1984
By George Orwell

The thing about the book that everyone knows—even if they haven't read it—is the reference to Big Brother. It just became part of the lexicon. But the part that isn't discussed much is about the leader who convinced the people that they were in dire threat of being killed by an enemy who was essentially invisible. The leader made a pact with his people that if they gave up freedom and civil liberties, he would protect them. To see Americans so willing to give up their rights to privacy and freedom of expression because of a terrorist threat is a crazy thing to me. I feel that the way to fight back against those who want to deny you your freedom is not to reduce it, but to show the world that no matter how many attacks, we are not going to sacrifice our basic principles.