I just finished reading 1984 today. I am wondering what if I had been born and had grown up in US, how I would have felt after reading the book. Then, I thought what if I had been born in totalitarian country. Then, I thought no no no if I had been born in a country like that, there would have been no way for me to commit "THOUGHTCRIME" because we probably would not have had capability to differentiate between orthodox and unorthodox thoughts.
But well, I was born in Thailand and I had grown up there. Forget about that for a while, let's talk about the book. I found the concept is so real, true and immortal. Even some parts of the book sound too extreme yet who knows if those scenes really had happened, happened, happen, is happening or will happen in any part of the world. The author, to me, is so genius. He tied totalitarian concept by playing with new invented vocabularies used throughout the book. Let's talk about some of the vocabularies that are still running through my brain. I am about to translate them based on my understanding and from the book. When you get to read the book, or for those who have already read the book, share with me your thought.
WAR IS PEACE
Totalitarian leaders invent fake wars as a mean to control their own people. They use the fake wars as a mean to control their own labors, crops and materials, in other word, resources used within their own countres. So, WAR IS PEACE for the leaders.
FREEDOM IS SLAVERY
Totalitarian leaders control all aspects of their people's lives, especially their people's thoughts. When they say 2+2=5, you have to believe that. You have no way to escape as they have put up telescreens (cameras) everywhere that can capture your words, your movements, and even your thoughts. So, FREEDOM IS SLAVERY for the leaders.
IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH
Totalitarian leaders maintain people classification; the High, the Middle, and the Low. They ignore the meaning of equality and oppress the masses from revolution. They invent tools like CRIMESTOP, BLACKWHITE, and DOUBLETHINK to manipulate people's brains so that any demand from their people can be subdued and they can remain in control. When they alter the history and write up a new history book, you have to believe that the "new" history is real. So, IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH for the leaders.
THOUGTCRIME
When you start to think against the Party (totalitarian leaders) even you think you have not committed any crime, you have already committed THOUGHTCRIME.
VAPORIZE
Well, even this is not a new word, but in the book, it means when you get caught by the THOUGHT POLICE because you commit THOUGTCRIME, then, you will disappear without any trait of your ever existence.
CRIMESTOP
CRIMESTOP means the faculty of stopping short, as though by instinct, at the threshold of any dangerous thought.
BLACKWHITE
This word has two mutually contradictory meanings. Applied to an opponent, it means the habit of impudently claiming that black is white, in contradiction of the plain facts. Applied to a Party member, it means a loyal willingness to say that black is white when Party discipline demands this.
DOUBLETHINK
DOUBLETHINK means the power of holding two contradictory beliefs in one’s mind simultaneously, and accepting both of them. It is a vast system of mental cheating.
Now, let's come back to where I told you I was born and raised in Thailand.
Below are some articles about Thailand written in either Thai or English. It is beyond my capability to judge whether the articles are true or false or good or bad. Just play a matching game here. Once you read those articles, can you match each of them with vocabularies above? Or do they not match to any of the vocabularies above at all because Thailand has never fallen under totalitarian leadership? I have to leave it up to your judgement then.
1. https://asiancorrespondent.com/2014/09/all-thai-students-required-to-recite-daily-prayuths-12-core-values/
2. https://www.bbc.com/thai/thailand-49590530?ocid=socialflow_facebook&fbclid=IwAR2713MoChBNJRm7d-Uf15QH1mlwZsRAPDlbcNWdn-9RYZUD8ZONH-qCw0E
3. https://www.sanook.com/news/7821022/
4. My article you are reading.
Reference
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nineteen_Eighty-Four
