Suerte Felipe 1

Jason Suerte Felipe

Professor Altman
English 114 B
March 24, 2014
Essay #2
Although many Americans believe that America is the home of the free, they should take
consideration of how much freedom they actually have. Alan Moores twisted world in V for Vendetta
lacks the sense of freedom that we lack in todays world. Various invasions of privacy are committed by
surveillance by government in order to maintain control over the citizens of London. The government has
a strong hold on the media causing censorship and manipulation through media. We, as a nation, have
freedom of information but the government controls that freedom through surveillance, media, and
censorship.
In V for Vendetta the state has systems of security camera surveillance and thoughts and ideals
toward those who live on the other side of the lens. It is a brutal state to those of different race and creed
and those who are weak. The fear of this government and their bent goal of total hegemonic overpower
and control people. In the article Privacy by Randy Kemp and Adam D. Moore, they discuss the
concept of privacy and the justification of privacy. Ultimately, they agree that the government denies our
freedom through their use of surveillance. In the Privacy text, two philosophers hinder the question if
privacy is private at all. These two philosophers go by the name of Aristotle and Plato. Aristotle believed
that there is a boundary between affairs of the state and household affairs. (Kemp) Plato viewed privacy
as invaluable and realized no physiological, sociological, or political needs for individuals to be able to
control association and disassociation amongst peers. The philosophy of Aristotle and Plato both help
support the idea of privacy being controlled and unjust. Nevertheless, most theorists take the view that
privacy is a meaningful and valuable concept. Philosophical debates concerning definitions of privacy
Suerte Felipe 2

became noticeable throughout the ages, and are deeply affected by the development of privacy protection
in the law. Some defend privacy as focusing on control over information about oneself, while others
defend it as a broader concept required for human dignity, or crucial for intimacy. Other critics defend
privacy as necessary for the development of varied and meaningful interpersonal relationships, or as the
value that accords us the ability to control the access others have to us, or as a set of norms necessary not
only to control access but also to enhance personal expression and choice. Discussion of the concept is
complicated by the fact that privacy appears to be something we value to provide a sphere within which
we can be free from interference by others, and yet it also appears to function negatively, as the cloak
under which one can hide domination, degradation, or physical harm to many. Most Americans are
understandably squeamish about letting the government have access to their personal information. If
healthcare isnt personal, Im not sure what is. Now that everyone has to have insurance or face fines, the
government will have more access to Americans private affairs than ever. The HealthCare.gov site itself
has a well-hidden warning about how you should have no expectation of privacy when using the site. The
government itself admits that your privacy and freedom are on the line.
In V for Vendetta the use of propaganda and fear is spread by the government. In the graphic
novel the government had a strong hold on the media and basically fabricated stories that otherwise might
make the people alarmed or up rise. An example of suppressing the truth would be when V used
explosives to blow up a statue that once stood for justice, but the government used the media and its
strong influence on it to report to the people that the government was behind the explosion (demolition)
and wanted it to go out with a bang. In todays society, media takes toll on our freedom.
Censorship was extremely common in V for Vendetta. All of the television programs were ran
by the government and everything was taped so no one could air anything live. All political, sexual, and
or religious, etc. views not in line with the government command were banned and anyone the protested
against it were usually captured during the night by finger men, beaten, taken in for interrogation and
tortured until they died.