As technology advances, and more people use their electronics and social sites to connect, people spend less time with other people. As a result, the time that we actually spend interacting with people is spent with only close friends and family, and people who fall outside that circle are shunted to a lower tier of priority. In our culture, we treat strangers with special type of behavior. We hold open doors, push elevator buttons for each other, and give the occasional nod in passing, but anything beyond that requires an extra effort that is reserved for acquaintances, and friends. Only when it's convenient do we help a stranger in need, never going out of our way.

A while back, I was tasked with picking up some medicine for my little brother (10 years old). He was diagnosed early in his life with a disease that requires daily treatment. About two weeks ago, my brother ran out of his medicine. My parents asked me to pick up his prescription at our local pharmacy (which will not be named). I drove down to the pharmacy and perused to selection of candy and drinks as I made my way back to the pharmacy section. When I arrived, I was met by a... I guess they should be called pharmacists. When I told the pharmacist that I was here to pick up my order, she went through her computer to complete my request. I began to be wary because it was taking longer than usual to find the order. My suspicions were confirmed when I saw the troubled look on her face. She informed me that our insurance wouldn't pay for the medicine until  tomorrow, and asked me to come back then. I shrugged and went home.

When I came back the next day, the need for the medicine was even more dire. When my brother does not have his medicine, his health rapidly declines. The same lady was working the counter. She went through the same process as before, and informed me that the insurance would not pay for it until tomorrow. I told her that she had told me the same thing yesterday, but she said she couldn't give it to me until tomorrow. My brother health declined again over the next 24 hours.

The next morning I went back, and asked for the medicine. She rummaged around in her computer and finally came out with a different result. The insurance would finally pay for the medicine. I was very pleased, and even more annoyed. She bustled back into her collection over drugs and did not come back for some time. When she finally did come back, she said that they were out of that particular drug, and that she would have to order it. She said that it would be ready in one week. My blood boiled at this statement, but somehow I was able to stifle myself enough to allow only a hint of malice slip through my teeth. I told her "Don't worry about it. "My brother will be dead by then." I said. "Thank you for all your help."

I went to another pharmacy that afternoon and got the drugs I needed. After a few calls to the insurance company, we found out that we could have had the medicine the same day we asked for it. Instead of calling our insurance company to clear the drugs, and instead of ordering the drugs to be ready, she simply kept putting me off while my brother got more and more sick.

We need to take a close look at how we treat people who we don't know. I the current trend continues, then even I won't want to socialize outside of the internet, because of the harshness I would face otherwise.

Growing up with my parents in the American southwest, I was born and raised to speak English. But I also had exposure to another language. When I would visit my papou (grandfather), he would try to teach me Greek. He would tell me Greek stories, and try to teach me the meanings of Greek words, and show me how English words also come from Greek meanings. After several such visits, I was intrigued by the new and special language of my ancestors. I asked my father if he would allow me to take classes in Greek, or if he would buy me software that would help me learn. He would not allow it. He said that if I wanted to learn another language, it should be Spanish, because it would be much more useful to me later in life. I argued with him, but to no avail. I was determined, however, to lean Greek despite my father's reaction. I reasoned that I could take it in high school if I waited a couple years. So I did. But when the time came to register for classes, I discovered there were very limited options for languages at my high school. Either Spanish or French. Defeated, I took Spanish, because it would be "more useful." I excelled at Spanish without any difficulty, but I wish I could have learned Greek. This made me feel restricted. This restriction shows the importance of literacy. To be able to pursue the intellectual avenues that I desire is a freedom that I was denied when I was a child. I hope to pick up Greek someday soon, but for now, I am forced to stick to more practical matters.

What does it mean to be literate? Some people might say that you are literate if you know how to read and write, but that's not telling the whole story, is it? Being literate means having developed the ability to interpret the thoughts, feelings and sensations of others and to be able to create some of your own.

Like I have mentioned in previous posts, culture lives in everything we do. It is a fundamental aspect of who we are, but culture as we know it would not exist today if it weren't for literacy. If the cave men thousands of years ago had never written anything on the walls, ideas would not have spread, stories would remain trapped in the imagination of the storyteller, and our cherished culture would be fragmented and isolated. Literacy is the evolution of culture. Each time a new person becomes literate, the culture of the world changes only slightly, but it changes forever.

Young children feel the fullness of life, just as we all do (and perhaps a little more), but they cannot understand what these sensations mean, and they cannot actively relay their thoughts to others, and they cannot not fully contribute to culture. But when they learn to interpret the world around them, and how to paint their own walls, they change not only their culture, but the culture of those they influence. And as each generation passes through this gateway, the culture of the evolves into the future.

What are your thoughts on literacy? Do you have a different interpretation? Please comment!