Similarities in the Fight for Freedom

Similarities in the Fight for Freedom

In society people often take freedom for granted. George Orwell's 1984 and the Toronto star's "Iranians to lose consular services" share multiple similarities. The novel 1984 is one of the most relevant books to today's society. The Canadian government is controlling all Iranians in the country, much like the people of Oceania living in a totalitarian government, where everything is under the control of a higher power. In the article and the novel the government is always watching, can get rid of an individual at any point in time, and has control over its citizens.

In life you are always being watched whether it is security cameras, police officers, neighbours, even cellular tracking devices there is no escape. In the novel the government watches at any given moment through a telescreen, every word said and every action made, there is no escape. In Oceania the people live their lives "in the assumption that every sound you make was over heard, and except in darkness, every move scrutinized" (Orwell 5). The government gives them not privacy and their actions are constantly being criticized. In the article the Canadian government has been keeping a close eye on Iranian-Canadians. The Ottawa Embassy has been keeping a close eye on Iranian-Canadians travelling, sending money, or renewing their passports. The embassy has been intimidating overseas political opponents and "has faced ongoing accusations of spying on Iranian-Canadians" (Tapper). In Oceania there is no freedom laws, but in Canada we have a Charter of Rights and Freedoms act but many believe the government violated their freedoms due to their race.

If you are seen as a threat to the government can remove you even if you are innocent. In the novel if you appeared a threat to their perfect society they can kill you with no proof, the slightest facial twitch or tone of voice can lead to ones expulsion. People held no power and "simply disappeared always during the night...every record of everything you had ever done was wiped out, your one-time existence was denied and then forgotten (Orwell 21). When someone disappears no questions are asked and it is ignored. In society people are also ignoring what is going on in today's world with the Iran crisis. Due to the closure of the embassy in Ottawa all Iranian-Canadians cannot travel back to Iran. The Canadian government ordered Iranian diplomats to leave Canadian soil within five days. Following the deporting of the diplomats, "others in the community applauded the expulsion of Iranian officials" (Tapper). This shows that the government controls who they dismiss. The community agreed with the government's decision without looking at both sides to the problem which also happens in the novel 1984.

Control is something that everyone strives