Civilization at Stake?

Part 1

   While we try to process news from Georgia, here are portions of a speech delivered in November by Larry Arnn, president, Hillsdale College. 

   The occasion was a meeting to counter the New York Times' 1619 Project, which teaches that slavery, not freedom, is the defining fact of American history. The panel's goal is to restore truth and honesty to the teaching of American history, starting with President Trump's 1776 Commission. 

   "We must carry on the fight," Arnn said, "because our country is at stake. Indeed, civilization is at stake; the forces against freedom have more radical aims than just destroying America."

   He notes the drive to remake human nature, even nature itself. "...employing the tools of modern science, totalitarianism reaches farther than tyranny and attempts to control the totality of things." 

   Arnn used Orwell's 1984 to paint the picture. "There are telescreens everywhere as well as hidden cameras and microphones. Nearly everything is watched and heard. The 'Thought Police' oversees all this."

   "Look at China today," he said. "There are cameras everywhere watching people, and everything they do on the Internet is monitored. Algorithms are run and experiments are underway to assign each individual a social score."

   "If you don't act or think in the politically correct way, things happen to you - you lose the ability to travel, or you lose your job. You can also look at how big tech companies here in the U.S. are tracking people's movements and activities."

   "Even more alarming, these companies are increasingly able and willing to manipulate people's thoughts and decisions." 

Tomorrow: Rewriting the past