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Jun. 18th, 2012
Orwell: Lefty or Not?
Jun. 18th, 2012 08:00 am“As I write, highly civilized human beings are flying overhead, trying to kill me. They do not feel any enmity against me as an individual, nor I against them. They are 'only doing their duty', as the saying goes. Most of them, I have no doubt, are kind-hearted law-abiding men who would never dream of committing murder in private life. On the other hand, if one of them succeeds in blowing me to pieces with a well-placed bomb, he will never sleep any the worse for it. He is serving his country, which has the power to absolve him from evil.”
-- George Orwell, "The Lion and the Unicorn: Socialism and the English Genius"
When we began our walk-thru for "1984", we noted the divisive issue over whether Orwell was a lefty or anti-lefty. If one judges only by the novel, the conservatives would seem to hold the clear advantage while socialist-leaning liberals have a tough uphill battle to fight. It is pretty clear that Orwell's dystopia is modeled on Soviet communism, which would seem to suggest that Orwell might be more of an Ayn Randian (forgiving any possible anachronisms).
However, based on what little I have gleaned from his "The Lion and the Unicorn", liberals can rest easier on the faith that Orwell is not a latent plutocrat. Socialism is a broad concept. Just because one is a liberal and favors universal health care, it does not mean that you are a closet Stalinist, and apparently Orwell was indeed one of these anti-totalitarian socialists, but a self-proclaimed socialist nonetheless. Whether this is the final word on the question, I cannot say. I have not even read this essay, much less surveyed all his works and utterances.
_ _ _
The Lion and the Unicorn: Socialism And The English Genius is a 1940 polemic essay by George Orwell. It expressed his opinions on the situation in wartime Britain. The title alludes to The Lion and the Unicorn, in heraldry. The content sheds some light on the process which eventually led Orwell to the writing of his famous dystopia, Nineteen Eighty-Four. It expressed his opinion that the outdated British class system was hampering the war effort, and that in order to defeat Hitler, Britain needed a socialist revolution. Therefore, Orwell argued, being a socialist and being a patriot were no longer antithetical, they became very much complementary. As a result, in Orwell's vision at the time, "The Lion and the Unicorn" would become the emblems of the revolution which would create a new kind of Socialism, a democratic "English Socialism" in contrast to the oppressing Soviet model - and also a new form of Englishness, a Socialist one free of oppressive colonial peoples and of the decadent old ruling classes. (Orwell specified that the revolutionary regime may keep on the royal family as a national symbol, though sweeping away all the rest of the British aristocracy).
-- Amazon
.
-- George Orwell, "The Lion and the Unicorn: Socialism and the English Genius"
When we began our walk-thru for "1984", we noted the divisive issue over whether Orwell was a lefty or anti-lefty. If one judges only by the novel, the conservatives would seem to hold the clear advantage while socialist-leaning liberals have a tough uphill battle to fight. It is pretty clear that Orwell's dystopia is modeled on Soviet communism, which would seem to suggest that Orwell might be more of an Ayn Randian (forgiving any possible anachronisms).
However, based on what little I have gleaned from his "The Lion and the Unicorn", liberals can rest easier on the faith that Orwell is not a latent plutocrat. Socialism is a broad concept. Just because one is a liberal and favors universal health care, it does not mean that you are a closet Stalinist, and apparently Orwell was indeed one of these anti-totalitarian socialists, but a self-proclaimed socialist nonetheless. Whether this is the final word on the question, I cannot say. I have not even read this essay, much less surveyed all his works and utterances.
_ _ _
The Lion and the Unicorn: Socialism And The English Genius is a 1940 polemic essay by George Orwell. It expressed his opinions on the situation in wartime Britain. The title alludes to The Lion and the Unicorn, in heraldry. The content sheds some light on the process which eventually led Orwell to the writing of his famous dystopia, Nineteen Eighty-Four. It expressed his opinion that the outdated British class system was hampering the war effort, and that in order to defeat Hitler, Britain needed a socialist revolution. Therefore, Orwell argued, being a socialist and being a patriot were no longer antithetical, they became very much complementary. As a result, in Orwell's vision at the time, "The Lion and the Unicorn" would become the emblems of the revolution which would create a new kind of Socialism, a democratic "English Socialism" in contrast to the oppressing Soviet model - and also a new form of Englishness, a Socialist one free of oppressive colonial peoples and of the decadent old ruling classes. (Orwell specified that the revolutionary regime may keep on the royal family as a national symbol, though sweeping away all the rest of the British aristocracy).
-- Amazon
.
Orwell: Lefty or Not?
Jun. 18th, 2012 08:00 am“As I write, highly civilized human beings are flying overhead, trying to kill me. They do not feel any enmity against me as an individual, nor I against them. They are 'only doing their duty', as the saying goes. Most of them, I have no doubt, are kind-hearted law-abiding men who would never dream of committing murder in private life. On the other hand, if one of them succeeds in blowing me to pieces with a well-placed bomb, he will never sleep any the worse for it. He is serving his country, which has the power to absolve him from evil.”
-- George Orwell, "The Lion and the Unicorn: Socialism and the English Genius"
When we began our walk-thru for "1984", we noted the divisive issue over whether Orwell was a lefty or anti-lefty. If one judges only by the novel, the conservatives would seem to hold the clear advantage while socialist-leaning liberals have a tough uphill battle to fight. It is pretty clear that Orwell's dystopia is modeled on Soviet communism, which would seem to suggest that Orwell might be more of an Ayn Randian (forgiving any possible anachronisms).
However, based on what little I have gleaned from his "The Lion and the Unicorn", liberals can rest easier on the faith that Orwell is not a latent plutocrat. Socialism is a broad concept. Just because one is a liberal and favors universal health care, it does not mean that you are a closet Stalinist, and apparently Orwell was indeed one of these anti-totalitarian socialists, but a self-proclaimed socialist nonetheless. Whether this is the final word on the question, I cannot say. I have not even read this essay, much less surveyed all his works and utterances.
_ _ _
The Lion and the Unicorn: Socialism And The English Genius is a 1940 polemic essay by George Orwell. It expressed his opinions on the situation in wartime Britain. The title alludes to The Lion and the Unicorn, in heraldry. The content sheds some light on the process which eventually led Orwell to the writing of his famous dystopia, Nineteen Eighty-Four. It expressed his opinion that the outdated British class system was hampering the war effort, and that in order to defeat Hitler, Britain needed a socialist revolution. Therefore, Orwell argued, being a socialist and being a patriot were no longer antithetical, they became very much complementary. As a result, in Orwell's vision at the time, "The Lion and the Unicorn" would become the emblems of the revolution which would create a new kind of Socialism, a democratic "English Socialism" in contrast to the oppressing Soviet model - and also a new form of Englishness, a Socialist one free of oppressive colonial peoples and of the decadent old ruling classes. (Orwell specified that the revolutionary regime may keep on the royal family as a national symbol, though sweeping away all the rest of the British aristocracy).
-- Amazon
.
-- George Orwell, "The Lion and the Unicorn: Socialism and the English Genius"
When we began our walk-thru for "1984", we noted the divisive issue over whether Orwell was a lefty or anti-lefty. If one judges only by the novel, the conservatives would seem to hold the clear advantage while socialist-leaning liberals have a tough uphill battle to fight. It is pretty clear that Orwell's dystopia is modeled on Soviet communism, which would seem to suggest that Orwell might be more of an Ayn Randian (forgiving any possible anachronisms).
However, based on what little I have gleaned from his "The Lion and the Unicorn", liberals can rest easier on the faith that Orwell is not a latent plutocrat. Socialism is a broad concept. Just because one is a liberal and favors universal health care, it does not mean that you are a closet Stalinist, and apparently Orwell was indeed one of these anti-totalitarian socialists, but a self-proclaimed socialist nonetheless. Whether this is the final word on the question, I cannot say. I have not even read this essay, much less surveyed all his works and utterances.
_ _ _
The Lion and the Unicorn: Socialism And The English Genius is a 1940 polemic essay by George Orwell. It expressed his opinions on the situation in wartime Britain. The title alludes to The Lion and the Unicorn, in heraldry. The content sheds some light on the process which eventually led Orwell to the writing of his famous dystopia, Nineteen Eighty-Four. It expressed his opinion that the outdated British class system was hampering the war effort, and that in order to defeat Hitler, Britain needed a socialist revolution. Therefore, Orwell argued, being a socialist and being a patriot were no longer antithetical, they became very much complementary. As a result, in Orwell's vision at the time, "The Lion and the Unicorn" would become the emblems of the revolution which would create a new kind of Socialism, a democratic "English Socialism" in contrast to the oppressing Soviet model - and also a new form of Englishness, a Socialist one free of oppressive colonial peoples and of the decadent old ruling classes. (Orwell specified that the revolutionary regime may keep on the royal family as a national symbol, though sweeping away all the rest of the British aristocracy).
-- Amazon
.
Some Diet!
Jun. 18th, 2012 12:32 pm"An ice cream sandwich before lunch. Some diet!"
Before my diet, that would easily be two ice cream sandwiches. Easily two! This is obviously a gradual process.
"Even glacial. Like contintental drift even."
Progress is progress. This is more of an aspirational thing, rather than about trying to meet rock-solid goals and timelines, much like my life in general. Good intentions have to be enough.
Before my diet, that would easily be two ice cream sandwiches. Easily two! This is obviously a gradual process.
"Even glacial. Like contintental drift even."
Progress is progress. This is more of an aspirational thing, rather than about trying to meet rock-solid goals and timelines, much like my life in general. Good intentions have to be enough.
Some Diet!
Jun. 18th, 2012 12:32 pm"An ice cream sandwich before lunch. Some diet!"
Before my diet, that would easily be two ice cream sandwiches. Easily two! This is obviously a gradual process.
"Even glacial. Like contintental drift even."
Progress is progress. This is more of an aspirational thing, rather than about trying to meet rock-solid goals and timelines, much like my life in general. Good intentions have to be enough.
Before my diet, that would easily be two ice cream sandwiches. Easily two! This is obviously a gradual process.
"Even glacial. Like contintental drift even."
Progress is progress. This is more of an aspirational thing, rather than about trying to meet rock-solid goals and timelines, much like my life in general. Good intentions have to be enough.
The Uncatholic Catholic Church
Jun. 18th, 2012 03:00 pm“Quite frankly I believe, as Pope Benedict the XVIth said just before he became pope, that maybe a smaller church would be a better church.”
-- Bill Donohue, president of the Catholic League
“It almost has to completely come apart before something new and beautiful can spring up.”
-- Sister Margie Henninger
Those quotes are from Bill Keller's column in the Times. The quotes seem to capture the debate over the Catholic Church, except as Mr. Keller notes, it is not really a debate, in that there is not the least promise of change in the Church, which apparently prefers to be leaner and meaner. I do not know if the Catholic Church was ever in its long, troubled history a faithful keeper of the Christian message of a loving God that has come to save a fallen world. It is easy to imagine this outfit crucifying a wayward carpenter.
-- Bill Donohue, president of the Catholic League
“It almost has to completely come apart before something new and beautiful can spring up.”
-- Sister Margie Henninger
Those quotes are from Bill Keller's column in the Times. The quotes seem to capture the debate over the Catholic Church, except as Mr. Keller notes, it is not really a debate, in that there is not the least promise of change in the Church, which apparently prefers to be leaner and meaner. I do not know if the Catholic Church was ever in its long, troubled history a faithful keeper of the Christian message of a loving God that has come to save a fallen world. It is easy to imagine this outfit crucifying a wayward carpenter.
The Uncatholic Catholic Church
Jun. 18th, 2012 03:00 pm“Quite frankly I believe, as Pope Benedict the XVIth said just before he became pope, that maybe a smaller church would be a better church.”
-- Bill Donohue, president of the Catholic League
“It almost has to completely come apart before something new and beautiful can spring up.”
-- Sister Margie Henninger
Those quotes are from Bill Keller's column in the Times. The quotes seem to capture the debate over the Catholic Church, except as Mr. Keller notes, it is not really a debate, in that there is not the least promise of change in the Church, which apparently prefers to be leaner and meaner. I do not know if the Catholic Church was ever in its long, troubled history a faithful keeper of the Christian message of a loving God that has come to save a fallen world. It is easy to imagine this outfit crucifying a wayward carpenter.
-- Bill Donohue, president of the Catholic League
“It almost has to completely come apart before something new and beautiful can spring up.”
-- Sister Margie Henninger
Those quotes are from Bill Keller's column in the Times. The quotes seem to capture the debate over the Catholic Church, except as Mr. Keller notes, it is not really a debate, in that there is not the least promise of change in the Church, which apparently prefers to be leaner and meaner. I do not know if the Catholic Church was ever in its long, troubled history a faithful keeper of the Christian message of a loving God that has come to save a fallen world. It is easy to imagine this outfit crucifying a wayward carpenter.
1984 (2,9) Oligarchical Collectivism
Jun. 18th, 2012 07:00 pmWinston stopped reading, chiefly in order to appreciate the fact that he was reading, in comfort and safety. He was alone: no telescreen, no ear at the keyhole, no nervous impulse to glance over his shoulder or cover the page with his hand. The sweet summer air played against his cheek. From somewhere far away there floated the faint shouts of children: in the room itself there was no sound except the insect voice of the clock. He settled deeper into the armchair and put his feet up on the fender. It was bliss, it was eternity. Suddenly, as one sometimes does with a book of which one knows that one will ultimately read and re-read every word, he opened it at a different place and found himself at Chapter III. He went on reading...
-- “1984” by George Orwell
When I began book-blogging “1984”, this part of the novel was on my mind, the part in which Orwell assumed the dry, dry voice of one writing for Britannica or some such general encyclopedia, as Winston reads Emmanuel Goldstein’s book, “The Theory and Practice of Oligarchical Collectivism”, an exposition on the true governing principles of Oceania and, indeed, of all three prevailing totalitarian governments. I was prepared to skip this material when we reached these didactic pages, in the same way one generally skips Homer’s listing of the men in the armies in the war at Troy fighting over pretty Helen. However, after going over it again, I see there are actually quite a few gems along the way, and I will go ahead and collect them. Chapter three of Goldstein's book, by the way, is titled "War Is Peace".
-- “1984” by George Orwell
When I began book-blogging “1984”, this part of the novel was on my mind, the part in which Orwell assumed the dry, dry voice of one writing for Britannica or some such general encyclopedia, as Winston reads Emmanuel Goldstein’s book, “The Theory and Practice of Oligarchical Collectivism”, an exposition on the true governing principles of Oceania and, indeed, of all three prevailing totalitarian governments. I was prepared to skip this material when we reached these didactic pages, in the same way one generally skips Homer’s listing of the men in the armies in the war at Troy fighting over pretty Helen. However, after going over it again, I see there are actually quite a few gems along the way, and I will go ahead and collect them. Chapter three of Goldstein's book, by the way, is titled "War Is Peace".
1984 (2,9) Oligarchical Collectivism
Jun. 18th, 2012 07:00 pmWinston stopped reading, chiefly in order to appreciate the fact that he was reading, in comfort and safety. He was alone: no telescreen, no ear at the keyhole, no nervous impulse to glance over his shoulder or cover the page with his hand. The sweet summer air played against his cheek. From somewhere far away there floated the faint shouts of children: in the room itself there was no sound except the insect voice of the clock. He settled deeper into the armchair and put his feet up on the fender. It was bliss, it was eternity. Suddenly, as one sometimes does with a book of which one knows that one will ultimately read and re-read every word, he opened it at a different place and found himself at Chapter III. He went on reading...
-- “1984” by George Orwell
When I began book-blogging “1984”, this part of the novel was on my mind, the part in which Orwell assumed the dry, dry voice of one writing for Britannica or some such general encyclopedia, as Winston reads Emmanuel Goldstein’s book, “The Theory and Practice of Oligarchical Collectivism”, an exposition on the true governing principles of Oceania and, indeed, of all three prevailing totalitarian governments. I was prepared to skip this material when we reached these didactic pages, in the same way one generally skips Homer’s listing of the men in the armies in the war at Troy fighting over pretty Helen. However, after going over it again, I see there are actually quite a few gems along the way, and I will go ahead and collect them. Chapter three of Goldstein's book, by the way, is titled "War Is Peace".
-- “1984” by George Orwell
When I began book-blogging “1984”, this part of the novel was on my mind, the part in which Orwell assumed the dry, dry voice of one writing for Britannica or some such general encyclopedia, as Winston reads Emmanuel Goldstein’s book, “The Theory and Practice of Oligarchical Collectivism”, an exposition on the true governing principles of Oceania and, indeed, of all three prevailing totalitarian governments. I was prepared to skip this material when we reached these didactic pages, in the same way one generally skips Homer’s listing of the men in the armies in the war at Troy fighting over pretty Helen. However, after going over it again, I see there are actually quite a few gems along the way, and I will go ahead and collect them. Chapter three of Goldstein's book, by the way, is titled "War Is Peace".