ORWELL PREDICTED BIG BROTHER BRITAIN
In his classic novel ‘1984’ George Orwell described a future world where the population existed under the constant observation and control of an all powerful government headed by Big Brother. The world of ‘1984’ is now, as amazing as it may seem, almost a reality. This reality is gradually turning our country into a form of open prison, where our every social interaction is observed, registered and ultimately controlled by the state. Our absolute right to live our lives in freedom has been removed and soon we will not even be allowed out of our own homes without proof of our identity. The police, and soon maybe even traffic wardens, private security guards, hospital receptionists, bank tellers, members of the military etc. will be empowered to demand to inspect our ID cards. If we cannot produce the card we may be subjected to a period of detainment in custody pending proof. Now you can believe this or not, certain major chain stores are being fitted with prison cells in their basements to hold anyone detained for failing to carry the compulsory ID cards. There will be fines for failing to comply and as all offences are now arrestable i.e. anyone can be arrested and locked in a cell for something as minor as dropping a cigarette butt if a police officer so decides, you could end up behind bars. If this sounds like fantasy consider this from The London Evening Standard:
‘Under Section 44 of The Terrorism Act 2000 in London 7,566 people and vehicles were searched under the act between April 2001 and April 2002. That figure rose to 33,800 in 2003-04 approximately 100 people a day. The Terrorism Act 2000 allows police commanders to declare the whole of London an area where stop-and-search can be deployed at any time.’ That is anyone can be stopped and forcibly searched i.e. have their clothing removed and their pockets and perhaps even their physical bodies inspected by the Police. If you have never experienced this practice you may find it difficult to comprehend how disturbing it can be to have ones person violated in public by a stranger in uniform. You may say that as you are an honest and innocent citizen you have absolutely nothing to fear from this and support the authorities and their actions. Try telling that to the family of Jean Charles de Menezes, the man killed at Stockwell station on the London Underground when police officers fired eleven shots into him having mistaken this man for a terrorist suspect. At the time the Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair went onto national television and had the bare faced audacity to say that we should all expect ‘more of this’ in the future. I fear that he may be right!
It was on the Scottish island of Jura, between 1946 and 48 that Orwell wrote ‘1984’ He was at the time a sick man suffering from TB, the disease that would eventually kill him. Educated at Eton Orwell, whose real name was Eric Arthur Blair, missed out university due to financial constraints and joined the Indian Imperial Police Force in Burma. In his novel ‘Burmese Days’ he sets out his utter distaste for imperialism. Perhaps his experiences with the Imperial Police helped him to understand that given too much power, too much authority, the British Police would potentially become as oppressive as the Indian Imperial Police. Whatever did colour Orwell’s mind his vision of Britain in the near future that he depicted in his novel ‘1984’ has become almost a nightmare reality. Here are some of the things that Orwell foresaw with my explanation of how they actually exist today:
TELESCREENS: Orwell describes these as being within the living quarters of homes and able to see and broadcast instructions to people. Today: INTERNET PC SCREENS: These sit in the homes of millions of people and with a webcam, microphone and speakers the individual can be observed and directed from anywhere in the world via a computer connected to the internet.
THOUGHT POLICE: Orwell wrote of ‘thought crime’ which was an offence against Big Brother. Anyone speaking treason or anything construed as anti Big Brother was said to have committed a ‘thought crime’ and was arrested and tortured. Today: POLITICAL CORRECTNESS: We have in the UK laws that are forcing us to accept many previously unacceptable things and we may not speak out against them for fear of offending. For example one may not openly criticize homosexuality. One may not speak out against immigrants occupying council property for fear one would be accused of racism etc. There have been cases where the police have actually cautioned people that they are thinking the wrong things and need to be ‘educated’.
GENERAL PUBLIC SPYING: Orwell wrote that people and even young children would be encouraged to report on their neighbours and family if they in anyway transgressed against Big Brother. Today: DSS BENEFIT FRAUD CAMPAIGN: This is just one example of how the British Government has openly encouraged the public to spy on each other. On television the DSS ran an advertising campaign supposedly showing people working whilst claiming benefit and at the end gave a telephone number asking the public to ‘phone in and report anyone they suspected.
ROOM 101: Orwell wrote about a room where anyone who had offended would be taken and subjected to torture to make them love Big Brother. Today: GUANTANAMOBAY: This is a lock-up concentration camp style jail where unconvicted, ostensibly innocent individuals are held and openly abused. Whilst this is not a British prison information that has been extracted from tortured inmates has been used by the British Government.
CAMERAS IN PUBLIC PLACES: Orwell described how the public would be constantly watched by Big Brother with hidden cameras and microphones placed in the streets and parks. Today: CCTV: Look in any city center and you will see CCTV cameras, they are linked to a central observation unit. There are cameras in shops, at petrol stations, even in the toilets at public houses. There are even hidden microphones placed in lampposts in some cities. The Speedcams on our roads can read number plates and linked to a central computer can check instantly for any vehicle that is not taxed and insured.
We are today all living in a massive prison and George Orwell predicted it. The ability of Big Brother government to observe our every activity is increasing week by week and soon each and every car journey we make, every financial transaction we undertake, everywhere we go will be fed into a computer and if there is a slight variance from what they decide is the norm then we will be taken in and questioned. Give the wrong answers and you could well end up in room 101, or Belmarsh Jail, GuantanamoBayetc. Orwell predicted all this, I predict a riot.
