All I Ever Needed to Know About Life I Learned in "1984"

Obama is confident we can ride this out!

When I was back in high school, about forty years ago, one of the reading assignments was George Orwell’s “1984.”  I’m sorry to say I didn’t read it.  I was that kind of a student.  I had a pretty good memory.  To pass the tests, I didn’t have to do much more than listen to the teacher’s lecture.

                                                         

In the summer of 2009, I decided that maybe it was time to actually read the book, since I had been using the term Orwellian, for quite some time, to describe the world around me.  Since I was headed to the Jersey Shore, for some much needed vacation time, I purchased a paperback copy of 1984 and resolved to get through it.

What I discovered was absolutely mind boggling.  I know the rest of you are saying, “So what’s the big deal?  We’ve known that for years.”  Well, I’ll explain the big deal.  It is that sometimes we use a word like Orwellian, without actually considering how close to the truth we are.  Let me explain.  Emblazoned on the concrete façade of the Ministry of Truth were the words:

WAR IS PEACE

FREEDOM IS SLAVERY

IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH

Last week, the President of the United States introduced a budget that increased spending by telling us that he was cutting spending.  He told us that everyone must sacrifice, shortly before the White House Motown Party.  The First Lady says she is concerned about my diet and then heads to Vail on vacation where she eats ribs.  The Secretary of Homeland Security tells us that the border is safer than it has ever been while agents and private citizens continue to be shot by drug cartels.  Obama says he is confident that the market will ride out the current spike in oil, while I purchase gasoline for $3.37 a gallon.  Never mind that my neighbor has been out of work for months and there are three foreclosures along my road.

Maybe we should all reread 1984.  This morning, I went to the liquor store.  I purchased a bottle of Cabernet.  It is sitting on the front seat of my car in a brown paper bag.  Later, I’ll go home and enjoy a glass or two with my wife.  If it turns out to be Victory Gin, then I will know that all is truly lost.