Oops!
We just found out that the new changes to TJEdRefers generally to the concepts presented in the book A Thomas Jefferson Education, written by Dr. Oliver DeMille. We also have an Introduction to Thomas Jefferson Education available elsewhere on this site..org do not display correctly on older versions of Microsoft's Internet Explorer, i.e. the one you are using right now. We are actively working to fix this problem, and we're sorry for any problems you encounter. Until we get things fixed, you may wish to update your copy of Internet Explorer to version 7 or download the free Firefox browser, since these browsers are known to work. Otherwise, keep trying back. We hope to have everything working correctly in a few days.
Sincerely,
Russell Keppner
TJEdRefers generally to the concepts presented in the book A Thomas Jefferson Education, written by Dr. Oliver DeMille. We also have an Introduction to Thomas Jefferson Education available elsewhere on this site..org Administrator
Re: 1984-George Orwell
I just watched a DVD called "Truth and Conviction" about Nazi Germany. I could really see the things in the book 1984 in the times of Nazi Germany.
It really made me rethink my ideas, that I wrote down at first. I really did not think less of those who went through the abuse, and had no idea of right and wrong. Most even accepted Hitler as a "good guy?"...ICK! But, I could see why they would think that.
I have years of history to look at, they didn't.
I wonder (with how well he controlled the media, with death penalty for listening to the BBC) how people could have known what he was really doing? How could they have known he was massacaring millions of people...how could they have known he was crazy...and evil?
They may have thought of America as evil. I can now see how this could happen.
This movie was an epiphany for me. Life changing, heart changing. Scary too!
What I also found amazing, was the change in Germany after Hitler was dead. The change in their culture, and their own view of things.
Debbi
Re: 1984-George Orwell
I found _The Hiding Place_, _The Diary of Anne Frank_, and _Schindler's List_ to be epiphanal for me, also.
Much later I read a book about the established Christian churches in Germany in WWII. They basically closed their eyes until it was too late to stop Hitler. They did not protest when the Jews, or the homosexuals, or the Gypsies, or minority Christian sects, were limited. Then Hitler started on the established Christians, persuading leaders first to come over to his side. Many of the Christian leaders sided with him! Those few who strongly objected were shouted down at first, and then suffered imprisonment and execution. By then the rank and file Christians were both afraid and awed by his power.
I can't remember the author of this book. Chuck Coulson comes to mind--I know it was someone who had become a Christian while in prison in the U.S.
Re: 1984-George Orwell
If you find the name of it, please post it.
Debbi
Re: 1984-George Orwell
I like 1984. I think it acurately portrays what the consequences might be if we as a society fail to maintain our freedom and teach our children well. Winston lived in a culture where right and wrong, good and bad, true and false, changed every day. So, it was impossible to learn these values. Though, there was something in him (the Light of Christ, maybe?) that seemed to lead him closer to the real truth, absolute truth, when it came down to it, the truth didn't seem to matter, b/c Winston had never really learned why it should.
Re: 1984-George Orwell
I saw 1984 not as a depiction of human behavior but as a warning to the dangers of restricting freedom. I particularly noted the power of the state to indoctrinate people/children through the educational system. I found it chilling and mostly frightening as I can see the seeds of many of the tactics of Oceania in our society today, many of those seeds are young plants and some are preparing to bear fruit! I think EVERYONE should read this book as a warning. I also wish I could send a book to every member of congress - and have an assurance that they would read it. Scary thing is - they might get a few ideas from it that they hadn't thought up yet.
Re: 1984-George Orwell
You make some good points. I am reading the "Red Scarf Girl" and I can see more clearly how this could happen in a society like this.
It's amazing to me, how the children can even turn against their parents to save their own necks. I have only read about 2/3 of it so far, but I am itching to finish it. It's very good.
I want to read it with the family as soon as I finish it myself.
Debbi
Re: 1984-George Orwell
I read 1984 a few months ago. (I didn't like it either.) Maybe Winston never did have a true understanding of right and wrong. Maybe without that, he wasn't able to stand up to the torture for the sake of truth alone. I think Orwell depicts a society where right and wrong are not even considered, at least by the characters included in his book. Without a moral base, it seems that it wouldn't matter so much to a person whether truth or lies win. Just my opinion!
Re: 1984-George Orwell
I guess my thoughts were, that I grew up not knowing good or bad (in the sense that we think of it, I knew it, just didn't relate it to my life...I thought it was old fashioned), but once I found the truth, I couldn't stop myself from yelling it out loud. How could he go BACK to the way things were before. I'd rather die!
I didn't think that Winston was a very believable character, until that point when he looks in the mirror. That was the only point in the book when I felt like he was believable.
Thanks for responding to my post.
Debbi