Animal Farm - Finale

Despite the need for sleep, I stayed up and finished Animal Farm. It was a really good book and an eye opener. I find a few things amazing and they DO apply to us as well.


(1) Life is going to be difficult.
(2) When one tyrant is removed, another one will take his place.
(3) Most people would rather be led around by the nose than think for themselves.
(4) Politicians are pigs.
(5) We are quick to forget our past troubles.
(6) Change isn't always good.
(7) Most would not question the leader that was their friend at one time.
(8) There will always be someone that will be ready to take advantage of you.
(9) The old addage of a frog in water holds true*.
(10) Once you have your freedom, know what it entails and do NOT let someone dictate to you what your freedoms really are.

There are a lot more lessons and I'm sure that there are a lot of things that could be added to this list. Even being a "fairy tale" as was Orson Wells' subtitle, it really isn't a nice story because it hits too close to home. Those that seem benevolent in the beginning could be there to take advantage as much as they can. Those that are benevolent will usually be run out by those that want to take advantage and then lied about. As we review all those "criminals" that started out doing good, how much do we know that they actually did? Just because the "authorities" say they are now criminals, is it really the case?

Anyway, up above I put a * on number 9. I did this to indicate that I would talk about this. For those of you that don't know the addage of the frog, here you go.

If you put a frog in boiling water, it will jump out because it is too hot. If you put a frog in normal water, and heat it slowly, the frog will eventually boil to death. The reason is, that the water is fine in the beginning. As heat is applied, the water temperature rises slowly and if the water was ok a second ago, it still is ok. That continues until the water is eventually boiling.

It works the same with everything. As little changes are made, changes that really seem insignificant, they may be small pieces in a puzzle. What was ok yesterday should still be ok today. If we add one little, small change, what does it matter? We find out after its too late to see that all the changes have brought us to a point where we are again ready for a revolution. Then, the cycle starts all over again.