1984: The Year and the Time – Part 2: “Freedom Is Slavery”

In my previous blog, I started reflecting on the dystopian novel 1984 by George Orwell. A few weeks ago, I decided to reread this book, and was rather shocked at the similarities between 20^th-century fiction and 21^st-century fact. I decided that it might be of benefit to my readers to examine the three slogans that summarize the depressing atmosphere of the fictional world order Orwell describes:

War Is Peace.

Freedom Is Slavery.

Ignorance Is Strength.

After watching the Democratic National Convention this past week – OK, I did NOT sit through the entire achingly tedious broadcast, just excerpts – I was startled by all the similarities to the middle slogan, “Freedom Is Slavery.” Of course, you will remember that I explained that everything in the novel – words, actions, relationships – is twisted to deceive and control people. I can’t help but feel that the DNC was on a “bitter is sweet” kick (see Isaiah 5:20) when it orchestrated the speeches and the “voting” of delegates.

During the DNC Convention, person after person appeared and presented non-American or anti-American ideas as to “what the future looks like.” People deliberately skipped a vital part of the Pledge of Allegiance (“under God”). People deliberately called “black” “white” and ignored the true cause of the continuing violence in American cities. They blamed President Trump for everything from a low golf score to almost two thousand Covid-19 deaths. The viewers were not offered any plans that would solve any of the nation’s problems, except the banal “Vote for us, and we’ll deal with the problem.”

Now, pay attention! I’m about to explain the close connection between Orwell’s world and the DNC world. Orwell’s world, Oceania, is ruled by a nearly-ruined London, dominated by four massive and lavish high-rise “ministry” buildings. The Ministry of Truth is tasked with falsifying everyday activities to align with official propaganda. (This is the main character’s “job.”) This “ministry” is especially important to the DNC. If you remember, not one of the DNC speakers tackled the ongoing violence and destruction in Portland and Seattle – not to mention the dramatic increase in murder and stealing in other Democrat-led cities. The entire subject was a non-event. The freedom to know the truth is an important value to upright citizens, but there is obvious obfuscation in the “approved messages” coming out of the DNC Convention.

Another ministry with a prominent place in Orwell’s world is the Ministry of Love. As you may have already guessed, this “ministry” is populated by secret police and torturers with one mission: to force every individual of the land to hate one (former) leader and to love unconditionally the present ruler, “Big Brother.” Of course, this mindset is reversed as far as the DNC is concerned: Obama was the “righteous” president who accomplished “great things” (although people with intact brains cannot remember a single one), while Trump is an evil monster who has systematically despoiled America (despite record GDP growth and astonishingly low unemployment numbers prior to the “phantom germ”). Did one speaker offer even ONE word of praise for the current leader? No, certainly not! If one was not already aware of the present animosity towards our sitting president, and truly believed every word spoken at the DNC Convention, one would be convinced that President Trump is truly a vicious, arrogant tyrant who has declared himself “Dictator for Life.” The hatred of the DNC participants towards his administration was clear and unmistakable. (And heaven help you if you disagree with this stance!) It is the same world that Orwell described.

The third ministry that Orwell mentions is the Ministry of Peace. As I explained in my former blog, “War Is Peace” is a dominant ideology in Oceania. Nothing is as contradictory as this slogan, and yet it was echoed over and over in what the DNC speakers proclaimed: The past administration from 2008 – 2017 was “filled with peace and prosperity,” with “no scandals”; prosperity was bubbling just beneath the surface. Our only problem as a nation was that we didn’t realize that all Obama (and, by extension, Joe Biden) did was for our benefit. (We should have let Hillary in to further her “great plans” for the country!) Trump’s years in office – according to each DNC speaker – have been one of unrelenting torture, pain, suffering, and depression. (Gee – where have I been during all this? I know: I’ve been working and taking care of my family – before unemployment due to the “phantom germ” reared its ugly head!) There were people who knew this to be a totally false picture of the state of our country, yet they weren’t allowed to speak. (I wonder what Tulsi Gabbard would have said?)

The fourth ministry is called the Ministry of Plenty. Of course, throughout the novel, the citizens experience nothing but severe rationing and shortages. In simple terms, this condition is a trademark of socialism. The DNC did not mention socialism by name, but in its deliberate deletion of the phrase “under God,” the delegates were giving the audience the clear message that life can be lived without Him. Christianity devoid of God’s power to love and to forgive and to share is an empty, crumbling façade. Examine socialism, and you will see that this system espouses every desired trait of God the Father’s Kingdom, except it lacks the central heart: salvation (the power to love and to forgive and to share) through Jesus Christ.

The “Freedom Is Slavery” slogan operates at the center of the DNC plan: Enslave yourself to an un-American or non-American vision along socialist lines, or face years of “corrective action.” Yield to the official “bitter is sweet” mantra, or face the loss of jobs and buying privileges. Line up for “official actions,” or face being shunned and ostracized from all social interactions (well, maybe except for a church who loves the Lord).

The overwhelming message of 1984 is that there is no hope. The overwhelming message of the DNC Convention is that the current path of our nation (i.e., with Trump), offers no hope. Indeed, according to the DNC, freedom can only come about through slavery to a godless idea.

The overwhelming message of the Bible is that hope is built on the truth, love, peace, and plenty in the Lord God and in His Son, Jesus Christ.