Threat Against Democracy (TAD). I just reread Animal Farm by George
Orwell. I know a lot of people are
talking about his book 1984, but I thought I’d start with Animal
Farm.
If you’re not familiar with the
story or have forgotten, here’s some of what happens. The animals overthrow their human owner and
take over the farm establishing total equality for all animals. Two pigs, Napoleon and Snowball, become the
thought leaders. Using threats and thugs
Napoleon runs Snowball off and becomes the totalitarian leader of the
farm. Pigs get special treatment and impose
harsh conditions on the other animals.
Napoleon has another Pig, Squealer, who acts as his apologist, twisting
the facts to try to hide the oppression of the other animals and the truth that
the farm is failing. Squealer makes up
false crop reports and lies about Napoleon’s actions. Dissent is dealt with brutally. Snowball is blamed for all problems and lies
are told about him trying to undermine Napoleon and the farm. Life gets worse and worse for the animals
while the pigs cozy up to their sworn enemies, the humans. You get the idea.
Much of what we’re seeing today is frighteningly similar to
the descriptions in Animal Farm. To name
just a few: Michael Flynn’s and Jeff Sessions’ attempts to deny the fact about
their contacts with Russia and all the other Russia-Trump intrigue and
cover-up. Napoleon Trump blaming Obama,
Hillary, Democrats in general, the judiciary, and the press for his
problems. Trying to make it appear that Obama personally ordered wiretapping of the Trump Tower. Squealer Spicer making
demonstrably false statement after demonstrably false statement. Administration officials contradicting one
another. Claims that vandalism of Jewish
cemeteries could be false flag operations.
I was very concerned that the Nixon White House was a threat
to the very foundations of our democracy.
I’m much more concerned about the Trump cabal. Way more than just a TAD.
Animal Farm. Read it.
Please share if you are concerned, too.