I remember as a 14 year-old kid waiting for mom to go to bed so that I could flip the switch on the HBO box and watch age inappropriate movies.
One movie that I was never able to forget was “1984”, a film inspired by George Orwell’s novel written in 1949.
Orwell’s eerie depiction of a horrific, tyrannical one-world government historically missed the mark. (I mean, who really could have foreseen Pac-Man and parachute pants?)
One of the more riveting scenes finds poor malnourished Winston being “reeducated” through torture and brainwashing, for daring to fall in love with a woman. At one point the emotionless “Party Leader” takes a momentary pause in the infliction of pain to allow Winston to ask any question that is on his mind. Winston asks if Big Brother is real. His torturer then replies, “Of course”. Winston immediately follows up with, “Is he real like me?” The stoic captor quickly responds, “You are not real!” As the brainwashing continues Winston is told that he only exists as part of “the collective”, there is no individual.
This really got me thinking.
Although this Marxist-Progressive movement has yet to have taken it to the “Big Brother Level”, there are some very interesting parallels. One example is an attempt to erode the independent-individual and instead have the individual assimilate into their collective. A few examples of this are:
1. Controlling speech and thought through political correctness and “canceling” those who speak outside of their controlled sphere of thoughts and words.
2. Causing confusion within the definition of gender, equating men and women as the same.
3. An anti-gun sentiment that leaves the law abiding individual helpless, unable to defend personal liberties and solely dependent upon the state for protection.
4. Increasing dependency of the population by expanding social welfare programs, making the individual financially dependent upon “Big Brother”.
5. Conforming curriculum into a common core assimilation of the educational system to brainwash the youth into obedient drones, loyal to the state.
6. Allowing massive illegal immigration that rapidly expands the lower class, sucking resources from the upper and middle classes through debt and taxation. This eventually destroys the middle class, leaving an all-powerful “Ruling class” and a massive, dependent lower class.
Other parallels of this Marxist-Progressive movement and “The Party/Big Brother” include the 24/7 broadcast of propaganda news. Can you imagine the horror of being forced to watch CNN all of the time?
Both their fiscal and social ideas are so destructive to the general populace that the merit of the issues can never be rationally debated. Discussion has been replaced by the immediate castigation and impugning of the character of the dissenting party. The “dissenter” is instantly identified as a racist or bigoted hate-mongerer to end debate, deterring any voice that speaks against the state. Truth itself has become the enemy and is often referred to as “conspiracy” or “hate speech”.
The word “Fascism” has often been intentionally misinterpreted by the actual fascists and used as a weapon to destroy political opposition.
So, what actually is fascism?
“The Doctrine of Fascism” was written in 1932 by Mussolini. It is made up of 3 basic principles:
1. “Everything is the state” (everyone must conform to the will of the state, basically total tyranny)
2. “Nothing against the state” (there is no freedom of speech, your thoughts and speech must be in line with the state)
3. “Nothing outside the state” (every human must submit to the state, world domination)
Historically speaking, one of the first actions of a fascist leader/dictator has been to confiscate all firearms from its citizenry. The power of “groupthink” is used to have everyone’s thoughts and words conform to that of the state (get those pronouns correct). Intimidation and eventually violence are used to silence all opposition of the state.
One of the most powerful and frightening quotes from George Orwell states, “Power is in tearing human minds to pieces and putting them together again in new shapes of your own choosing.”
The greatness of America and the incredible ingenuity of the American Spirit comes from the freedom and liberty of the individual to pursue their God-given talents and reach their full potential. This Marxist movement, the enemy within the gates, is perhaps the largest threat to freedom and liberty that America has ever faced.
When someone has the courage to stand and speak truth, it emboldens others to do the same.
Even if your voice shakes and your knees quiver, stand up and speak truth.
Charles Stouff lives in Pequea and is a lifelong resident of Lancaster County. He is the owner of A+PC LLC, a computer services company and also serves as a township supervisor in Martic Township.
