What’s Happening?

In society, there have always been people treated unequally. Whether it was because of their race, sexuality, religion, or basically anything that could define them as a human being. As a society, we tend to pinpoint a certain quality or defining characteristic, and ostracize anyone who shows it. In recent times, we often see the suppression of the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) community. In the novel Animal Farm, by George Orwell, we see the groups of animals being treated unfairly, because they are not seen as good enough.

For some reason in our culture, gays have been shunned from the rest of the world. They have been beaten, teased, and killed, simply because of who they fall in love with. The ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ policy, which was put out by the U.S. government in 1993 roughly states that if you want to join the military, you should keep your sexuality a secret; otherwise they can deny your application, because you “would create an unacceptable risk to the high standards of morale, good order and discipline, and unit cohesion that are the essence of military capability.”

The government had denied people their right to serve their country, their right to protect our nation, because they happen to be a little bit different. In America, there are around seven states in which gays can get married. Forty-three states are denying people of their civil rights. Why? Because according to bible loving activists, gay marriage is an abomination. Two people getting married because they are in love is an abomination. There are many more ways that the LGBT community has been stomped on and smashed into the dirt. Too many to count, actually. In America, everyone is supposed to have equal rights, so why don’t they?

In the novel Animal Farm, the pigs, who are in charge, throw the other animals rights into the dirt. In the beginning of the book, there are seven commandments, outlining the animals’ rights, and how they should act in society. The rules are incredibly fair, and all of the animals agree to them. Throughout the book, however, the commandments slowly change to accommodate the pigs’ wants and needs, until eventually, the pigs get rid of the commandments, and put up only one: “All animals are equal, but some more equal than others.” (133). The pigs do this to prove, in a way, that they are better than the other animals.

They are saying that they have more freedom, more opportunities, and more rights than all the rest. One thing that contributes to the animals’ suppression is their education (or lack thereof). The pigs, of course, have built a school for their children, while the rest of the farm barely knows how to read. If the animals don’t understand what’s happening, they can’t argue against it. “Several of them would have protested if they could have found the right arguments.” (69). This comes in very handy for the pigs, while they continue to change the entire structure of their society. All because they believe that they are better than everyone else.

Animal Farm is a prime example of suppression in society. The unfairness of no education, the amount of work for so little pay, and many other things. As is the unfair treatment of the LGBT community. People are getting murdered, just because of who they are. Because society refuses to accept that there might be a person just a tad bit different than they are. In life, there is always going to be that one person who’s being left out of the group, or not being let play the game, because of who they are, or how they act. Instead of accepting that, change it.

Works Cited

Orwell, George. Animal Farm: A Fairy Story. New York, NY: Signet Classic 1996. Print. “Maintain Military Gay Ban.” The Washington Times. The Washington Times, 12 Jan. 2010. Web. 16 Jan. 2013.