Someone wrote a powerful book, describing a future world where the single authoritative voice of public opinion, public consciousness broadcast from the walls of every room human beings inhabited. A society where the very thought of Freedom of Thought (let alone speech) was heresy.
When I first read the book, way back in the 1960′s, I thought it allegorical. It seemed to me that the author was describing a reality akin to Nazi Germany or Communist Soviet Union where only the censored content manipulated by the totalitarian rulers was broadcast or printed. Little did I realize that the day would come that I too would experience first hand the all encompassing voice of Big Brother. That no matter where I turned I would be forced to hear ‘his’ words echoing throughout the streets of my community. More to the point – that ‘his’ message would invariably be a message of hatred and of the total negation of everything and everyone who did embrace ‘his’ creed.
In Israel, on any given Friday, if you live near an Arab village, not only do you hear the voice of the muezzin calling out the Adhan (call to prayer), you also hear in stereo the “sermon” of whichever visiting imam has the most fiery and rousing mode of delivery. At full volume from every mosque his “sermon” is broadcast into the streets and fields. Here in Shilo we hear it echoing from over five mosques through the hills surrounding the Shilo Valley.
I wonder what my neighbors feel as they hear the same sermon echo between the walls of their homes. How do they feel knowing that if they ever dared publicly disagree with the messages being broadcast their family, friends and neighbors would, at the very least, ostracize them. If they were foolish enough to continue voicing their questions and contrary opinions, it could very well be detrimental to their health.
Doesn’t anyone up there in the Ivory Towers of Western civilization hear what I hear from my front porch?
What do you think?
