Now, now we catch more flies with honey.
I was looking at your profile, specifically at your favorite books, and I noticed that there is no "Homage to Catalonia" by Orwell. I don't mean to say that it should be among your favorites just that I expect it would be.

 

it is one of my favourites. just didn't sped long on writing them out. the essay 'spilling the spanish beans' is one of his best do. you could get it on a google search if you haven't already read it.

 

Thanks, I'll just read it now.

 

I use my telly to watch sport, and then only now and again. For the record, I am fairly badly adjusted.

I have to admit, the only Orwell I've read (apart from 1984 and Animal Farm obviously) is Burmese Days, which put me off somewhat. Very good, but so oppressive.

 

Hey, have you read Neil Postman's Amusing Ourselves to Death? Great book, relevant to this topic, and resonates with a neo-luddite like myself (he typed into his laptop with the adsl connection). Recommended!

 

Speaking of Orwell, here's an excerpt on "thought crimes" from something recent by Bill Blum (killinghope.org)...

"Ahmed Omar Abu Ali is a 24-year-old American citizen from Virginia who went to study at a university in Saudi Arabia. He was arrested by the Saudis, interrogated, and confessed to being part of an al Qaeda plot to assassinate George W. Bush while the president was visiting the country. Abu Ali is now being held in the United States by federal authorities. His defense attorneys and his family have contended that any statements he made in Saudi custody were obtained through torture and should thus not be allowed into evidence. Two doctors who examined Abu Ali found evidence that he was tortured in Saudi Arabia, including scars on his back consistent with having been whipped, defense lawyers have said in court papers. The prosecution has argued that he was not tortured, and the judge presiding over the trial, which began October 31, has agreed to allow Abu Ali’s confession into evidence.

"Abu Ali confessed to the Saudis about conspiring to carry out other terrorist acts as well, but I’d like to focus here on the alleged assassination plot. Law enforcement sources cited by the Washington Post have said the plot against Bush, “never advanced beyond the talking stage”.{3} If that is indeed the case, and even assuming there was no torture involved, then I’d raise the question of whether a “crime”, worthy of punishment -- and Abu Ali faces up to life in prison on the assassination charge alone -- was committed. Or does it fall in the category of a “thought crime” made famous of course in Orwell’s “1984"? Someone should perhaps tell the Justice Department that “1984" was meant to be a warning, not a how-to guide."

Oh, and Homage to Catalonia is a great book!

 

hey keir - apparently 'confessions' are broadcast on the new iraqi tv channel every night now - which is straight out of 1984.

keir - i'm going to look for that book

donna - he said in 1984 "the date, april the --th [i can't remember] 1984.... i think"

the implication being that it might not be. the party may have been lying about it.

 

"Kill your TV"

-Ned's Atomic Dustbin!