George Orwell @ MindSay

   

Related tags

 

   


 

   
Biting my Tongue
Today's entry here is a sort of academic rant, if you'll all pardon my pre-caffeinated state ... I bit my tongue last night and saved it for you all here! 
 
As many of you know, Weds is school day for me at Pitt.   I am there all day ... until nearly 10 pm.  My last class is, for the most part, my favorite:  History of the English Language as taught by an English/Indian (as she identifies herself).  It has been a fascinating and eye-opening course in many ways, and actually opened a new genre to me as "pleasure" reading that I had never particularly enjoyed previously - essays.  That's the UP side ...
 
Our essay reading for last night, however, had me biting my tongue in class lest I make my real opinions known.  The essays concerned the nature of political language, "Politics and the English Language" ( worth reading!) written by George Orwell in 1946.  The point he makes is that most of us put little, if any, thought into our word choices.  He says our language "becomes ugly and inaccurate because our thoughts are foolish, but the slovenliness of our language makes it easier for us to have foolish thoughts."  He goes on to say that the common use of antiquated metaphors and "prefabricated" phrases belie our inattentiveness and, perhaps, apathy toward what we wish to say. He points to two specific characteristics of our language which form "avoidable ugliness".  The first is staleness of imagery; the other is lack of precision."  Orwell goes on to say that this "mixture of vagueness and sheer incompetence is the most marked characterisitic of modern English prose, and especially of any kind of political writing.  As soon as certain topics are raised, the concrete melts into the abstract and no one seems to be able to think of turns of speech that are not hackneyed."  OK, fine so far ... (and I happen to agree with him!)
 
But then the professor had to take it to Bush and the political jargon the administration uses to justify ... anything.  To which I replied that though this is true, it is not a NEW thing.  This is exactly what Orwell was responding to himself ... in 1946!  I also reminded them that as far back as Julius Caesar, political jargon has been used to sway the masses and justify questionable activities.  But, of course, everyone continued to make Bush the scapegoat for every ill under the sun, which is such an atrociously inappropriate view.  This is politics.  This is human nature, folks!  Ugly, ain't it!  Power does indeed corrupt.
 
OK ... that said ...I do not mind if politics are brought into the classroom, but I object to the assumption that we all, "obviously", agree because we are all relatively intelligent and informed adults.  Hogwash! (now, there's a word!) We do NOT all agree ... and that is a GOOD thing!
 
~ B
 
 
   
 

Pre-WW II Leftists Recognized Evil, Is There a 21st Century Leftist?

 

George Orwell is the famous pen name of Eric Arthur Blair. He was a noted novelist and essayist. Orwell's most famous book was "Nineteen Eighty-Four" which was published in 1949 one year prior to Orwell's death. That is a must read book in your life time. It is all about State control and where the term "Big Brother is Watching" came from.

Orwell was a Leftist that recognized an evil in the fascism of Nazi Germany. His essay is in regard to pacifism, a word that could be interchangeable with today’s "Politically Correct" or "Appeasement."

I posted this aged Orwellian essay for one reason: the times are beginning to look tragically similar to Orwell's day. Islamofascism is represented by Sunni and Shi'ite terrorists in an ideology that is horribly dangerous to culture as we know it today. It is time for Leftists to recognize this and put away petty ideological differences and go whole heartedly to defeat and disable terrorism and rogue States that perpetuate terrorism.
Hat tip to Klein Verzet.
 
 
 

   
The Mutability of the Past

I'm listening to NOW

ear to the energy

flowing from within

 

muting the past

with the future

I can't find

 

constantly fearing

that the good I seek,

the replacement I need

will never come

 

I'm fearing a forever

that will not be enough

for me

 
 
   
 

Big Brother is watching you!
I just read in the current TIME magazine about Bush being allowed to spy. I guess he's read 1984 and likes the Big Brother idea. George Orwell, you are this century's Nostradamus. Do you trust anyone that spys or into your business? I think not. This government has made us paranoid and more racist than ever. Aren't you proud? Thank goodnees for all the Liberals in the USA. Too bad we can't have another revolution; we've already screwed ourselves over with 'democracy'. Oh well, can't change it so I might as well live with it even though it angers me to no end. Why can't this nation be nice just once and not sugar-coat everything terrible? I'll have to think about that......Trinity out.
 
 
 

   
nothing special

I just finished an essay about George Orwell, so nasty business to write that. :( I have a few days to change some stuff and I have to get a book from the library where it says how to write the books you cited.


No Formula 1 for almost 5 months! :( Why?!!! How will I make it if I can't watch Kimi and the other guys? Well, there is Harry Potter in one month!!! :D So happy for that! And they've given 22 more pictures from the movie. Yay!


Okay, I've got a whole bunch of letters to write, so I will spend my afternoon writing letters to all kinds of people around the world.


I read today that there is not enough bird flu vaccin for all Finns, so in first hand it will go to important people. Who decides which people are more important or better than others? Just because they are doctors, in the parlament, or ministers doesn't mean they are any better than farmers from Ostrobothnia. It's sick. Arrange a huge lottery and anyone can get a chance to have vaccin if the bird flu is becoming a pandemi.

Better go and see if I get something to eat now. My stomach is complaining and wants some food. The clock is pretty much already.


I just read what I wrote and I must say some of it didn't make much sense. Well, I suppose people understand what I mean.

 
 
   
 

Showing 1 - 5.   [ Next ]
 
Latest Comment
Re: Why don't you have some dirty hot sex with me - hell yah it is. i still cant stop laughing. oh

Read...


 
© 2005-2007 MindSay Interactive LLC
| Terms of Service
| Privacy Policy
My Account
Inbox
Account Settings
Lost Password?
Logout
Blog
Update Blog
Edit Old Entries
Pick a Theme
Customize Design
Modify Plugins
Community
Your Profile
Wiki Pages
MindSay Tags
Video & Photos
Geographic Directory
Inside MindSay
About MindSay
MindSay and RSS
Report Spam
Contact Us
Help