it all N'esy Pas?
HOWEVER whereas we far from friends how dare you to presume to abbreviate my first name? Trust that it offends me and the ghosts I am namesake to. FYI the men I am named after fought defending the myths called Democracy and Justice two were killed and my Father was the sole surviour out 9 men when his aircraft crashed His friend David was awarded the Victoria Cross.
Evan Mulligan Reply to @David Raymond Amos: same answer
nobody cares
David Raymond Amos Reply to @Evan Mulligan: Trust that the RCMP and their current liberal boss Ralph Goodale certainly do because I am about to email about you and your pals
Evan Mulligan Reply to @David Raymond Amos: knock yourself out
Thank goodness for the "mute" function.
David Raymond Amos Reply to @Evan Mulligan: Methinks anyone can scroll to review who picked a fight with who N'esy Pas?
---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: "Austin, Kris (LEG)"<Kris.Austin@gnb.ca> Date: Sat, 21 Sep 2019 16:02:17 +0000 Subject: Automatic reply: A little Deja Vu for Ralph Goodale and the RCMP before I file my next lawsuit as promised To: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.com>
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Why? Because Orwell was brilliant? This article has zero to do with Trudeau but a lot to do with the alternative facts guys on the right.
Pssst... it's actually "n'est-ce pas", which, roughly translated, means "strange, isn't it?"
*faceplam*
nobody cares, dave.
HOWEVER whereas we far from friends how dare you to presume to abbreviate my first name? Trust that it offends me and the ghosts I am namesake to. FYI the men I am named after fought defending the myths called Democracy and Justice two were killed and my Father was the sole surviour out 9 men when his aircraft crashed His friend David was awarded the Victoria Cross.
same answer
nobody cares
David Raymond Amos
knock yourself out
Thank goodness for the "mute" function.