March 23, 2009 7:30 AM
Animal Farm - Part Two - ObamaNation
Part Two: Chapters 2-7
I'm sorry. In the avalanche of news - how can one man do so much damage to the economy, governmental integrity (that may be an oxymoron), the office of the presidency, our country's dignity, truth, freedom, justice, and the emotional/psychological well-being of the population each day? - I have put bringing you highlights each day ahead of continuing the discussion on Animal Farm.
It is really with a heavy heart that I turn to it now - but maybe the delay will actually be of benefit, for each day seems to bring more parallels between Orwell's vision of totalitarianism and the juggernaut of our current administration.
First of all, I'd like to know how many people are following this discussion. Only a few blogged and linked last time. Some left comments. But if you have read Animal Farm - a quick read and free to read/download/print here - and are lurking, would you please leave a comment, even anonymously?
My plan to go chapter-by-chapter seems less useful in retrospect as you all may be bursting with insights to share. So let's just open this up. If you are posting anything about Animal Farm at a blog, please link. Non-bloggers, feel free to leave comments of any length below.
I loved evergreen's notes in the last comment, especially her note that the Raven - who represents the Church - was asleep when Major appeals to the animals' emotions to plant the philosophical seeds for rebellion.
In Chapter 2, Major dies, but his vision carried forward by the Pigs, who have already shown signs of elitism - claiming all animals equal while doing their best to advance their own status. They teach themselves to read and they delegate to animals who cannot read (not intrinsically bad endeavors, but as the pigs evolve, the basis for their tyranny), are loyal and have a strong work ethic. How that delegation reminded me of this fellow, so intent on mobilizing the masses for his Glorious Leader.
The pigs don't like the Raven because his stories of Sugarcandy Mountain might take the edge off the animals. The pigs' ideology is built and dependent on discontent. Totalitarianism and atheism go hand in hand. While people with religion may have ideals, their ideals are tempered with the practical understanding that we cannot build a perfect world here on earth. The Left uses issues like poverty, AIDS and global warming to build coalitions by promising to create a perfect world. (And interestingly, though Bush did more to help Africa fight AIDS than any other president, his work is ignored by the U. S. media because it would run counter to his vilification - just as Snowball's heroism in battle later must be not only deleted from history, but turned 180 degrees to represent him as a coward.)
Like the sheep in Animal Farm, many Obamabots memorize the slogans/catch-phrases/talking points and are so busy reciting them they don't take the time to listen and think. You can see it at leftist blogs, which by now should be up in arms about all the hypocrisy going on under The One. But their programming - largely through years of public school education, Hollywood, MTV, and leftist universities - will not allow them to stop, look and listen.
Still, Animalism - as the pigs name their ideology - might well have remained in the realm of the theoretical, had not a catalytic situation occurred: Mr. Jones' alcoholism and deteriorating stewardship of the farm result in a revolt in which the animals succeed in chasing the humans from the farm.
Today's parallel is Rahm Emanuel's "never let a crisis go to waste"- echoed March 6 by Hillary Clinton.
From the beginning, the pigs do no actual work, control everything, and give themselves special rewards. Napoleon realizes the key to control is educating the young, and removes the puppies to educate himself privately. In the end, they will become deadly defenders of his power. This is exactly why homeschooling families today are so important to the future of this country as their children are being brought up free of government brainwashing. Families called to have a presence in public schools are important to, as long as they remain very, very involved with their kids to counteract the dominant leftist agenda.
Napoleon has an apologist, Squealer, who uses manipulation, emotions and lies to answer any lingering doubts about what their leader has said. Napoleon resists Snowball's windmill plan, but after having his dogs run Snowball off the farm, changes history and takes credit for it himself.
The slightest hint of protest is put down by the threatening growls of the dogs. The absence of Snowball provides many opportunities for Napoleon to use an Us vs. Them to solidify his support among the increasingly stupid animals. Every single thing that goes wrong is blamed on Snowball and history is rewritten to paint him as a traitor from the beginning. (Blame Bush, anyone?)
This weekend our old friend ACORN (many of us warned about ACORN before the election) sponsored a bus tour of AIG executive homes in Connecticut as our Glorious Leader and his Congressional compatriots continue to lie to the American people, appealing to mob mentality to deflect anger away from them - the actual authors of the bonus-affirming legislation - and toward the "undeserving rich."
Scapegoating is a powerful propaganda tool. But coming from the party that has been so quick to cry McCarthyism and to accuse the right of fear-mongering - well, let's face it: this fomenting rage and exposing private citizens to danger by our own government is completely unprecedented. The truth is that these sad citizens - like the sheep in Animal Farm - have been manipulated into repeating the lies they've been told.
Like Napoleon in Animal Farm, our own glorious Leader's course of action seems to have become completely disconnected with reality. As Napoleon orders the rebuilding of the destroyed windmill, it matters not to him that the promises he made to the animals of better living conditions than they had under Farmer Jones are becoming less and less likely to ever come true - in fact they are working harder than ever for less. Obama's ramming through of the Porkulus Bill enabling Democrats to reward their patrons, approval of a Stimulus Bill with 8000 earmarks (after campaign promises to end earmarks), and constant calls for more trillions - will cripple America for generations to come. But they will make the populace completely dependent on the government, won't they?
As Napoleon becomes increasingly tyrannical, brutal, and out of touch with reality, the other animals become more crazy too - like an alcoholic family where one person's insanity calls everyone else to be in denial to keep the system working. An individual drunk with power drags others down too as they become increasingly - and in various ways insane with denial. From the outside it's hard to understand what keeps the system going when it looks like it should just collapse.
Two months into Obama's America, it's hard to understand why the press is still covering for him, why sincere leftists haven't reverted to Questioning Authority, why conservative turncoats like Peggy Noonan - who found Obama elegant and Sara Palin crude (a contrast Rush made beautifully Friday with the Special Olympics debacle) - haven't repented publicly for giving us the gift that keeps on taking.
What Animal Farm and Comandante Obama leadership based on power and will - a far cry from the style of government envisioned by our Founding Fathers, whose model was more one of servant leadership, in keeping with the Christian priniciples with which our country was founded.
How many times did Obama publicly vow to listen to all sides and remain open to all points of view? And yet when have we seen him budge in the slightest from his own agenda? He has spent two months running roughshod over his opposition while inviting them for cocktails at the White House. When his plans seem in jeopardy, he mobilizes his minions to go door-to-door.
This is leadership from the top down, period. Make no mistake, we are watching the development of a tyrant. And given his penchant for pop star status, a pretty ridiculous one at that.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
But notice the difference: while democracy seeks equality in liberty,
socialism seeks equality in restraint and servitude.
Posted in Animal Farm book study, Obama Nation | Permalink
Comments
Hi. I might be jumping ahead of myself but I have a question that has been puzzling me since
reading. Why did the animals admit to "crimes"
they never committed especially after
seeing others get killed?
Posted by: Sue from Buffalo | March 23, 2009 10:26 AM
Barbara - I am reading and following the discussion (and really appreciating it). I just haven't had the time to put my thoughts into writing yet.
Posted by: Shannon Miller | March 23, 2009 10:49 AM
I have been reading and following the discussion with great interest, as I type one-handed while holding the baby.
Posted by: Elissa | March 23, 2009 1:32 PM
Now that I've read Animal Farm, it's really alarming to read and hear the story again as it develops in the daily news. I was really stricken with the animals' rules painted on the side of the barn, and how those laws were changed in secrecy over time, until there was but one law. This was fairly easy for the pigs to accomplish because the other animals were either illiterate, ignorant or both.
I love Edith Schaeffer's admonitions to be well read and to keep abreast of what is going on in the world around us. An uninformed, uneducated populace is a dangerous thing.
Posted by: Cheryl (Copper's Wife) | March 23, 2009 1:36 PM
I have no blog, but I'm reading and reccommending that others I know read it too. SO MANY parallels. I'm really glad you're doing a book club and plan to read the next one too...
Posted by: stacie | March 23, 2009 4:17 PM
I'm reading along, too!
Posted by: Franchelle | March 23, 2009 5:07 PM
I tip-toe'd over from Chery's blog (Copper's Wife). You've given an excellent commentary and take on the current 'situation'. Tonight, my husband and I will begin reading Animal Farm. We read it in school - back in 1909 (hehe) so it's new again. I'll enjoy reading through your posts concerning this book. :o)
jAne
Posted by: jAne | March 23, 2009 6:30 PM
Barbara, you are doing such a great job tying current events in with Animal Farm, depressing as that is. Chapter 2 was where I got drawn into the story, because of the raven. I wanted to see how the church would connect into the story, but sadly it doesn't much. It just seems to exist, possibly comforting Mrs. Jones, who might be seen as the dutiful wife content with small luxuries until their world falls apart at the farm. At this point she disappears with the raven croaking after her. I wonder if Orwell is implying that the church exists because of and for old ladies.
The pigs remind me of something I've noticed repeatedly--people who are successful in life can be very successful in evil. In other words, they are the ones who "get away with it" in this world. They aren't greasy perverts hiding behind bushes--no, they are businessmen, church-goers, respected in the community, etc. They have good rapport with people and use it to their advantage to gain trust.
Voltaire's quote, The perfect is the enemy of the good, came to mind in this chapter. The animals were relatively content and afraid of change, and rightfully so. The pigs had to stir up self-pity and ego to convince them toward rebellion, and of course Mr. Jones provided the final straw with his drunken neglect.
Animal Farm brings to mind a lot of political and church history. I can't judge history, although I do try to learn from it. But we've been given today, or a small part in it. We can't overestimate our part and become depressed, nor underestimate it and become apathetic. I like this quote from Lord of the Rings: All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us.
Posted by: evergreen | March 23, 2009 7:55 PM
I had planned to blog my response tonight, but we ended up doing our taxes. 'Nuf said...
I have a hard time coming up with any original observations after reading your posts, Barbara. You really say it all, and so well. I will try to get something posted tomorrow. I am so glad that we have this forum and that you are becoming so politically active, so to speak, on your blog. I come to Mommy Life to see if I have missed anything that I need to share to promote further awareness of where we are and where we are going.
Posted by: Jennifer | March 23, 2009 11:11 PM
Yes, please continue the discussion. I haven't started reading it yet and am waiting to read these postings until I do (except I cheated and read the first paragraph. But I plan to read it later this week and look forward to following it up by reading what others have said. Somehow even though I am an avid reader, I have made it to 49 years without reading this particular book.
Posted by: Joan | March 23, 2009 11:34 PM
Barbara,
My 17 yr. old daughter and I are reading the book and following along with your discussions. We have not left any comments so far.
Thank you for your leadership in this area,
Marie
Posted by: Marie | March 24, 2009 11:13 AM
While I have not had time to re-read the book (my husband and I are busy with Celebration of Discipline), I did read it about a decade ago and I am reading your posts, which I find very interesting. Please keep going!
Posted by: Michelle Potter | March 24, 2009 7:32 PM
I'm in too, typing left handed and nursing the Angel Baby! Loving it!!
Posted by: Greta | March 24, 2009 10:31 PM
We just finished Animal Farm in our homeschool studies about two weeks ago. I originally planned it because our teens were not alive during the Cold War, and I used it as a discussion starter there. I am *extremely* interested in your discussion of today's politics, and will continue to "check in."
Posted by: Barbara | March 25, 2009 6:59 AM
oops. I forgot to leave my age. I'm 53, my children who are currently reading with me are 14 and 15.
Posted by: Barbara | March 25, 2009 7:05 AM
Everything that you said makes sense in a scary way. I am only 11 but I am very smart. I read Animal Farm about a month ago. After reading this, it opened my eyes that i should read it again! I missed so much about the book. I wish i could understand more about politics. I am only striving to seek knowledge. Politics is my curiosity. This will help me with my "quest" for knowledge.
Posted by: Joshua | May 19, 2010 7:07 PM
