A Letter to George Orwell: A Contemporary Response to “Why I Write”

Erich Maria Remarque’s beautifully tragic novel, Flotsam (1939), elaborates the immense hardship many Jews and immigrants faced in the collapse of an already convulsing Europe on the eve of war. His articulate storytelling conveys the brutality many refugees withstood, from the harshness of border officials to the absence of trust between refugees themselves. Like Remarque, Orwell described in Why I Write the many problems glaring at European leaders during the chaos of the 1930s and 40s. Covering topics such as the totalitarian cults of Hitler and Stalin, to discussing the benefits of mixed-market economies, Why I Write remains an incredibly salient work. An eruption of nationalism in the wake of failing capitalist powers, coupled with vitriol increasingly enabled by social media, has culminated in a worrying crowd that admires strong direction yet frighteningly lacks morality. The missing link in the chain is the imperative emotion of empathy. We live in a detached world that sadly maintains the belief that if something doesn’t affect us directly, then it's not our problem. In a globalised society, this is simply unsustainable. 

The World of Orwell

Orwell volunteered among the 35,000 who answered the anti-fascist call in Spain, amongst the cacophony of Europe’s war drums. The conflict would rage between fascist and communist forces, eventually resulting in the rise of Francisco Franco and the nationalist government. His time in Spain, according to historians, would be immensely transformative for the Democratic Socialist he eventually became. Simultaneously, Hitler was becoming intoxicated with power following the many annexations of European states such as Austria and the Sudetenland of then Czechoslovakia. In Why I Write, Orwell was justifiably horrified by the world before him during and after the Second World War. It is as if he is peering over the edge of a cliff and cannot see any possible landing that would result in a safe future. The reckless hate of Fascism in Europe was not only a moral dilemma for most, but also an economic dilemma that was readily apparent following the end of the war. This was the battle between communism and capitalism, which loomed over the rest of the 20^th century. Orwell was astute in understanding that socialism lacked in practice and strength, thus leading to Hitler and Mussolini directly challenging it in a way that would mar a dialogue about its usages in the future. The Second World War would be a test for the world to see the extent of fathomable evil and the ways in which it can be supplanted.

My Own World 

I happen to live amongst the wreckage of American governance and hegemony. The United States inspires me for its robust and kind people, not its government. Having a mother as a language arts teacher and a father in manufacturing, I was inspired by my parents’ work ethic and commitment to raising me in a working-class way. A love of books and learning, and a strong sense of justice, were imparted to me despite my rust-belt town’s pitfalls. Many were not so lucky, hamstrung by a lack of funding for education, the lower-than-average wage, and a general sense that the federal government had forgotten about this scenic corridor of western Pennsylvania, littered with the skeletons of industrial towns. Now I live in New York, closer to the vitals of this country and hearing its every heartbeat. As a proud neighbour of the new mayor-elect, Zohran Mamdani, it was refreshing to feel a genuine and resolute sense of hope. Someone willing to say that he is a mayor for all rather than the few, and with ideas that make tangible sense for the United States’ megacity. Lampooned by the New York Post as the “Red Apple” I am eager to see whether real change is indeed still possible through elections. 

The Threat 

Donald Trump will certainly go down in history as one of the United States’ most controversial and volatile of presidents. The very opposite of a leader, Trump has shown over the past decade that he is committed to fragmenting our country for his own personal gain. I am dismayed at the lack of thought that his voting base maintains, largely because they are certainly the most vulnerable to his actions. Whether through failed tariffs, inhumane healthcare propositions, and the unleashing of masked thugs in vans, Donald Trump has failed the American people in more than just his presidency. He has halted our progress as a nation; growing pains are natural and universal agreement on politics would be a bore, but the canary in the coal mine is that dialogue has disappeared. Zohran’s win in New York has shown not just this city, but the world that the people’s voice should be and will be heard among politicians. For too long has the “pull yourself up by the bootstraps” dogma been preached, all the while people starve, struggle to pay for an education, and don’t go to the doctor. At a time when the 1% has skyrocketed past the middle class in wealth, showing itself not only in education but also in health statistics, it is obvious, the sole problem here is not laziness. It’s a system that has effectively squeezed out working families in favour of Trump’s beloved billionaires. 

My Letter to George Orwell

Please don’t fret, many are as optimistic as I am about the future. Your work continues to inspire people to the point of action. Although we have been playing this game of chicken, at the edge of the metaphorical cliff, for quite some time now, I feel as though there is still a positive force for good in the world that will make its voice heard. I hope we continue to fight, we continue to write, we continue to grow, and we continue to vote. Only through these actions and a reassessment of ourselves can we come back from the flotsam and find solace in each other. Keep well, and I’ll leave a cup of tea on the counter in case you decide to visit with advice.

Warm Regards,

Zach

Image: Wikimedia Commons/BBC

Licence: public domain.

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