The Human Cost of an Illiterate Society

                                                                            Eric

                                                                            Zhu Qidong

                                                                            2016013563                                                                            

                                                                            101-K

  In the essay“The Human Cost of an Illiterate Society”,the author Jonathan Kozol obviously convinces people to pay higher taxes for services that promote adult literacy and the choices that Kozol makes in his writing definitely help his argument that illiteracy is a problem for all of us.Traditionally,people believe that the problem of illiteracy belongs to those who can’t read and that if you have reached adulthood without learning how to read,there is a problem with your character.However,Kozol has an opposite standpoint that illiteracy is a problem for all of us and people have duty to help illiterates.By describing the terrible actuality of illiteracy in USA,kozol powerfully convinces that illiteracy is a problem for all of us and people should pay higher taxes for services that promote adult literacy because the existence of so many illiterates sways the foundation of democracy and also because it’s inhumane to ignore illiterates whose lives are full of limitations and pain.

  One reason I think the way Kozol has written this essay definitely convinces people to pay higher taxes for services that promote adult literacy and the choices that Kozol makes in his writing also help his argument that illiteracy is a problem for all of us is that the existence of so many illiterates sways the foundation of democracy.Equity,liberty and fraternity are the basics of democratic political system but nowadays it’s very grieved to see that so many illiterates can’t have the same political rights as others.The author states that“We do know this:Democracy is a mendacious term when used by those who are prepared to countenance the forced exclusion of one third of our electorate.So long as 60 million people are denied significant participation,the government is neither of, nor for,nor by,the people.It is a government ,at best,of those two thirds whose wealth,skin color,or parental privilege allows them opportunity to profit from the provocation and instruction of the written word.”This example clearly shows that illiteracy is a problem for all of us and people should pay higher taxes for services that promote adult literacy.When the author use words like,“mendacious”“exclusion”“denied”and“privilege”,these emphasize how frail the democratic system is because we can’t ensure the fairness and equality of the government if there are one third of people don’t have the rights to vote.To make sure that illiterates have the opportunity to vote,it’s reasonable for people to pay higher taxes for services that promote adult literacy.The author also writes that,“They do not know what rights they have,what deadlines and requirements they face,what options they might choose to exercise.They are half-citizens.Their rights exist in print but no in fact.”This passage successfully convinces that the existence of so many illiterates sways the foundation of democracy because a mature democracy can’t allow the existence of numerous half-citizens.Democracy system is vital for every people so everyone has the duty to safeguard the democratic rights of illiterates.Paying higher taxes for services that promote adult literacy is not only beneficial to illiterates but also beneficial to all of us.    

  Another reason I think the way Kozol has written this essay definitely convinces people to pay higher taxes for services that promote adult literacy and the choices that Kozol makes in his writing also help his argument that illiteracy is a problem for all of us is that it’s inhumane to ignore illiterates whose lives are full of limitations and pain.Living in the modern society,if you can’t read you almost can’t do anything by yourselves.The author depicts that“Whether in perusal of a menu,selection of highways,purchase of groceries,or determination of affordable enjoyment,illiterate Americans must trust somebody else:a friend,a relative,a stranger on the street,a grocery clerk,a TV copywriter.”This passage distinctly shows people should pay higher taxes for services that promote adult literacy.Just like a helpless newborn baby,illiterates must rely on somebody else.Nevertheless,no all people are trustworthy and illiterates sometimes may be deceived by someone they have no choice but to believe.After being deceived,some illiterates distrust anyone and it leads them to a worse predicament.It’s a vicious cycle.If it can rescue illiterates from the dilemmas, people have no reason not to pay higher taxes for services that promote adult literacy.The author also states that,“While ingenuity can sometimes help a man or woman to discern directions from familiar landmarks,buildings,cemeteries,churches,and the like,most illiterates are virtually immobilized.They seldom wander past the streets and neighborhoods they know.Geographical paralysis becomes a bitter metaphor for their entire existence.They are immobilized in almost every sense we can image.They can’t move up.They can’t move out.They cannot see beyond.”This example vividly demonstrates that it’s inhumane to ignore illiterates whose lives are full of limitations and pain.When the author uses words like,“immobilized”“paralysis”“seldom”and“move”,these emphasize that illiteracy limits illiterates physically and mentally.It’s already 21 century now but the time of illiterates seems like still stopping in The Middle Ages because illiterates are immobilized in small specific areas and they can’t enjoy the conveniences that modern life brings about.Because of illiteracy,illiterates can’t have the essential freedom and rights as others.Therefore,paying higher taxes for services that promote adult literacy is imperative because it can guarantee illiterates basic personal rights.What’ more,there is no doubt that illiteracy is a problem for all of us because anyone who has fundamental humanity doesn’t have the heart to keep silence about the terrible actuality of illiterates.