It's the bit about 'Raw, uncut truth' that strikes me most. What they mean is a restricted stream of propaganda favourable to their views, and anyone who dissents gets banned or thrown out. There is a law of opposites about socialist activists -- possibly about any activists. When they say 'truth' they mean 'fictions that suit us'. When they accuse their opponents of peddling lies, it usually means that their opponents have exposed some shameful truth about the activist group. When they accuse their opponents of wrongdoing, it invariably means that they are doing the same thing themselves.
This means that it is fairly easy to find out what such people are doing. Listen to what they say, and look for the opposite.
Billy, since you liked Animal Farm you will probably be reading Orwell's other masterpiece 1984 soon, with its 'Ministry of Truth' that spreads propaganda. The book is full of these reversals of meaning.
It's the bit about 'Raw, uncut truth' that strikes me most. What they mean is a restricted stream of propaganda favourable to their views, and anyone who dissents gets banned or thrown out. There is a law of opposites about socialist activists -- possibly about any activists. When they say 'truth' they mean 'fictions that suit us'. When they accuse their opponents of peddling lies, it usually means that their opponents have exposed some shameful truth about the activist group. When they accuse their opponents of wrongdoing, it invariably means that they are doing the same thing themselves.
ReplyDeleteThis means that it is fairly easy to find out what such people are doing. Listen to what they say, and look for the opposite.
Billy, since you liked Animal Farm you will probably be reading Orwell's other masterpiece 1984 soon, with its 'Ministry of Truth' that spreads propaganda. The book is full of these reversals of meaning.