Dystopia Project
Time period: Year 3000s
Government: Communism/Feudalism
Problem: Gov’t using war refugees as soldiers by altering their thought process and implanting devices into their brains to control their nervous system
Manifesto:
Inequality
In my opinion, inequality is a huge problem everywhere, and is one of the most difficult problems to conquer. This is because someone can be considered unequal for so many reasons, maybe because of their race, intelligence, wealth, sex, and virtually anything. Being treated as inferior can lead to not only degradation from others, but also degradation from you. To me, the worst part of inequality is that not only do other people think you are lower than them; you believe it too.
Even in such greatly developed countries like Canada, inequality is still an issue. Although it may not seem like a major issue here, it still exists within the mindsets of every single person in Canada, an in the world for that matter. There are so many sources of inequality. It could come from your family. Maybe your family is religious and believes divorce is wrong, or that homosexuality is wrong. You will take on your family’s attitude, and even unintentionally or subconsciously, you will treat some people differently than others. Or maybe a student doesn’t have high grades and doesn’t pay attention very often. Immediately, his or her teachers will recognize them as a troublemaker or someone not worth their time. They will grade him or her even harder than someone else. Maybe they might even look forward to them not doing well. Maybe this student is trying his or her hardest to succeed, while it seems as though everyone is treating them as if there is no point in trying to do well. No matter how big or small these acts of inequality are, they are still acts of inequality and are unfair and unjust.
What is the point of inequality?
So I ask myself the question, why do we have inequality at all? Inequality only creates more problems. If everyone were to be equal, would we not listen to everyone and create better, levelheaded solutions to whatever problems we face? If everyone were equal, everyone’s problems would be heard and answered. No one would need to worry about suffering because everyone would help. If we were all equal, half of the world’s problems would be gone. It’s ridiculous to think we can’t consider ourselves all equal to one another yet. If we did, I can only imagine how great the world would be, assuming we would all stay equivalent, not reverting back to the levels of superiority we have today.
How do we get rid of inequality?
In order to solve a problem, you must figure out what triggers the problem in the first place. In my opinion, what causes inequality are influences from various sources, like religion or media. The easiest thing to do would be to eliminate what can make someone believe that something or someone is of lower worth than themselves and instead have only one great influence (the government) dictating the truth: that everyone is equal. But even with a supreme government, there are chances at rebellions and resistance could occur, so in order to avoid any sort of conflict, do not allow people to feel extreme emotions that will set them apart from others. Make everyone act the same by administering a small dosage of sedative in tap water. This will insure that everyone is calm and easy to manipulate and that life will go on without any problems along the way.
A new history:
After a World War III, which was caused by the need for fresh water and natural resources, the formerly plentiful North America was in ruins after massive nuclear attacks. In desperation, one man led the remaining population, a feeble one hundred thousand, as far north as they could bear. There, the leader decided that no longer would they live in war and terror. He would rebuild his nation, but he would do it differently than the people before him. In this nation, no one would need to fight over water, or food, or electricity. Everything would be distributed equally amongst his people. He would not put one person over another, for he knew what it was like to be at the very bottom. He succeeded, and many generations later, this new society, this Greater Earth, was thriving.
A Greater Earth:
Once the idea of a “greater Earth” was planted inside the hopeless minds of the surviving population, it grew and eventually became the very essence of life. Several generations later, Greater Earth expanded and the population exploded. Greater Earth was humming with life, peace, and equilibrium. It was a safe haven in a world destroyed by war and left in ruins. Outside of Greater Earth, no society was left standing. In Europe, the remaining citizens and military fled to Russia where a large nuclear rocket launcher had still been functioning. East and South Asia allied and had been working their way west. Many South Americans had risked a journey to Greater Earth in hopes of being granted refuge. As the years passed, an overwhelming amount of refugees swarmed the borders of Greater Earth, so the government quickly set up an “equalization treatment” to make them act like normal Greater Earth citizens.
But what the people of Greater Earth don’t realize is wrong is that in order for a refugee and their family to live in Greater Earth, at least two members must serve in the military and undergo “special training” that was just obliterating whatever person they used to be and being grafted into the ideal soldier Greater Earth requires to win the war.
A new government:
The government of Greater Earth is something in between communism and feudalism. While the position of power is hereditary, it is simply because it is the easiest way to choose. Jobs are based on a person’s area of strength and are decided by a council appointed by the leader. But unlike feudalism, everyone is supposedly equal, even though the people of Greater Earth are in the dark about what the government is really doing. At age six, every child must attend school until age seventeen. There, a council will decide what job each student will receive. Depending on the job, some students will have to go into further education. At age twenty-five, each person is assigned to a partner based on temperaments and occupation. At age thirty, every partnered couple must have two children. After each child, the family receives a small boost in their income. Every person must work their assigned job until they reach age sixty-five, where they are sent to a senior residence to live out the rest of their lives.
Greater Earth had become fully self sustainable. The whole nation was packed full with greenhouses, farms, and eco-friendly energy sources. Manufacturers scattered the very outside of Greater Earth near the border wall. After seizing South America and Hawaii, Greater Earth had begun opening trading routes to the small clusters of civilization very far south. After receiving protection from Greater Earth, South America was able to regroup and had already begun rebuilding its society, with the oversight from Greater Earth government officials. People from what once had been Mexico had fled north, greatly increasing Greater Earth’s population. Greater Earth had been expanding, and was no longer worried about threats from other nations, for it was the only great civilization left standing, and undoubtedly the most powerful.
Diary
November 19th, 3015 (17:34)
Today, I celebrate my fourteenth birthday. It was a fairly joyous occasion, especially since turning fourteen is very important in Greater Earth. As of today, the Council of Tomorrow will begin considering my possible career paths. My grandmother, who was once a part of the council, said to me last time I visited her that she suspected I would be put into the area of Refugee Induction. It was not an undesirable job, so I began investing my time in researching and applying for volunteer work. My parents were both satisfied with my decision. Although choosing my career is not my own choice, my actions do impact the Council’s decision.
My younger brother, Theo, was praised by his science teacher about his exceptional grades. It is clear that Theo will prosper in the field of engineering or innovation.
Right now, my family and I are waiting for the Induction Ceremony. We were dressed in our best clothes, our Greater Earth emblem pins securely attached over our hearts. Soon, a new bunch of one hundred refugees would now be classified as residents. My heart fluttered, as I know that when I grow up, I will be a part of that process. After drinking a glass of cool water, I was immediately calmed down. The old nursery rhyme floated into my head. “Sweet and yummy goes in the tummy, tasteless water is very crummy.”
Every young schoolchild belted out this line with a passion. Every child was filled with pride when they could identify clean water from dirty water by themselves. Long ago, Greater Earth had learned that the only way to make drinking water was to clean it with non-toxic chemicals, which produces the sweet, calming taste. Since fresh water had been such a problem during the beginning of World War III, our first leader decided that if he could find any, he would make his own.
Clean water was the first great achievement of Greater Earth, and the pride of it had been passed down for generations.
It is 17:40 now, and the Induction is at 18:00. We must go. My heart is still fluttering, but the water calmed me down. Theo is not as excited as I am, but I’m sure when they announce a new invention or discovery on the Broadcaster, Theo will be excited out of his wits.
November 20th, 3015 (07:14)
The Induction Ceremony was wonderful. They introduced the families that had fled to Greater Earth. They had completed their three month Refugee Induction Camp, and had successfully passed through. I couldn’t help but feel happy for them. They had just begun their new, peaceful lives. The Inductors were also very pleased to see the refugee’s success, because it also meant that they had succeeded at their jobs. The whole process was quite rewarding. Two hours later, the ceremony ended with the normal saying of Greater Earth’s mantra, “A Greater Earth is an equal earth.” The usual documentary about the history of Greater Earth with no sound played on the huge Broadcasters.
At the end of the ceremony, I spotted my friend Anna and we chatted for a couple of minutes.
“Now that we’re fourteen,” Anna mused, “I can’t help think about our futures. What will my job be? Who will my partner be? What will my children be like? Soon enough, it will be time to retire!”
“I guess,” I replied with a soft laugh. “We’re only fourteen. We won’t even have to get our jobs until we’re twenty!”
“That part isn’t the scary part, Diana,” she scoffed. “It’s clear that you’ll be an Inductor and I’ll be a Caregiver.” Anna paused and looked around slyly. “Our husbands are standing right in this very room.”
I suddenly felt self-conscious. Anna was right. We would marry a boy our age, which meant they were certainly inside this room. But I shook these feelings away. There was no need to feel embarrassed. The Council of Reproduction would decide the perfect partner for me. The most logical partner. There is nothing embarrassing about logic.
“Everything will turn out fine, Anna,” I said consolingly. She rolled her eyes. “Why don’t you come over?”
Anna’s mouth smiled a bit sadly. We both knew that we would have to separate soon. Our career paths led us to different roads. We might not even end up living in the same district when we grow up. It was sad, but it was our duty to fulfill our responsibilities. The meaning of life was to serve our nation and our people.
“Sure,” she agreed.
Anna knew her way around my house expertly. We had been friends for a short time, but we bonded immediately. Staring up at the blank ceiling, we lay with our heads together on my bed. Without talking, we understood each other’s thoughts. But out of the two of us, Anna was much more emotional than I. A flood of fatigue spread throughout my body. I closed my eyes and listened to our synchronized breathing.
“Could you imagine,” Anna began softly, “a world with happy, energetic people, moving freely in whatever direction they wanted to?”
“What do you mean?” I asked with a voice that was barely a whisper. “That is our world.”
“No, Diana,” she said. I felt her shake her head, twisting the sheets. “That is not Greater Earth. No one is happy. Everyone is stuck in neutrality. We all move in one direction without even realizing.”
My eyes shot open and I gave her a warning look. Anna pressed her lips together tightly. She was going too far. Briskly, she stood up and excused herself. I understood that Anna was rash, but I would not allow her to put herself into danger by badmouthing Greater Earth or its government. As I stood up, I looked at the small table beside my bed and noticed that she had not touched her glass of water.
November 23rd, 3015 (18:43)
Today, my entire grade visited a large greenhouse near the south Border. The huge glass structure was filled with winding plants and amazing colours. The teacher said that it resembled a jungle, which was some sort of tropical cluster of plants. As soon as we stepped into the greenhouse, we were hit by a moist, thick, and surprisingly hot whiff of air. It was a huge contrast from the harsh cold outside. Lots of sunlight slipped through the gaps of vegetation, creating a very beautiful image.
A farmer stepped out from a large group of bushes and welcomed us with a warm smile. She was a younger adult and was very beautiful, just as serene as her greenhouse. The teacher and her exchanged a handshake.
As we toured around the beautiful greenhouse, I stopped myself from admiring the array of plants and cast a look at Anna. She was not at all interested in the plants. She was looking through a windowpane and at the large Border Wall that stretched up into the sky. I wondered what she was thinking.
At the end of the trip, we boarded the small bus. The seats were arranged alphabetically by our surnames. I was the third T, my last name being Thomas. Anna was near the front with her unique surname: Baillieu.
November 25th, 3015 (19:21)
I am pleased to say Anna has snapped out of her odd attitude. Everything has gone back to normal. We do our schoolwork together and exchange small talk. Balance has been restored, and I have been recently feeling very content in a neutral sort of way. I find it difficult to explain. It feels like I am in complete harmony with everything. I no longer need water to calm down. Perhaps I have matured. Everything is wonderful.
December 3rd, 3015 (01:37)
Many days have passed since I have last written in this diary. I no longer trust my own mind. I cannot sleep, I cannot eat, and I cannot drink. I have lost my understanding of life itself. I do not know how to react.
December 5th, 3015 (04:52)
It has been three days since the day I learned. My dreams have been filled with the terror Anna has showed me. But the most frightening part is the emotions I have felt and the freedom I have experienced.
Three days ago, Anna and I went to her house. It was a normal day. We were both content. Her older brother was home, too. He dutifully did his homework. But as soon as I asked for a glass of water, Anna and her brother refused. This confused me, but I accepted it. Maybe they used up most of their water ration and couldn’t distribute it recklessly. But as the hours passed, the thirstier I grew, and the more impatient I became. It was embarrassing, because only young children were supposed to be selfish, but I really couldn’t stand it anymore.
When I had reached a higher level of annoyance, Anna looked up, her ice blue eyes piercing my own. The coldness of her gaze froze my insides.
“Everything you know is a lie,” she said. Then she pressed her forefinger to my forehead.
My head felt like it had exploded. Memories forced their way into my mind. Memories that were not mine played like a broken Broadcaster. First, a missile was falling in my direction. I ran, but I could not run fast enough. Desperation clutched my legs as I ran. The impact that sent me flying had shattered windows of the surrounding skyscrapers. As I forced myself to stand up, I felt blood run down my forehead. I ran anyways. Buildings crumbled to the ground. I could not look back.
Then suddenly, I was in a warm room. It was dimly lit. I was in a much smaller form than I was in the last memory. My arms and legs were pudgy with baby fat. I lay against my mother’s protective arms, her blonde hair tickling my neck. I felt an overwhelming emotion of warmth, protectiveness, and weakness I had never felt before. It was too much for me.