The parts of Orwell’s 1984 that people remember most is Big Brother and Room 101, but there is something else in Orwell’s dystopia that’s more subtle but equally as dangerous: Newspeak. Newspeak was designed for the express purpose to re-arrange the thinking patterns of Oceana’s citizens by changing their language in a manner that erased “distasteful” words like Freedom or Rebellion. After all, if it doesn’t exist in language how can you know or learn about it?  

Many people rant on and on about “Big Brother” this and “Big Brother” that. You may have met a few, possibly yelling about how some silly camera by a Stop sign is somehow part of “Big Brother.” Of course, those who have actually read the novel know how ridiculous that notion is. Even wire taps on phones don’t rank to the level of Big Brother, that’s just his Little Sister.

But few rant about Newspeak even though it actually does exist. And it can potentially be far more damaging than some phantom “Big Brother” that’s nothing like Orwell’s vision. And why is that? Because Newspeak, being true to its purpose, was given a different word: Political Correctness.

Political Correctness has the same agenda as Newspeak, to change our thinking patterns by changing the words we are allowed to use. Political Correctness, or PC, is designed to be inoffensive. So was Newspeak. PC avoids harsh words like “shellshock” and prefers softer-sounding words that don’t run the risk of waking people up to reality (“post-traumatic stress disorder”). So did Newspeak. Political correctness seeks to be “secular” by making “God” a bad word. Well, I guess PC is a bit more tolerant than Newspeak. After all, in Newspeak no word for God existed. But given enough time, I’m sure that if left un-confronted PC will erase the word eventually.

So from this day on, I’m giving Political Correctness its true name: Newspeak. And Newspeak doesn’t have to win out. All that is necessary to defeat Newspeak is to simply not speak it. Therefore, any time you feel the need to say “God” don’t let Newspeak stop you. In fact, anytime you feel a non-PC word is what’s appropriate to say or write, do so. But make sure the words you say are ones you can be proud of. Otherwise, Newspeak might have Little Sister come over and whine about it. Then again, she’s likely to whine about it regardless.

Let her whine. And when she gets out of hand, spank her.