"Who controls the past controls the future;
...who controls the present controls the past."
-- 1984, George Orwell
I just had to quote it. After studying U.S. history for six hours, I just had to do it.
You know. It's a damn shame to have a history teacher that is so disorganized that he must cram fifty years of U.S. history into barely a week--especially when it is on the post-WWII era, the one I find so utterly fascinating. Learning about the Cold War, Truman, Berkeley, Civil Rights, hippies, the Warren Court, Nixon, the notorious assasinations, and everything betwixt those has been the most interesting things I've ever learned about in high school. Particularly because of the conspiracies, the period is ABSOLUTELY DRIPPING WITH CONSPIRACIES AND LIES AND SECRET MISSIONS AND THE AFFAIRS AND THE DECEIT AND THE BOMBINGS AND THE BETRAYAL AND GOD HOW WRONG IT IS....
I honestly don't understand how people can be so calm about government these days, so dismissive of the idea that our government is capable of any deception. How can people think that the American government--with the ever-present halo glimmering above its head, of course--is completely subservient to us? How can people honestly think that the administration does not lie to us? How can people really feel so...safe?
It scares me. Maybe if people really studied the last century deeply, and they knew, maybe if they weren't so goddamn ignorant, maybe if they took some time to pay attention, then maybe things like the Patriot Act wouldn't be passed, maybe they wouldn't be so scared about the exaggerated terrorist threat, maybe they'd open their eyes, be alert, be aware, be ready--just in case.
Reading about Reagan was great, too. Really uplifting. A man whose idiotic policies caused so much damage to this country dies...and suddenly, all that is forgotten. Instead he becomes an idol, some sort of deity. The history books are re-written. Barnes & Noble is flooded with newly released books praising the legacy of actor-turned-president Reagan. Perhaps leave some mention of the genius SDI, shift the blame from Reagan to the CIA, and fluff up the descriptions of his charms, his optimism, his "can-do" attitude. Perhaps he wasn't that bad (in comparison to Nixon, or Hitler, or something) but why--why, subsequent to his death, must he be turned into a god? Or is it right to ask: How? How can this so easily happen?
Upon death, the truth will be effaced, replaced by some simplified, loosely based, more acceptable account. And it scares me. God, it scares me.
-- 1984, George Orwell
I just had to quote it. After studying U.S. history for six hours, I just had to do it.
You know. It's a damn shame to have a history teacher that is so disorganized that he must cram fifty years of U.S. history into barely a week--especially when it is on the post-WWII era, the one I find so utterly fascinating. Learning about the Cold War, Truman, Berkeley, Civil Rights, hippies, the Warren Court, Nixon, the notorious assasinations, and everything betwixt those has been the most interesting things I've ever learned about in high school. Particularly because of the conspiracies, the period is ABSOLUTELY DRIPPING WITH CONSPIRACIES AND LIES AND SECRET MISSIONS AND THE AFFAIRS AND THE DECEIT AND THE BOMBINGS AND THE BETRAYAL AND GOD HOW WRONG IT IS....
I honestly don't understand how people can be so calm about government these days, so dismissive of the idea that our government is capable of any deception. How can people think that the American government--with the ever-present halo glimmering above its head, of course--is completely subservient to us? How can people honestly think that the administration does not lie to us? How can people really feel so...safe?
It scares me. Maybe if people really studied the last century deeply, and they knew, maybe if they weren't so goddamn ignorant, maybe if they took some time to pay attention, then maybe things like the Patriot Act wouldn't be passed, maybe they wouldn't be so scared about the exaggerated terrorist threat, maybe they'd open their eyes, be alert, be aware, be ready--just in case.
Reading about Reagan was great, too. Really uplifting. A man whose idiotic policies caused so much damage to this country dies...and suddenly, all that is forgotten. Instead he becomes an idol, some sort of deity. The history books are re-written. Barnes & Noble is flooded with newly released books praising the legacy of actor-turned-president Reagan. Perhaps leave some mention of the genius SDI, shift the blame from Reagan to the CIA, and fluff up the descriptions of his charms, his optimism, his "can-do" attitude. Perhaps he wasn't that bad (in comparison to Nixon, or Hitler, or something) but why--why, subsequent to his death, must he be turned into a god? Or is it right to ask: How? How can this so easily happen?
Upon death, the truth will be effaced, replaced by some simplified, loosely based, more acceptable account. And it scares me. God, it scares me.