Literacy

Regarding what happened in France recently and all the debates which followed concerning the freedom of speech, I am wondering about the importance of writing and reading in our societies nowadays. What does it even mean? What is literacy? Why it is so important?

• ·         Never stop

Since the dawn of time men have been using words as a weapon. When freedom was reduced by governments, men continued to speak through words, denouncing inequalities and power abuses, smuggling books and pamphlets. Words are a real testimony to the past and remain in people’ minds. Men never ceased to write, even when printers, electronic images and television appeared.

As Walter Ong said:

“Now we have electronic communication, we shall not cease to write and print”

• ·         An universal knowledge?

Nowadays, the majority of the population can read, especially in France and in western countries. The thing is, literacy is associated with wealth, power and access to education. But what is literacy exactly? This is the ability to read and write. It is nowadays extended to the understanding of complex concepts and knowledge specific to different culture.

To be able to read and to write gives access to jobs and facilitates everyday life. Furthermore, it gives access to power. According to Sarah Power, literate people were priests, oracles, poets, doctors, politicians, professors, lawyers, engineers and they had high positions in societies. In the 21^st century, to be literate has become indispensable.

Unfortunately, some people are still illiterate, and they are the poorest one. In France and other countries, they are seen as “outsiders”. In our societies, to succeed and be “insiders”, we have to be rich, to have a good job and own a big house. To fit in the system, we must respect those standards and it cannot be possible if we are illiterate.

• ·         Writer or not writer ?

I am convinced that writing is a natural ability for everyone once we have the skills to use it. I do not think rather often about the chance I have to be able to write and read. Since I was a child, I have always loved discovering new worlds and characters through novels. I enjoy writing very much, especially diaries out of school or newspapers in a more academic context.

I do not really see myself as a writer, even if, I guess, I am sort of one. I think that writers’ words can affect people in a specific way, as Martin Luther King’s speech “I have a dream” did. Of course, authors are not necessarily famous. In my opinion a writer gives a real meaning to words and he knows how to put them together.

To end with this article, I will add that literacy is very important for our civic duties (now more than ever). It helps us (a little) to understand what is going on in our crazy world. It is a real potential for political freedom and according to Sarah Power and Richard Bailey, literacy is very important for our roles as responsible citizens.