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 * The Cautionary Tale of Corruption **

Noam Chomsky, an American philosopher, once said, "The principle that human nature, in its psychological aspects, is nothing more than a product of history and given social relations removes all barriers to coercion and manipulation by the powerful"(“Manipulation”) This statement expresses the impending power of authority on human civilization and the need for self-determination. However, many governments attempt to dominate their citizens by creating methods of control and conformity. The novels, //1984//, by George Orwell and //Little Brother// by Cory Doctorow portray a society where totalitarian governments attempt to oppress a population by limiting their knowledge and denying their freedoms. Therefore, the characters of these novels rebel against authority to create a better society. In the book //1984//, Winston, an Outer Party member for the Ministry of Truth, identifies the corruption of his government and seeks rebellion against Big Brother. Julia, a fellow Outer Party member joins Winston in his attempt to defy the government's rules and morals by participating in activities not approved by the government. The two rebels choose to feel emotion; something frowned upon in Oceania, where everything is conducted on as business. In a story that explores similar themes, //Little Brother// illustrates the world of Marcus, a young, technology savvy teenager who disapproves of the actions of his government. After a terrorist attack in his home town of San Francisco, Marcus, along with three other friends, is taken hostage by the Department of Homeland Security and identified as a potential terrorist. With the use of modern technology, Marcus begins to battle the unconstitutional ways of his government along with the help of supporters and friends of the X-net, a rebellious and secretive Internet system. The events portrayed in these novels are similar to contemporary incidents that are occurring in the world today; where people are losing their individual rights, freedoms, and sense of independence. The advances in modern technology, the public need for a sense of security, and the amount of national propaganda contribute to a government’s psychological manipulation of its citizens, as exemplified in each of these novels.

Today's advanced technology has created a population that is dependent on its daily use, producing an environment prone to government control: This technology is so important to modern society that governments feel the need to regulate these systems. However, a reliance on advanced tools, as demonstrated in both //1984// and //Little Brother// creates a nation in which authority can easily manipulate ideas as well as gain private information that, previously, could not be accessed. In //1984//, Big Brother controls its society with the use of technology, such as the telescreens monitoring and the digital falsification of history. The Inner Party manipulates such equipment to promote the ideas that it believes are the most beneficial to the government's reputation. For example, Big Brother's manipulation of fear, as expressed in the fraudulent war used to create a more submissive society. The Ministry of Truth's statement, "Who controls the past, controls the future. Who controls the present, controls the past" (Orwell 248) reflects the ideas of the Party’s exploitation of history to change the perception of Oceania's reputation, using technology to accomplish this task. Through technology, the government is able to control the citizens’ world view, manipulating their sense of reality. Likewise, the novel //Little Brother// supports the same ideas: an excessive dependency on technology allows a government to gain control over its people, by threatening their privacy and ultimately their security. In the novel //Little Brother//, technical advances allows the authorities to surround Marcus with an excessive amount of security, threatening his privacy, as well as his freedom guaranteed to him by the Constitution: “They had information about where I’d been, places that didn’t have a toll plaza. They’d been polling my pass just on the street, at random. And it was wrong!” (Doctorow 133). Marcus’ father complains that government-controlled technology can threaten individual rights if used to deny one’s freedom. These novels serve as a warning to modern day society that government use of technology must be monitored and limited. Marcus’ advice must be heeded: “[W]henever any form of government becomes destructive…it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it” (Doctorow 180). Government that do not honor privacy or individual liberties, as shown in both books, must be amended by the people. High-ranking officials need to share this responsibility because as Spiderman acknowledges, "With great power, comes great responsibility." If the people can't rely on their leaders to rule them honorable and just manner, society has the right to rebel. Such acts of rebellions are currently occurring around the world today. //[|Time Magazine]// states that “After decades of living under oppressive dictatorships, the people of the Arab world are rising up to stake their claim to democracy “(Zakaria), even though these governments are attempting to block the rebellion by suppressing citizens’ use of technology. However, the American government is also using technology to monitor its people. For example, telescreens, similar to those used in //1984//, are being installed in [|Wal-Marts] around the country by Homeland Security as part of their “[|If You See Something, Say Something]” campaign, which is used to monitor suspicious activity. Nevertheless, citizens around the country are expressing their fears of a future with limited freedoms and privacy because of the use of advanced technology. If these warning are not taken seriously, modern day's society can expect a possible environment similar to that of //Little Brother// or //1984//.

The public desire for safety often allows the government to encroach on citizens’ Constitutional rights. With society's escalating sense of danger, the population will often allow the government to monitor the movements and habits of the population. In //1984//, Big Brother “watches” the society and manipulates the thoughts and actions of its people, controlling every aspect of their lives: "There was of course no way of knowing whether you were being watched at any given moment. How often, or on what system, the Thought Police plugged in on any individual wire was guesswork; it was even conceivable that they watched everybody all the time" (Orwell 2). This quotation refers to the government’s use of telescreens in the society. These devices allow the government to invade its people's privacy by recording their actions and using the images to suppress opposition. These civilians are not consulted; instead they must conform to the government’s rules – a government that does not respect Constitutional rights. In //1984, a fake war and a sense of danger encourage the civilians to ask for extra safety precautions. These extra measure, allow the government to look into the lives of innocents and accuse them of thought crime as well as treachery against the government. Similar occurrences can be found in the book Little Brother//. As the fear against terrorism rose in his nation, Marcus noticed a rise in security throughout the streets of San Francisco: countless DHS agents were stationed around the city, Internet security tightened, and the movement of every civilian became monitored: “Cops were walking up and down the line pointing people out and calling them aside for questioning, bag searches, and pat downs….The security guards on the metal detectors were also wanding our school IDs and pulling students with odd movements for questioning” (Doctorow 131). The excessive amounts of surveillance in this society reflect a civilization where civil liberties are taken for granted, reflecting a disregard towards the Constitution. After the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the government of the United States enacted similar security precautions throughout the country. The increased security in [|airport security], camera surveillance, and Internet monitoring on social networks demonstrates invasive government control as portrayed in both novels. Specifically, the administration passed legislation called the [|Patriot Acts], which included “the extension of ‘sneak and peek warrants,’ searches of library and business records, and roving wiretaps” (“Patriot Act”). Many US citizens believed that these laws diminished privacy and created government with too much control. If a nation becomes willing to forfeit its rights, the fundamentals that went into building a nation will be first taken for granted and then possibly taken away. As Cory Doctorow, author of //Little Brother//, once said, "Funny, for all the surveillance, Osama bin Laden is still free-and we're not. Guess who's winning the ‘war on terror?’”(//Good Reads//) As Doctorow stated, a civilization's fear should not lead to a loss of personal freedom. Increased security and monitoring will never guarantee complete safety. Therefore, a nation must ensure that privacy is prioritized as well as security, working hard to maintain equilibrium between the two.

A population can be easily manipulated through the use of propaganda: Government is able to spread their influence if a common idea is shared among the nation. In //1984//, a common fear of Big Brother fuels the government's control. Big Brother posters found at every street corner constantly remind the citizens of the danger that may occur if they are not loyal to the government. The government's platform on panic and trepidation directs its citizens towards a life encouraged by authority. With this control, a totalitarian nation may be formed, where the citizens are forced to think in a way that the government approves: “A nation of warriors and fanatics, marching forward in perfect unity, all thinking the same thoughts and shouting the same slogans, perpetually working, fighting, triumphing, persecuting - three hundred million people all with the same face.”(Orwell 70) When a government appears to be flawless, the citizens will follow without resistance or suspicion, creating more control. Propaganda is again expressed in the novel, //Little Brother//. Proclamations against terrorist flood the country, depicting US’ enemies as infiltrating the government from the inside. This spread of fear created by the government allows an increase in security and an abolishment of freedoms during this time of terror. Newspapers, newscasts, and SchoolBooks play a large role by spreading the national fear of terrorism: “The opening screen was emblazoned with a DHS logo and the title: ‘What Every American Should Know About Homeland Security’….I jumped on the BART and found myself sitting behind two guys in suits. They were looking at the ‘San Francisco Chronicle,’ which featured a full page postmortem on the ‘youth riot’ in Mission Dolores Park. They were tutting and clucking over it. Then one said to the other, ‘It’s like they’re brainwashed or something. Christ, were we ever that stupid?’” (Doctorow 198). Through the spread of ideas, a government can manipulate their concepts to influence the thoughts of their population. Modern day's society can benefit from this warning. If a government's control becomes too powerful, diverse opinions decrease. In the societies depicted, their nations became similar to that of a dictator's nation. Currently, the [|Egyptian government]has instructed phone companies to send pro-government messages as an attempt to regain control of its population. Previously, similar acts have been portrayed, as Hosni Mubarak enforced a national Internet black-out. Propaganda preys on the fears, insecurities, desires, and values systems to accomplish their goals. As reported by UK resident, Roj, “Libyan TV is currently running a [|propaganda film]. A woman in a military uniform is singing a, presumably, patriotic song against a backdrop of a montage of images of Gaddafi and an assortment of military parades.” This act of propaganda appeals to the Lebanese people’s sense of patriotism. This exploit is similarly portrayed in //1984//: “It was not desirable that the proles should have strong political feelings. All that was required of them was a primitive patriotism which could be appealed to whenever it was necessary to make them accept longer working-hours or shorter rations.” (Orwell, 71) Propaganda can aid a corrupt government as it aims to gain complete control over a nation and persuade its citizens towards a common idea. If the amount of endorsement in modern society continues to progress, any society holds the potential of becoming corrupt.

With an expansion of technology, a civilian need for security, and an excess of propaganda among a nation, power can easily be expressed through oppression rather than integrity. A nation must be aware of these dangers and work toward a society that can harbor an equal amount of security, privacy, and civil liberties. The classic novel, //1984//, and its similar counterpart, //Little Brother//, express the outcome of a society if government control becomes too authoratative. These books must be viewed as cautionary tales, which guide modern nations as they progress through struggles. Societies today possess the same offenses of the nations in both novels. Lord Acton said, "Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men, even when they exercise influence and not authority: still more when you superadd the tendency or the certainty of corruption by authority." (“Power”) These words warn of the many misconducts of a government if public representation is not apparent. As a country, authority and civilians alike must strive for a nation of democracy and liberty. Without these fundamentals, a society may fall victim to injustice.

Works Cited

"DHS Telescreens To Encourage Walmart Shoppers To Spy On Each Other | Dprogram.net." //Dprogram.net - Countering Propaganda//. 7 Dec. 2010. Web. 22 Feb. 2011. [].

Doctorow, Cory. //Little Brother//. New York: Tom Doherty Associates, 2008. Print.

Hall, Kathleen. "Vodafone Protests Egyptian Government Propaganda on Network." //Computerweekly.com//. 4 Feb. 2011. Web. 21 Feb. 2011. .

"Manipulation Quotes Page 2 - BrainyQuote." //Famous Quotes at BrainyQuote//. 2011. Web. 22 Feb. 2011. [].

Orwell, George. //1984//. San Diego: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1984. Print.

"Power." //Wikiquote//. 26 Jan. 2011. Web. 22 Feb. 2011. []. Roj. "Libya TV Gaddafi Propaganda - Rojblake's Posterous." //Rojblake's Posterous - Home//. 21 Feb. 2011. Web. 22 Feb. 2011. [].

TSA Public Affairs. "TSA: TSA Begins Testing New Advanced Imaging Technology Software." //TSA | Transportation Security Administration | U.S. Department of Homeland Security//. 1 Feb. 2011. Web. 22 Feb. 2011. [].

US Homeland Security. "YouTube - Walmart Public Service Announcement." //YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.// 6 Dec. 2010. Web. 22 Feb. 2011. [].

Washington Times. "Patriot Act Renewal Resisted by Bipartisan Group - Washington Times." //Washington Times - Politics, Breaking News, US and World News//. 17 Nov. 2005. Web. 22 Feb. 2011. [].

Zakaria, Fareed. "Egypt's Revolt: How Democracy Can Work in the Middle East - TIME." //Breaking News, Analysis, Politics, Blogs, News Photos, Video, Tech Reviews - TIME.com//. 3 Feb. 3. Web. 22 Feb. 2011. [].