When I first read 1984, I thought it was just a book. Of course, I knew the political prism through which the book was written, but I never thought that would be where I lived. In a world so grey and loveless. Some kind of veil was draped over me as I read, tricking me into thinking that the events of such a book wouldn't ever come to be and blinding me to their already emerging existence.
And then Donald Trump was inaugurated.
The veil was ripped away. Torn in two. And I realized that all the different aspects of the 1984 narrative were coming true.
Trump's face has dominated our television screens, a seemingly inescapable and ever-vigilant man screaming at us in the rooms of our homes. Billions of dollars of 24/7 free advertising, with his eyes always on us and his voice always in our ears.
He tells us that we must believe him, that he knows the truth. Now that he is President, it’s unlikely that this will change unless to only get worse. We all sit up every time he even thinks about tweeting for who knows what snub may draw his ire?
Trump has actively fanned the flames to create a Two-Minutes Hate adjacent atmosphere, one that most of us knew was there anyway, against Muslims and Hispanic Americans. He blames American issues on foreign nations and their people, switching it up as it best serves him.
He advocated for a ban on all Muslims entering the United States and has suggested both a Muslim registry and surveillance on mosques. This man wants to divide us. He is dividing us.
Trump's Vice President, Mike Pence, has always actively fought against rights for LGBTQ Americans. He opposed the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell. Here comparative to 1984's police units restricting sex. It's a bit on the nose.
And I quote, "Societal collapse was always brought about following an advent of the deterioration of marriage and family."
Yup, THAT guy is second in command to one of the most powerful nations on the planet.
Since day one of his campaign, The Donald has had a tenuous relationship with the press. Consistently attacking news organizations for things he doesn't like, including an incident in which he mocked a reporter’s physical disability. At one time, he wanted to, quote, "open up the libel laws" so that the press can be more easily sued for, "...purposely negative and horrible and false articles, we can sue them and win lots of money."
Are you seeing a theme here? Because there is a theme here.
All this, coupled with the Republican witch hunt against Planned Parenthood (which provides contraception, STI testing and cancer screenings for both men and women, among generally promoting responsible and safe sex), and we begin to see the truth.
All knowledge we have of Donald Trump and how he plans to run the government suggests a threat to liberty, freedom and expression.
His first move as President was to scrub a reduction of FHA annual mortgage insurance premium rates. The reduction would have saved nearly one million Americans around 500 dollars a year. The moment Trump took office he made it harder for poor Americans to afford homes.
We can continue hopeful about the future, we should never not be hopeful about the future. We must remember that we have the right and the ability to resist and to do so is going to be so very important over the next four years.
But we should all be worried.
