George Orwell's 1984 seems more prophetic now than it did 20 years ago. In less than a decade, changes in Britain echo much of what Orwell wrote about.
Orwell created the "thought police", censors observing people's
behaviour and their thoughts. "Newspeak" was
the way the government kept people under control through
their use of language.
Today, the Labour government has created a department which monitors what people say, allegedly to root out racism. However,
things have gone much beyond that. People are being sacked from their jobs for the most innocuous comments. One woman lost her job because she called a customer
"petal." This is a phrase that has been used for many decades as an innocent but warm greeting. Another word that is under threat is
"darling" as the "thought-police" now
say that it constitutes sexual harassment.
As far as I know, for decades no one has been upset if someone serving you in a shop, or a bar or on public transport says
"alright, darling," or "Goodbye, petal."
In fact, attitudes towards people in the north of England are even warmer than in the south.
I was reminded of this in Blackpool recently, as the conductress said
"Goodbye, love" to all the passengers as they left the bus, something I've never experienced in the south. I'd hate to think of her losing her job because she was
"over-familiar" with the passengers!
The way things are going in this country it is very likely.
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