You Can Get With This Or...You Die
How The Government Control Scheme Has Changed My Life
"People should not be afraid of their governments. Governments should be afraid of their people."
Dystopian Paragraph
What is a dystopia? “A dystopia is an idea of a society that is a repressive and controlled state…(B).” Despite our government’s attempts to develop a nation on the grounds of democracy and freedom for all, many of the practices used conclude that the United States government is in all actuality forming a dystopian society. The American government as a whole reflects a mirror image of a dystopian society in many ways such as satellites orbiting the Earth and the NSA tapping phone calls, no one is immune to constant surveillance. The American government also attempts to regulate the church and the way it functions according to its religious beliefs. In addition, the American government is similar to a dystopian society in that few “inner party members” know what is truly going on in our nation’s capital. Lastly, the American government assimilates to a dystopian society in that it censors the information that the public has reigns to see.
In the world we live in today, we are constantly being watched. Government programs such as the NSA are listening in on phone conversations are filling in the role of the ears for Big Brother while the numerous satellites orbiting the earth are the eyes for Big Brother. What necessity urges the government to feel the need to invade the citizens right to privacy and watch their every movement? Much like Big Brother in the dystopian novel, 1984, by George Orwell, our government claims it to be a matter of national security. But, in actuality, it’s just another attempt by our government to keep tabs on its people.
Despite our country abiding by the constitution, the government repeatedly violates the first amendment by imposing its will on gay couples and regulating the responsibilities of the church. An example of this would be Washington’s recent move to require employers, including church affiliated hospitals and schools. Thus, blurring the fine line that separates church and state. “The Catholic Church and other religious groups, which consider some forms of contraception as the termination of life, had waged an intensive lobbying campaign for a clear exemption of affiliated institutions from the new rules,” but despite these attempts at exemption, officials in Washington denied the requests (Dwyer).
Additionally, the American government resembles a dystopian society in that only the “inner party” knows the workings of our government and what goes on in the capital on a day to day basis. The public is left to infer what is going on based on the bits and pieces of information that it can gather. The government funnels and filters so much of its inner workings that no one in the “outer party” can wholeheartedly say what happens behind those close doors. The American public is essentially reduced to what equates to 1984’s ”outer party.”
Lastly, the United States government censors what information is revealed to the public. An example of this is the port-mortem photos of Osama Bin Laden. It is well known that photos of Bin Laden after he was killed supposedly exist but our Commander-in-chief maintains that he “won’t release Bin Laden death photos. (Montopoli)” Why do Washington officials feel as though the general public has no right to see proof of Bin Laden’s end? Much like a typical dystopian society, the US government censors what the American populous sees.
Theme Song
An effective theme song to the novel 1984 by George Orwell, would be Somebody’s Watching Me by Rockwell. In the song it specifically says “And (I always feel like)
(Somebody's watching me),And I have no privacy (Rockwell).” The song relates to the novel in that in their society the Party had developed a type of television, known as a telescreen, that not only projects images and sounds it also relays the sounds and video feed of its surroundings. The information and sounds that are gathered is relayed to the Inner Party, thus supporting the idea that someone is watching their every movement. In addition, the songs say ”who's watching me? I don't know anymore. Are the neighbors watching me? Who's watching? (Rockwell)” This relates to the novel in that no one in the party knows who a member of the thought police, the government organization whose members are anonymous and whose duty is to report incidences of thought crime, or who is going to report their actions. For example, when Parsons muttered “Down with Big Brother” in his sleep his daughter reported him. Another example would be Mr. Charrington who allowed Julia and Winston to rent a room from him but the whole time was a member of the thought police. His reporting of Julia and Winston is what led to their eventual capture and imprisonment.
Lyrics
Who's watching
Tell me, who's watching
Who's watching me
I'm just an average man
With an average life
I work from nine to five
Hey, hell, I pay the price
All I want is to be left alone
In my average home
But why do I always feel
Like I'm in the twilight zone
And (I always feel like)
(Somebody's watching me)
And I have no privacy
Whooooa-oh-oh
(I always feel like)
(Somebody's watching me)
Tell me, is it just a dream
When I come home at night
I bolt the door real tight
People call me on the phone
I'm trying to avoid
But can the people on TV see me
Or am I just paranoid
When I'm in the shower
I'm afraid to wash my hair
'Cause I might open my eyes
And find someone standing there
People say I'm crazy
Just a little touched
But maybe showers remind me
Of Psycho too much
That's why
(I always feel like)
(Somebody's watching me)
And I have no privacy
Whooooa, oh-oh
(I always feel like)
(Somebody's watching me)
Who's playin' tricks on me
[Instrumental Interlude]
(Who's watching me)
I don't know anymore
Are the neighbors watching me
(Who's watching)
Well, is the mailman watching me
(Tell me, who's watching)
And I don't feel safe anymore
Oh, what a mess
I wonder who's watching me now
(Who)
The IRS
(I always feel like)
(Somebody's watching me)
And I have no privacy
Whooooa, oh-oh
(I always feel like)
(Somebody's watching me)
Tell me, is it just a dream
(I always feel like)
(Somebody's watching me)
And I have no privacy
Whooooa, oh-oh
(I always feel like)
(Somebody's watching me)
Who's playin' tricks on me
(Who's watching me)
(I always feel like)
(Somebody's watching me)
Oooooooh
Whooooa-oh-oh
(I always feel like)
(Somebody's watching me)
So ? who can it be
(Who's watching me)
(I always feel like)
(Somebody's watching me)
Whooooa-oh-oh
(I always feel like)
(Somebody's watching me)
Who's playing tricks on me
(Who's watching me)
(I always feel like)
(Somebody's watching me)
Can I have my privacy
Whooooa-oh-oh
(I always feel like)
(Somebody's watching me)
Who's playing tricks on me
Big Brother Assmiilation
Listen No More! March Against the NSA Listening In On Our Phone Calls
Friday, Jan 25, 2013, 02:00 PM
Washington, DC, United States
Trippy Hippie Nation
School Sonnet
Each and every day,
Of the passing weeks,
We're dressed in the "appropriate" way,
Conforming to what big brother seeks.
No tanks no skirts or spaghetti straps,
Big brother Tash seems to think
that all the boys think with what's in their laps,
And they're all thirsty and need a drink.
We all assimilate to the code,
But occasionally we stray away,
And big brother flushes our individuality down the commode,
We go home and contemplate maybe well try again another day.
Down with big brother
And bring In another
Works Cited
Works Cited
B, Michael. "Is America Becoming a Dystopian Society." Web log post. Michael B Blog. N.p., 26 Mar. 2010. Web. 12 Dec. 2013.
Gordy, Kennedy. "Somebody's Watching Me." Rec. 1983. Rockwell. Curtis Anthony Nolen, 1983.
Montopoli, Brian. "Obama: I Won't Release Bin Laden Death Photos." Web log post. CBS News. CBS News, 5 May 2011. Web. 12 Dec. 2013.
Orwell, George. 1984: A Novel. New York, NY: Published by Signet Classic, 1977. Print.
V for Vendetta. Dir. James McTeigue. Perf. Natalie Portman and Hugo Weaving. Warner Bros, 2005. DVD.