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"You are remembered for the rules you break." General Douglas MacArthur said that about how people in modern times remember icons for what rules they broke. Society remembers Adolf Hitler for his racism, Martin Luther King Jr. for his civil rights movements, and George Washington for his strength in battle and in thought against the British. All these people broke rules and challenged the system for what they believed in. George Orwell’s //1984// embodies the story of a man, Winston; while he strikes out against the communist government that restrained his society for many years. While rebelling against Big Brother Winston gets caught, betrayed, and tortured. His spirit breaks and Winston becomes a thoughtless government worker who is brainwashed into loving Big Brother. In //Little Brother//, a novel by Cory Doctorow, Marcus Yallow rebels in opposition of the Department of Homeland Security when they overstep their lawful boundaries in San Francisco. The DHS detains Marcus and his friends and after most of them are released Marcus realizes that the San Francisco that he knew has changed into a police controlled city. His fight for rights leads him through love, parties, and torture, and challenges his knowledge of technology; but despite hardships Marcus succeeds in exposing the inhumanity of the DHS and saves his friend Darryl. In their books, //Little Brother // and //1984//, Cory Doctorow and George Orwell bring the ideas that power can change people, government must be challenged, and youths' role in society to the forefront of challenging the system. =====

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Winston and Marcus convey the change of a protagonist when they get power, the opposition of government, and youths' role in society throughout their campaigns. At the beginning of both // 1984 // and // Little Brother // the protagonists, Winston and Marcus, had goals to oppose the government, however; on both of their journeys they reverted to tactics that defied their own beginning beliefs. Winston agreed to commit murder, betray the country, kill children, and many other horrific jobs in order to support the "Brotherhood" and oppose Big Brother. The things he agreed to brought Winston to the same level of indecency as the government. At first, in Little Brother, Marcus was mostly concerned with his friend Darryl, but as the story progresses and he becomes the teen revered M1k3y, leader of the rebellion. His goals shift from saving Darryl to bringing down the DHS in whatever way possible, even if it means that others might get hurt. Both books showed that as a character changes and get power they often become no better than the government they are opposing. The government changes often, though usually so subtly that the public does not notice. Without the people realizing what is happening it could be very easy for the government to suddenly have more control than the people ever wanted them to have.media type="youtube" key="gFVQ0HZz2mc" height="280" width="458" align="left" Winston never had rights during his adult life but he remembered what it was like to have rights as kid. This shows him just how misdirected his society has become and he tried to change it. Marcus notices the change and disagreed with it while most people just go along with whatever the authorities said. At the end of the book he states, "Make them promise to vote. Make them take back this country. . .Most of us choose none of the above. It's not working. You have to choose-choose freedom." (363). In saying this Marcus points out that the government gets their way without a fight nine times out of ten and someday they'll cross a line that people will not be able to change. Throughout both books everyone underestimates the power of children. In // 1984 // Parsons was arrested because his young daughter informed the thought police of his thought crime against Big Brother. As Madeline wrote during the class blog, "Everyone in a position of authority in the books was kind of assuming that no one was as smart as them and therefore couldn't change anything." Marcus, from //Little Brother //believed that the DHS and society at large treated minors unfairly based on stereotypes, however; he was capable of working his way through the networking system better than the majority of adults. The power of youth, lures of power, and appeasement of government should not be forgotten when challenging the system. =====

====Even though Marcus and Winston's stories ended, the authors ideas about how to handle power well, challenge the government successfully, or estimate the importance of youth in society continue on. In both novels the protagonist could not use power in a way that profits his cause. How can power and leadership be used in a way that doesn't harm people? Any leader will abuse their power unless they respect their subjects. Neither Winston, nor Marcus, realized that the governmetns were actually trying to improve life, like the Party in //1984 //; they wanted to unite the people for a stronger nation and the DHS, in //Little Brother//, wanted to protect the citizens of the US. Respect does not fuel any anger and lets both sides of an argument be seen. Why do people just sit back when things they do not condone are occurring? Often this relates with being lazy or not thinking through a problem. If it is just laziness then they are afraid of getting hurt if they stand up for what they believe. According to a study done by [|CNN]'s John Dean, about 50% of Americans do not vote even for presidential elections. People do not foresee what effect it might have on their lives until it happens. Also, many people stay away from voting because they see **all** the options as "less than desirable". Marcus stepped up and played a big part in San Francisco's society but how can modern teenagers have a greater impact on society when adults are dictating their lives? Research shows that the instant gratification habits of the new generation of teens keep them from having a greater role in society. Few take the extra step to go further and take an active role in community happenings. However, despite this and some negative [|stereotypes] about teens, teenagers that stay updated and participate in society can have a huge affect. The questions left by Orwell and Doctorow motivate many to take a greater hand in how the government works. ====

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 12pt;"> With the world changing and the government tightening its grip on society, it is important to correctly use power, challenge the government when it oversteps its boundaries, and not underestimate youths' part in a community. Technology is a power that people have readily abused and it has turned society lazy. With increased technology [|instant gratification] is even more prominent and patience has faded. In a future with increasing technology the government will have even more power and ability to watch people and limit their rights. The government will also be able to contain and control the public in ways that many people may not be able to stand up against. That makes it even more important to challenge the government. Even when it doesn't seem like change is a big deal, the people should know exactly what they are getting into and where to draw the line for [|government power]. If the governments' boundaries are not strictly set then it will continue to grow in power and become a police state like //<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 12pt;">Little Brother //<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 12pt;"> or a communist society like <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 12pt;">//1984//. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 12pt;">Youth should research more and become more informed about the world around them. They should know why they are controlled by adults and get the facts about elections so they can make the best decisions for their future. Youth need to take control of their own lives <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 122%;"> so that they won't need a "safety blanket" when they become adults. The world today is more dangerous then ever and people need to be prepared for what might happen if they are not careful. Always remember not to abuse power, stop challenging the government, or underestimate the influence of young adults.

====<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">The authors, Cory Doctorow and George Orwell, focus on the way power can change people, the importance of challenging the government, and youth's role in a community throughout their books, //<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">Little Brother //<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">and <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">//1984//. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">George Orwell and Cory Doctorow foresaw that the modern world could easily look like a police state or a communist society. Government that can give people everything, can also take everything away so it should never be allowed to become too strong. It is the job of the people, the adults and the youth, not the government, to keep control of their lives and their country. ====

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">Bibliography:
<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">Beck, Glenn. "Commentary: America's chilling future - CNN.com." //CNN.com - Breaking News, U.S., World, Weather, Entertainment & Video News//. 2 Oct. 2008. Web. 23 Feb. 2010. <http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/10/01/beck.future/index.html>.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;"> Dean, John. "CNN.com - Why Americans don't vote -- and how that might change - November 7, 2000." //CNN.com International - Breaking, World, Business, Sports, Entertainment and Video News//. 8 Nov. 200. Web. 23 Feb. 2010. <http://edition.cnn.com/2000/LAW/11/columns/fl.dean.voters.02.11.07/>.

Doctorow, Cory. //Little Brother//. New York: Tor Teen, 2008. Print.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">Maldonado, Chesley. "Our Society: Technology and Instant Gratification." //Buzzle Web Portal: Intelligent Life on the Web//. 22 Dec. 2007. Web. 23 Feb. 2010. <http://www.buzzle.com/articles/our-society-technology-and-instant-gratification.html>. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;"> Orwell, George. //1984//. New York: New American Library, 1961. Print.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">Poole, Steve. "Effects of Stereotyping Teenagers by Steve Poole." //SearchWarp Writers' Community for Do It Yourself and Current Events Commentary//. 22 Mar. 2006. Web. 23 Feb. 2010. <http://searchwarp.com/swa50570.htm>.

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