1984's Winston really was willing to throw acid on a stranger at O'Brien's command

[Recursion]

I keep coming back to that. If he is that easily molded, doesn't he need to be protected from himself? And don't others need to be protected from him?

(Yes, I realize this is entirely the wrong month to ask that question, but it keeps sticking with me. )

Edit: sorry, talking about 1984

[flamingdem]

1. 'cuse me but is this the Whitey Bulger trial?

Can you give a basic update on what's happening -- is this being televised?

[Recursion]

2. 1984

Though I did once see Bulger on Castle Island in Southie.

[Democracyinkind]

3. 1984.

Google winston-o'brien (sic)

edit: nevermind the sic - the ministry of truth was faster. At least this time

[Recursion]

4. Did I spell O wrong?

I know between O'Brian and O'Brien one was in 1984 and the other wrote Master and Commander, and I nearly always get them wrong.

[Democracyinkind]

5. no sweat.

just wanted to insure that he googles with the right keywords. No critism from me for an understandable mistake...

[Junkdrawer]

6. As does every soldier in every army throughout time. n/t

[Generic Other]

7. The premise of the book was that there were things no government could make us do or think

That they could not change how we felt. Winston believed this was his essence and could not be taken from him. In the end, he was proven wrong. Ity was not enough to simply recant. He was expected to believe. As long as he believed 2+ 2 could only equal 4 and it would be absurd to ever believe otherwise, he was not deemed rehabilitated because he still retained control of his thinking. It was only after he believed that 2+ 2 = 5 that Big Brother knew he had no will of his own.

So yes we do need to be protected -- but more so from those who could inflict this on us. Because none of us can survive what Orwell suggests is possible in the modern state.