In the afterword, the commentator describes 1984 as "a warning." What do you think are some of the larger issues at hand here? In the afterword, the...

I think the
largest issue is the corruption of language in our world. was very concerned that the
degredation of language would make thought less possible/clear.  In his famous Essay
"" (http://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/intrel/orwell46.htm) he discusses this in details. 
If he were able to envision the internet/television, I think he would be even more alarmed.  The
glut of information that is "out there" is frightening, especially when it is
virtually impossible tell if it is accurate, slanted, propaganda, or, surprisingly, just
factual.  Once there was so little information we could not be sure about anything; now there is
so much to process that we are hardly in a better position.  

This ties in
closely with manipulation of the past by the media/government/parties....  Many of us know
almost nothing of not only WHAT happened in the PAST, but why it happened.  For example, take a
look at the description of the Panic of 1893 in this Wikipedia article: 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panic_of_1893.  You'll think you're reading something on the
internet/in a newspaper today.  Without a knowledge of the past, we are liable to believe
anything.  This factual manipulation when joined to the language issue, makes us vulnerable to
almost any propaganda ... truly frightening.