How England Is Actually Enforcing Thought Police in 2021
It was all a thought until it becomes true…
George Orwell’s 1984 remains one of the most critically acclaimed political works to this day. When Donald Trump won the U.S. presidential race in 2016, the book’s popularity soared with his detractors likening him to big brother.
1984 is so popular that people on an extensive range of political compass seem to agree with it. The socialist lefties seem to think that 1984 promotes their idea of a dystopian society inflicted on them by the conservatives. In contrast, the conservatives seem to believe that the cancel culture is a representation from 1984.
But in recent times, especially over the past year since the COVID-19 lockdown, 1984 seemed to have come to life in England in 2021. To those of you who haven’t read 1984 (read it immediately after this), one of the most striking aspects of the dystopian world set in 1984 is the thought police.
If any person thought against the state or even got the idea of feeling against the state’s welfare, then the thought police would soon come and pay a visit to them. That person would cease to exist in the records of the state. This way, the state is always happy and every citizen is a hardline patriot. Perpetual surveillance was always kept on the citizens of Oceania, so the all-seeing eye is the cover of the book.
The same thought police seem to have been enforced by the government of England. One of the first instances in 2019 when police visited Harry Miller for his apparent transphobic comments and tweets. Now whether you agree with his opinion or not is secondary. But the fact of the matter is that this was only the beginning of suppression of speech. How can a society develop if opinions are suppressed? Only if a person expresses an opinion can they be deemed moral or ethical or right or wrong. An expression of opinion can lead to further debate, but here, just the mere expression of an opinion led to visit from the police.
The most recent development in England’s legislation has further raised concerns about thought police.
The English government recently proposed a new bill that would offer more power to the police that would enable them to suppress protesters completely. The Police, Crime, Sentencing, And Courts Bill was drafted to further power the police who can now fine any protestor up to 2,500 pounds if the protestor fails to adhere to police instructions.
An offense of “intentionally or recklessly causing a public disturbance” is included in the proposed legislation.
This is intended to prevent people from blocking public spaces, hanging from bridges, gluing themselves to walls, or engaging in other forms of agitation to be seen and heard. Damage to memorials will result in up to ten years in prison, according to a final measure. This comes after the toppling of the statue of slave trader Edward Colston in Bristol.
The intention behind a protest is to convey a message of dissatisfaction to the government. By suppressing the right to protest, the government is essentially enforcing thought police.
Over the past few days, citizens in England have been protesting against the bill and raising slogans to “Kill The Bill.”
There have been over 100 arrests until now and the government is expected to take more action.
A similar trend is being followed in India as well. After the ruling BJP came to power, any person speaking against the government has been booked under a sedition case. If you speak against the current party, you are against the government.
In this manner, the Indian government has filed almost 96% of sedition cases after coming to power in 2014.
A lot of other countries seem to be headed in the same direction. It’s time to think before they make thought a crime.
