Question

What specific types of freedom does Bush say will be promoted by the spread of literacy? Refer to paragraphs 19-22 in your response.

Literacy is the foundation of personal freedom. Being able to read, and choosing what we read, is how we shape our beliefs, our minds, and our characters. Reading brings self-reliance and independence. For many women and their children, literacy can even mean the difference between life and death. A mother who can read can understand the label on a food container. She knows how to follow the instructions on a bottle of medicine. She's more likely to make wise decisions about her life that will keep her and her children healthy. Literacy is the foundation of economic freedom. Free markets require informed consumers, and that means consumers who can read. Wider literacy also increases economic participation, which leads to more stable and vibrant economies. When we launched the U.N. Literacy Decade in New York, we were joined by a woman from the Philippines, Pampay Usman. Growing up, Pampay didn't have the opportunity to go to school. And although she couldn't read or write, she was able to manage a small market. You can imagine how hard and frustrating her work was, because she couldn't write down the names of her customers, or the goods they bought. She had to remember their faces, and every item they purchased. The day Pampay joined an adult literacy class in her village, her life changed forever. She learned to write her name and address. She learned to read prices on groceries, and her business grew. Pampay is an example of how teaching one woman to read can lead to greater prosperity for herself and for the others who depend upon her. Literacy is also the basis of political freedom. Around the world, more and more countries are embracing democracy and liberty. But for people to participate in a democracy, they have to be educated about their country's laws and traditions, which means they have to be able to read.

Answer 1

Bush says literacy promotes three specific types of freedom in paragraphs 19–22:

- Personal freedom: literacy builds self-reliance and independence and lets people choose what they read; for women it can affect health and safety (understanding labels and medicine instructions).
- Economic freedom: literacy is the foundation of economic freedom by creating informed consumers and increasing economic participation, leading to greater prosperity (illustrated by Pampay’s story).
- Political freedom: literacy is the basis of political freedom because people must be able to read to learn about their laws and traditions and to participate in a democracy.