On Animal Farm

     George  Orwell  wrote  Animal  Farm  during  World  War  II.   It  was  published  in  1945  in  England  and  in  1946    in the  United  States.   The  story  is  an  allegory  about  the  Stalinist  rule  of  the  Union  of  Soviet  Socialist  Republics.   It  shows  the  cycle  of  power  coming  full  circle,   with  the  leader  of  the  revolution  becoming  the  dictator.

     When    Orwell  introduces  Animal  Farm,   it  seems  ideal.   Animals  will  selfgovern,   as  free  beings.   They  will  eat  more, work  less  and  cogitate  on  animalism.   Instead  they  eat  less,   work  more  and  can't  remember  the  commandments, which  keep  changing.

     The  initial  reason  behind  most  revolutions  is  to  improve  the  life  of  the  people.   Purpose  is  trumped  by  means  as  the  reality  of  governing  sets  in.     The  will  of  the  people  is  driven  by  fear,   hunger  and  ignorance.   Education  is  the  cure, and  the  basis  of  democracy.

     Napolean, the cruel dictator of the farm,  uses  fear  to  control  the  animals.   The  dogs  are  police  and  executioner,   keeping  the  potential  complainers  quiet.   Snowball  is  an  imaginary  enemy  to  unite  them.   Our  own  country  uses  terrorism  to  frighten  its  citizens  and  invade  their  privacy.   Does  anyone  really  believe  I'm  terrorist?   And  yet  they  pat  me down  every  time  I  get  on  a  plane.   The  real  purpose  is  to  perpetuate  fear  of  terrorists,   the  government  and  our  fellow  citizens!

     Everyone  on  Animal  Farm  is  hungry  for  something.   Boxer  wants  a  chance  to  retire  and  learn  the  alphabet. Muriel  wants  food  and  shelter.   Benjamin  needs  everyone  to  acknowledge  his  intelligence.   The  pigs  want  to  be  human.   Every  one  is  driven  by  their  wants  and  needs  and  principles  are  forgotten.   Human  nature  has  the  same  effect.   Until  a  person's  needs  and  wants  are  satisfied  principles  are  irrelevent.

     Ignorance  is  rooted  in  illiteracy.   It  is  furthered  by  propaganda.   Boxer  never  learns  to  read.   Squealer  writes  slogans  and  the  sheep  bleat  them  until  they  are  " true" .   The  Iraq war was  started  this  way;   President  Bush  lied, the  press  repeated  it,   and  it  became  a  well  known  " fact"   that  Iraq  had  weapons  of  mass  destruction.   We  lost  thousands  lives  in  being  ignorant.

     Animal  Farm  is  a  precautionary  story.   If  we  don't want a  part  in  the  last  chapter, with  the  pigs  eating  caviar  while  the  rest  of  the  animals  starve, we  must  resist  fear, feed  the  hungry  and  educate  our  society. _

French and Indian War

    The French and Indian War was fought from 1754 to 1763 in North America. The European historians will say it is the North American theater of the Seven Years War, that involved several European countries. The  initial battle by the French and British was over waterways in the valley of the Ohio River. The war was over world domination. 

    The Indians were Native Americans from nearby tribes that fought mostly with  the French. They sided with the French and after the British victory Indian dispossession continued until today. This was ironic after the French insisted on a no looting policy during the war. 

    The war was very expensive for both Great Britain and France. Both nations were in debt. King George III imposed taxes on the colonists, leading to the American Revolution. King Louis XV taxed his subjects, leading to the French Revolution.

    This was the first war to use guerrilla warfare. While the British marched in lines the Indians hid and shot from behind trees.  This leveled the playing field since the British had more than twice as many troops. War is never fair.