Countering Myself

After reading ‘America the Illiterate’, I was infuriated. I tried to respond as fairly as possible in my blog, but my opinion was still very biased. I am going to try and counter my previous statement to more fairly address the opinions expressed in the article.

“Hedges was stating that illiterate people should not be allowed to vote, or it is their fault there are so many problems in America… the tone makes illiterate people sound like helpless animals rather than human beings.”

Even though Chris Hedge’s article ‘America the Illiterate’ can be interpreted as offense and course, there are many valid points within his article which may help us understand some of the social problems and tensions occurring today. To say that Hedges, “makes illiterate people sound like helpless animals” is a severe exaggeration. In his article Hedges is not blaming these problems on the illiterate population. He is simply pointing out a cycle of illiteracy that feeds more incompetence. He is stating that uneducated and illiterate people do not have the mental capabilities necessary to make a logical decision when it comes to voting. Because they are dependent on the image-based culture, they are more susceptible to lies. If an individual has a basic understanding of algebra, how can he or she understand the consequences of the healthcare bill or the bailout? According to Hedges, nearly a third of the population is semi-literate, or illiterate. If one third of the population is voting based on lies rather than truth, how can this country hope to function, let alone remain a superpower? By pointing out this alarming flaw in the political system, it allows us to recognize and correct this issue. If enough people begin to realize that illiteracy is a major issue, then we can begin to take steps to improve our nation’s literacy. When closely looking at Hedge’s article, one will realize it is an attack on the lack of education in the United States, not illiterate people.