READING IS FUNDAMENTAL

The Sunday – 13 July -8 – issue of the Arizona Republic ran this referenced article . . . doing without reading first . . . a legacy position one might choose to question why we permit its demise…?

Whether one is taught in his/her native tongue or “English” first, is in my assessment, of little importance in the long term. What is paramount is that he/she is able to read.

Developing the skill to discern what we are reading is unfortunately not on our collective radar screen.

I believe one can make a very effective case it is precisely because in America we do not collective choose to see the validity in the ability to read coupled with the development of discerning what we are reading which has permitted us to drift into the polarizing and chaotic circumstances in which we currently find ourselves.

Because we don’t read, can't read, don’t want to read and don’t want to take personal accountability and responsibility to determine what we are reading, we turn to listening to the talking-heads on TV, the single issue radio talk show hosts and “put-down” messages from rap music on MTV. Once we jointly lauded educational programs like … reading is fundamental … then we elect politicians on the federal, state, county and local levels who gut these programs like a slaughter house guts chickens. And we silently observe and say nothing.

Together we stand near the apex of dominion as exhibited by the exercise of corporate arrogance combined with our collective choice to meekly submit to that domination. Interestingly all the power necessary to change this current reality resides within each of us. Yup, if we honestly want change we need to make it happen. Waiting for those we elect and send to DC is at best like having the little Dutch boy put his finger in the dike in the attempt to hold back the on rushing sea.

Only we jointly can create the paradigm and sea change bringing reading back as honestly fundamental.