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Show THE THUNDERB1RD sVtfKn. V viinlisj; SUPERIOR SERVICE CENTER iDloIu); Move over Big Brother, Spuds rules in '88 One of my favorite novels has always been J 984 by George Orwell. The book paints a very real portrait of the future as it is today; but it does, like any other prophetic work, have its problems. was hashing the novel around in my head a few days ago, and suddenly discovered a major flaw in Orwell's thinking. He reversed the date of his masterpiece's printing, 1948, to arrive at the apocalyptic year in the title; and it seems he reversed another important concept as well. In 1 988, Big Brother is not watching us; we are watching him. Having trouble grasping the concept? In Orwell's novel, giant television screens in every wall blare propaganda and display at random intervals a stern, evil face: Big Brother the archetypal god watching over society to keep it in line. Things really aren't that', different in the real '80s. What better way to keep America in line' than to rivet our attention to a television screen? The year 1 988 is a prime example: Winter Olympics, presidential primaries, Democratic National Convention, Republican National I I Convention, Summer Olympics, vice presidential MONDAY 1221 SOUTH MAIN 17, 1988 PAGE 5 f PROFESSIONAL REPAIRS ON ALMOST ANY CAR WITHOUT THE HIGH PRICES CHARGED AT DEALERSHIPS. OUR HOURS ARE FLEXIBLE AND OUR SERVICE IS GREAT! lAI debates, presidential debates, the World Series, the elections, and Christmas. Each of these events consumes weeks of airtime, exploiting our sense of patriotism and national pride. What! You didn't watch the men's Olympic volleyball game or the debates or a single World Series game? Are you a Commie or something? So we all go home from work or school or whatever and plop down in front of the TV for another three- - or four-hovigil, and we wonder why the rest of the world seems to be catching up to us all of a sudden. I'll be the first to agree that these television events are important to all of us as Americans; they only come around once every four years (except for the World Series and Christmas), and the least we can do is watch them. There is nothing wrong with cheering for a national hero in the 400-metdash or watching two presidential candidates calmly exchange political rhetoric; the exercise can even be stimulating at times. The real danger to our country, and to our individual minds as well, is those brief instants of air time during and dramas that mirror our between events, those tiny decadent society. The television people call them commercials, and they become increasingly obnoxious during these four-yea- r extravaganzas. Take the Olympics for example. Every product known to man jumps on the bandwagon, fighting tooth and nail to become the official tissue or air filter or toothpaste of the American team. remember Anthony Hembrick, the U.S. boxer who lost his chance to fight because he arrived late at the arena, sitting in utter dejection in the locker room. Someone should have reminded him of the free gold-to- p batteries offered to every American athlete at the Games; bet he would have cheered right up! Two U.S. athletes in Seoul got drunk, stole a statue from a park, and were kicked off the team; all while Spuds McKenzie skied in tribute to our Olympians in the name of Bud Light. And who can forget watching Florence Griffith-Joyndash in world-recor- d win the 1 time and then hearing some cowboys sing "The Ballad of the Gentle Laxative" in back of a tour bus? What does all this mean to us as human beings? It means we are in a very Orwellian fashion into cheering for being manipulated the home team while our brains are turned to mush by mindless TV ads. Fortunately for us, however, modern technology has developed a wonder old George and his Big Brother could only dream about: have recorded 1 988's major events. a VCR with remote control. Now have four years to watch them at my leisure. With my remote in hand to zap idiotic commercials and several taped Cosby Show reruns nearby to instill some reality in my viewing, should make it safely to 1 992, the year of Barcelona and Ted Kennedy (again) and the Cincinnati Reds (I hope). Hey! Rewind that! Did Dan Quayle just say what think he said? OCTOBER J3 is COCA COLA JIMMY Z L2J FORENZA mm tm. (mm (: OP er PCH mmm m&ms CHEROKEE SWATCH GUESS one-minu- te MASTERCARD DISCOVER 491 S MAIN CEDAR CITY 586-252- 2 LAYAWAYSVISA 155 N. BLUFF ST. GEORGE 628-354- 4 er I I I NEED TO IMPRESS YOUR DATE? 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