In a nod to political correctness, California school district repudiate "big brother"
When discussing George Orwell's classic dystopian novel 1984 to the incoming students, Wesely County, California teachers will no longer be opining on "Big Brother." In an effort to remain gender-neutral, county school officials have mandated that all uses of the phrase "Big Brother" must be replaced with "Big Sibling." The change has been lauded by feminist action committee Lady Equality; their spokesperson, Andrea Landry, was quoted as saying that the decision is a "landmark blow for equality in Wesely County. There is no reason that a draconian police state cannot be a woman." Despite feminist approval, the move has landed school officials in hot water with some local conservative politicians. Mayor Jeff Hill of Pippston (the Wesely county seat) lambasted the mandate, calling it a "vile, despicable case of censorship." He also suggested that the decision had less to do with feminism, and more to do with maintaining the status quo: "Liberal politicians don't want you to read Orwell. They don't want you to read Thomas Paine, and they sure as heck don't want your kids learning about them in school." The changes are set to take effect this September, but Mr. Hill and several compatriots are lobbying to reverse the decision.
