Human Cost of an Illiterate America

¶ … Human Cost of Illiteracy" in Illiterate America by Jonathan Kozol

We actually asked for a great big red button, but they wouldn't give us one." -- Royal Navy submarine crewmember, on the method for firing cruise missiles.

Nations of various cultures and societies, have, since time immemorial, given importance to the benefits of literacy, which basically involves development in reading and writing skills. Literacy in American society has been one of its major detriments, which contradicts the country's powerful political and prosperous economic standing in the international community. This point is expressed, discussed, and analyzed by Jonathan Kozol, author of Illiterate America. In this discourse, the author looks into the history, social, and individual implications of illiteracy in America, and how illiteracy 'endangers' not only individual Americans, but the country (in general) as well.

The quote stated above illustrates the importance of literacy among individuals and the society. Kozol presents his arguments about America's illiterate society by discussing the social and personal (individual) effects of illiteracy. These adverse effects, for the most part, concerns exemplars of real-life situations and events wherein illiteracy has proven to be a liability, even a dangerous and deadly condition, for the American society. The illiterate sector of American society, have been living their lives governed by the "red button" rule -- reliance on illustrations, pictures, and other people in order to compensate for their lack of ability to read (and write). This paper provides a critical analysis of this "red button" rule -- that is, how it has pervaded among America's illiterate society, and led to decreased productivity and increased costs for America. Thus, this paper posits that America's illiterate sector leads to significant loss in the country's social and individual/personal development.

The "red button" rule of illiterate and semi- literate Americans, as the author categorizes, can halt their personal or individual development. In "The Human Cost of an Illiterate Society," illiteracy is synonymously associated with "tragedy," because "[i]lliterates live, in more than literal ways, an uninsured existence." Indeed, people who cannot read constantly live a life motivated by fear and uncertainty. The article exemplifies this through the case of the graphic illustrator (in "A Third of the Nation Cannot Read These Words"), where he is considered a "solitary man," detached from his community and unable to establish social relationships with other people. In this example, it is evident that the graphic illustrator's isolation from other people is not a preference, but a necessity, a result of his constant fear that people will discover his 'handicap' of not being able to read.

The graphic illustrator's case shows an illiterate individual who, because of his/her incapacity to read, denies and does not exercise the right to take advantage of privileges given him/her by American democracy. The authors cites, among others, the inability of an illiterate individual to vote, gain information and knowledge, and practice their rights, simply because the illiterate sector cannot understand the written word that inevitably comes with the exercise of each right. These are just few instances wherein illiteracy can adversely affect social development in the country, caused by the passive participation and low productivity of individuals hindered by their lack of ability to read. In effect, America's principle of freedom and democracy are curtailed for the illiterates, since they do not see and feel any meaning to these principles because they have been indirectly neglected by society -- an "invisible" sector who thrives and survives by the "red button" rule.

Apart from social isolation and retardation, illiterate individuals also experience geographical and mental "paralysis." 'Geographical paralysis' is a term that refers to the 'virtual immobilization' of illiterate individuals, primarily motivated by fear of being lost in a place where there are no "red button" signs that will serve as cues or symbols, allowing him/her to know what the is the name or location of the place s/he is in. Mental paralysis is an addition to the author's concept of 'geographical paralysis.' In mental paralysis, there is stagnation of the quantity and quality of information that an individual obtains everyday. Because they do not know how to read, illiterate individuals gain knowledge through sensory experience only, and not through understanding or comprehension of written materials that prevail in this age of information.