Dear+Boethius

Dear Boethius, I have read your novel __The Consolations of Philosophy__, and I write to you, bearing a warning. One of your book's most notable points is "you cannot impose anything on a free mind...", and I tell you with much displeasure, that your message is false. I come from a futuristic society, called Oceania, in which, your theory, of a mind grounded to reason not being able to move is debunked all day, every day. Allow me to explain. In my negative-utopian society, our government, known as the party, watches our every move. The party installed these dreadful devices called tele-screens, inside the homes and businesses of all Oceania’s citizens. These tele-screens allow government officials to watch our every move. There are also countless microscopes scattered throughout the country. However, technology isn't the Party's only means of surveillance. It set up programs such as The Spies-an organization of children and teenagers that report anyone radiating a negative view of the party. This act and others like it effectively turn party members against each other, creating a sense of fear and anxiety. A friend once told me “what you say or do doesn't matter, only feelings matter". This could be proven countless times, because they can.

Surveillance isn't the only issue, the party also encourages-no, demands pure ignorance, and what choices do we have, other than to accept it? I'll tell you, death! They use a form of mind control, called doublethink, where we see and understand a lie, which the party imposed on us, and if all other records tell the same tale, then the lie is passed down into history and becomes the truth. That is a process that has occurred countless times, and countless more to come. Did you know that we changed opponents seven times in the war and nobody seemed to notice, or even care? That is the power of the party. Speaking of power, that brings me to my final point of governmental supremacy. If all else fails, the government still has power, and lots of it. They accomplish anything that needs to be done, through acts of brutal beatings, deprivation of things essential to life, and of course, forced labor. Even if you play by the rules, the smallest slip-up can be a death sentence. If that slip up ever does happen, then you will be abducted in the night, suffer deprivation if resources and the cruelest of beatings. There, you will be tortured, until you love our leader. I'll tell you what an upper party member told me before he was slaughtered. Power is inflicting pain and humiliation. Power is being able to tear human minds to pieces and being able to put them back together in the shape of your choosing. Need I say more?

I will conclude this letter with a solemn farewell, and a message, “he, who controls the past, controls the future, and he who controls the present, controls the past". Take care of yourself, my friend, and thank you for being a symbol of hope, even when all hope IS lost.