Image by EV.

George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four is a warning about political repression, historical revisionism, mass surveillance, propaganda, censorship, and the state’s total control over truth. In the novel, which is set in an imagined future where war is perpetual, the dictator Big Brother and his government, ruled by the Party, dominate the superstate Oceania. Newspeak is the Party’s official language, designed to prevent dissent, obstruct critical thinking, suppress rebellion, and control the perception of reality, which is achieved by eliminating words and manipulating language. “We’re destroying words—scores of them, hundreds of them, every day. We’re cutting the language down to the bone,” says Syme, a character who works in the Ministry of Truth and oversees the compilation of the latest edition of the Newspeak dictionary.

Nineteen Eighty-Four is a dystopian novel published in 1949. Fast forward to 2025 and Trump’s America. Operation Newspeak is underway. Just last week, the New York Times ran an article about words that are discouraged at Federal Agencies under the new administration. A total 172 words appeared printed in red: Native American. Women. Black. Immigrants. Disability. Gender. Advocacy. Mental health. And of course any phrases or expressions having to do with diversity, equity, and inclusion: diverse backgrounds, diverse communities, diverse groups, diversified, diversify, diversifying, enhancing diversity, increasing diversity, inclusiveness, inclusive leadership… These words are all to be purged from websites, grant proposals, class curricula, without delay.

“Every........

© CounterPunch