Here is the difference: in one case it is forgotten because the government is actively imprisoning people who mention it; in the other, because people are apathetic and easily distracted and perhaps disagree that this is an event of similar import. It seems a rather important difference to me.
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It seems to me like Orwell vs. Huxley difference. In the end thing is mostly forgotten in both cases.
Here is the difference: in one case it is forgotten because the government is actively imprisoning people who mention it; in the other, because people are apathetic and easily distracted and perhaps disagree that this is an event of similar import. It seems a rather important difference to me.
It is a difference but when I read what you wrote I have trouble deciding which is worse.