There have been all sorts of Orwellian events in last decade and they have been quickening more recently. There is war with shifting sides, political and social lies, the threat of terrorism, environmental degradation, economic hardship and all around institutional treading of individuals with euphemistic and misleading language to describe and even defend it.
Up until recently figurative deposits into the memory hole were shadowy and covert omissions rather than outright removal of history. Up until recently deposits into the memory hole were small in scale, but now it is building it seems. In 1984 the memory hole is a chute leading to an incinerator in which is deposited information the establishment seeks to change or remove.
The switching of historical perspectives is one thing, the removal of controversial articles another, but the outright omission of major events over generations is inexcusable. The Governor of Virginia proclaimed April to be Confederate History Month. Only a significant portion of history was left out from his proclamation intended to boost tourism to his State; the feudal system of slavery. The subject of slavery was apparently left out despite the marking of the 150th anniversary of the Civil War. This was apparently done to note the other influences on the war. Let's be clear, the institution of overt, racist slavery was the major catalyst for the war Virginia marks. After public outcry, slavery was acknowledged in the proclamation.
History is available facts, not stories. The fact is Edward Rutlege, a Continental Congressman from South Carolina, led the slave states in their refusal to sign the Declaration of Independence until the grievance condemning slavery was removed. This grievance was penned by Thomas Jefferson.
The fact is the United States' expansion west in the Mexican American War resulted in an expansion of Slave States which led to escalation of tension. The fact is there were certainly other reasons for the war Virginia marks, but slavery was an entrenched institution in the State and major component of the war.
The most troubling deposit into the memory hole is the changes proposed by the Texas State Board of Education to Texas history and social studies books. Texas is the second largest market for textbooks. The Texas high school history book revisions include omission of Thomas Jefferson as an influential writer and thinker of the nation's origination. There is a section on influential music which includes country and western music's influence on culture, but fails to mention rap or hip hop. Thomas Edison and Albert Einstein are gone from discussion and the importance of civil rights leaders like Cesar Chavez is belittled. The most diabolical change to the textbook may be that it proposes that separation of church and state (supported by Thomas Jefferson) might be of little value.
George Orwell would roll over in his grave. They are distorting and eliminating history to fit their story. In doing so they also suggest that institutions linking together might not be so bad. The prevention of institutional connections, such as church and state, is fundamental to the origins of the U.S.A. and one might successfully argue, critical thinking in total. The entire system of U.S.A. government is designed to separate powers so that one institution does not rein over others. Separation of powers within government and otherwise connected to government is essential to our nation and freethinking in total.
The linking of institutions is a main vein in the story of 1984. The church, state and corporate was one and the same in 1984; Big Brother. Oligarchical collectivism is termed. This means essentially the linking of pyramidal institutions. The Texas Board of Education deposited facts into the memory hole and promotes oligarchical collectivism in its purest and worst form, linking of church and state.
The fact is Thomas Jefferson was an extraordinary thinker, despite being a slave owner himself. The fact is that when churches and states collect together individuals get stepped on. This has happened for centuries on all land masses and is exemplified in the divine right of kings for instance. The fact is that Thomas Jefferson and George Orwell both observed the linking of institutions, oligarchical collectivism, as inherently bad for individuals. It is not that institutions always have negative intentions, but when institutions link the results are always negative.
The following are quotes from Thomas Jefferson. If you meet someone from Texas who doesn't know who Thomas Jefferson is, tell them he was a mad smart OG from back in the day, they will know what you mean.
What is it men cannot be made to believe!
Question with boldness even the existence of a god; for if there be one he must approve the homage of reason more than that of blindfolded fear.
History, I believe, furnishes no example of a priest-ridden people maintaining a free civil government. This marks the lowest grade of ignorance of which their civil as well as religious leaders will always avail themselves for their own purposes.
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