Although I am no fan of Ayn Rand, she did get it right about left and right being no better than two gangs squabbling over which one was to get the spoils. Orwell appeared to have agreed as Winston was tortured by O'Brien, declaring Nazis and Communists, for all their protestations, were the same, solely interested in power for its own sake. ('Power is power')
The dull dispute about whether he was left or right denies that his view evolved to settle shortly before his death, after completing 1984. Disillusionment can be most fundamental- seeing how Soviet interests exploited volunteers happily executing those who did not conform. The brutal Utilitarianism behind ideology's prime objectives of survival and spread must have come as a shock. Then a bullet put the cherry on the cake.
Orwell's work may belong in literature. Astonishingly, despite being banned in most authoritarian and ideological regimes, his is still absent from university politics courses. That's how far we have fallen. Echos of presence, written or in films, can be wonderful to hear.
On a business visit to Japan I visited a seaside town south of Tokyo, in a way a mini version of a cross between Atlantic City and Blackpool, solely to feel the presence I had seen in a film called Tokyo Story. I searched in vain from where the old couple, abused by their children, looked out over the City, in another scene, wondering how it was possible for people to find their way around such a vast place.
Thank you. You reminded me of then, their presence and echo.
That's a lovely church! I am glad it was open and you can see it.
If only the small parish churches were always open as you say! I have been trying to see St Andrew's church in our town but it was always closed when I was around. Now I spotted that there is an 'open day' on 13th of Sep as part of some heritage celebrations so I have added it in my calendar to go and see it.
So nice to hear something like this from you . Indulging in nostalgia has almost become a daily pastime for me now. To lessen my frustration over the mind blowing madness bombarding us, I wrote a childrens book for myself which I self published to avoid the sensitivity inquisitors which it would hever have passed. I set it in the 1960s . No phones, no sex, no problems with calling people fat or ugly, which the main character was who was also a drunk, but a tale of resilience and resistance in a time when we were not so crushed for the most trivial of things. I enjoyed every minute of it as I 'stuck it to them " with my non pc ideas and speak. I can thoroughly recommend this as a panacea to the hell we are living through now.
In reality, it's not even a joke. Here are the real Napoleon's dogs. I saw your chat, Andrew, with Lord Young of the Free Speech Union. I'm a founder of an AI startup with a governed architecture, and I spent the last three weeks looking into the subject. It's worse than you thought. https://trinityhelix.substack.com/p/ofcom-napoleons-dogs-and-the-91-cent?r=6emgcj
I have given my grandson Animal Farm, and also Ayn Rand’s book Anthem. A comment came out from his mom criticizing me for giving her son books that she feels need to be banned. What the heck happened to that generation? I know I raised her, but she was definitely in a more capitalist, conservative home. Rebellion perhaps? Good grief, she’s over 40.
Although I am no fan of Ayn Rand, she did get it right about left and right being no better than two gangs squabbling over which one was to get the spoils. Orwell appeared to have agreed as Winston was tortured by O'Brien, declaring Nazis and Communists, for all their protestations, were the same, solely interested in power for its own sake. ('Power is power')
The dull dispute about whether he was left or right denies that his view evolved to settle shortly before his death, after completing 1984. Disillusionment can be most fundamental- seeing how Soviet interests exploited volunteers happily executing those who did not conform. The brutal Utilitarianism behind ideology's prime objectives of survival and spread must have come as a shock. Then a bullet put the cherry on the cake.
Orwell's work may belong in literature. Astonishingly, despite being banned in most authoritarian and ideological regimes, his is still absent from university politics courses. That's how far we have fallen. Echos of presence, written or in films, can be wonderful to hear.
On a business visit to Japan I visited a seaside town south of Tokyo, in a way a mini version of a cross between Atlantic City and Blackpool, solely to feel the presence I had seen in a film called Tokyo Story. I searched in vain from where the old couple, abused by their children, looked out over the City, in another scene, wondering how it was possible for people to find their way around such a vast place.
Thank you. You reminded me of then, their presence and echo.
That's a lovely church! I am glad it was open and you can see it.
If only the small parish churches were always open as you say! I have been trying to see St Andrew's church in our town but it was always closed when I was around. Now I spotted that there is an 'open day' on 13th of Sep as part of some heritage celebrations so I have added it in my calendar to go and see it.
So nice to hear something like this from you . Indulging in nostalgia has almost become a daily pastime for me now. To lessen my frustration over the mind blowing madness bombarding us, I wrote a childrens book for myself which I self published to avoid the sensitivity inquisitors which it would hever have passed. I set it in the 1960s . No phones, no sex, no problems with calling people fat or ugly, which the main character was who was also a drunk, but a tale of resilience and resistance in a time when we were not so crushed for the most trivial of things. I enjoyed every minute of it as I 'stuck it to them " with my non pc ideas and speak. I can thoroughly recommend this as a panacea to the hell we are living through now.
What a delightful read.
In reality, it's not even a joke. Here are the real Napoleon's dogs. I saw your chat, Andrew, with Lord Young of the Free Speech Union. I'm a founder of an AI startup with a governed architecture, and I spent the last three weeks looking into the subject. It's worse than you thought. https://trinityhelix.substack.com/p/ofcom-napoleons-dogs-and-the-91-cent?r=6emgcj
Lovely piece, thanks, Andrew
One day I must go there.
Have cross posted
https://dustymasterson.substack.com/p/my-life-as-a-dog-in-fact-ive-been
Dusty
I must go there one day when I am back in the UK.
I have given my grandson Animal Farm, and also Ayn Rand’s book Anthem. A comment came out from his mom criticizing me for giving her son books that she feels need to be banned. What the heck happened to that generation? I know I raised her, but she was definitely in a more capitalist, conservative home. Rebellion perhaps? Good grief, she’s over 40.