Orwell wouldn’t approve

I take exception to Rob Leach’s use of a George Orwell quote in an attempt to attack political correctness (June 30, “One-sided freedom of speech”). I would suggest he has misread “Animal Farm.” Orwell wrote the book as an allegorical satire of the Russian revolt against the tyranny of the czars, to Stalin’s even more damaging, totalitarian regime. He warns about the danger of consolidation of power, manipulation of truth and gullibility of people.

When he wrote “All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others,” Orwell was criticizing those animals who had wrested control of the farm through authoritative means - by intimidating and lying to the other animals.

Taking a quote out of context to make an inaccurate point is like quoting scripture out of context to further an ideology or using a video clip out of context to defame someone.

George Orwell, were he alive today, most assuredly would be a vocal critic of Trump’s attempt to consolidate more and more power in his presidency, and of his manipulative distortion of truth and the danger that presents to a democratic society.

Barbara Slaughter

Spokane