5 ways "1984" is like today's world

1. People are jailed for no reason other than being labeled as "the enemy". In 1984 thousands of people are arrested and jailed with no trial whatsoever and are eventually killed as political enemies. In our world today we have so called "radical muslims" who we think are plotting to kill us all the time. These people are jailed without jury and kept for long periods of time without ever being told what the crime they commited was, sometimes even undergoing torture.

2. Privacy is totally gone. In "1984" they have telescreens transmitting everything they do or say back to a central headquarters where they are watched for signs of crime. Today we possibly have it worse. While we arn't made to suffer being constantly watched in our own homes, we are filmed without our knowledge all the time and quite often this footage ends up online without our knowledge. At least in 1984 they knew to expect it all the time.

3. Sports, celebrities, and lotteries are all used to distract us from big issues that should concern us. The Proles in 1984 are given these things to watch, so that they hopefully don't notice the real problems in society. Today, just take a five second look at any news source available and I garauntee there will be something about Angelina Jolie and her new kid, or something similar. Such things are meaningless, but if we pay attention to them, which a lot of people do unfortunately, we will be distracted enough so as to miss the fact that we are still in a war that was promised to end years ago.

4. We have an enemy that most are united against. In Winston's world the enemy is Goldstein and the hated "Eurasian's". Everybody hates them, even though they've never met them or seen them in person. Now, unfortunately it seems our common enemy is the Muslims. Although very few of us have ever taken the time to understand their culture, or their religion, we automatically assume they all want to bomb us and go their twelve virgins. This is wrong, but it's what we see daily. Look at the people TSA takes aside at airport security, most of them will be Middle Eastern.

5. Propaganda is running rampant through our societies. "1984" people are told that rations are way up, even though they specifically remember getting more food last week. They're told of the wonderful victories made by their army, when noones actually sure what's going on over there. Jump on Foxnews for an example of propaganda today.

1984 Chapter 2

Why is Winston ill at ease once he is alone with Julia?

He isn't really sure what he should do. She is young and very seductive to him and so he's not sure what she wants from him.
What does Julia bring with her that she has obtained on the black market?

She brings chocolate that tastes much better than the junk they get for rations.
What are Julia’s ideas about the Party?

That they are all a bunch of people filled with the same lusts that the party is supposed to be against, and she uses that to undermine the Party.
What familiar sign does Winston find?

The clearing in the woods reminds Winston of the Golden Country that he keeps seeing in his dreams.
What is the significance of the thrush music?

Thrush music is beautiful and pure, something that does not exist in this society. It is natural and it comes from the animal based purely on its instincts. In society this pure song could not be heard because all music comes from machines with no animal instinct.
What does Winston mean when he says that he loves Julia all the more because she has had scores of sexual encounters?

She is undermining the integrity of the Party by having sex with party members. She has proved that there are still lots of men in the Party that have desires that they are not supposed to have. She has participated in an act of rebellion and Winston really likes this.