What is Perpetual Warfare?
“No nation could preserve its freedom in the midst of continual warfare.” -James Madison
Perpetual warfare in 1984 meets a special set of criteria:
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It's fought in a distant land
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Oceania is always winning
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There's no goal
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It's done on purpose to keep people afraid
Is the War in Afghanistan a forever war (albeit an unwitting one)? There's a lot to unpack, but one aspect is irrefutable: periods of war have outweighed periods of peace for several generations.
Tech: the Modern Battlefront
“The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.” -Sun Tzu, The Art of War
Technology plays a big part in the world of 1984. Author George Orwell knew that new tech meant new ways to influence and control people.
If he wrote his novel today, it would most definitely include cell phones and the internet. Cyberwarfare has changed the way governments and rebellions alike engage with friends or foes. Cybersecurity is so pervasive, it impacts everything from phones to Facebook.
Consider this:
Making History
"What is history but a fable agreed upon?” -Bernard Le Bouvier de Fontenelle, French philosopher
All nations have histories peppered with mistakes, but totalitarian governments (like the one in 1984) actively change history to hide their faults.
Before you see the show, think about the following:
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Which historical events from your lifetime are up for debate?
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Whom do you trust? Why?