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BOOK

"All animals are equal."
George Orwell, 1946

"Animal Farm" by George Orwell is a marvelous "must-read".
This well-known allegorical story tells of a farm where animals, fed up with being mistreated by the farmers, one day chase humans away and start their own idealistic society based on equality and freedom of all animals. On a self-managed farm all animals contribute according to their abilities, nobody steals and the work is done faster than under the human rule with the animals feeling much more contented with their lot than ever before. A year or two later problems begin to emerge however: there is a clear rift in the leadership that results in a violent clash between two most outspoken leaders. The equality of all animals becomes less obvious as the animals in positions of power award themselves new privileges. Eventually, a new system of exploitation emerges.
The story shows a beautiful but vulnerable dream turn into ugly reality. Lies and intimidation perpetrated by some of the animals, supported by blind idealism of others and cowardice and stupidity of the rest, allow the system to degenerate, while appearances of success are crudely kept up.
The story was meant as a criticism of Stalinist Soviet Union. Orwell, himself an idealistic socialist, had once fought in Spain's civil war in a unit where many of its members were followers of Trotsky - one of the key figures in early Soviet Union. When Trotsky was later declared an enemy of the state, his memory was diligently purged from all records and photographs. Orwell saw how the purge resulted in many of his friends being short, imprisoned or abducted without a trace. This and other observations are reflected in the events that take place on the Animal Farm.
Although the Soviet Union no longer exists, the book is still worth reading to remind us of how persistent lies and intimidation can turn a good idea into an ugly nightmare.