In Defense of Literacy

In “In Defense of Literacy,” Berry explains, that we live in a country that everyone has the privilege to have an education, that it is ridiculous to have to defend literacy yet he still has to do so. Literacy, is the ability to read and write. As well as the ability to think critically. If we didn't have the ability to think critically, reading and writing would just be skills, to move words around. Anyone that’s ever read and written knows well that’s not true. As Berry says, we need literacy, it is a necessity not an ornament. People do not realize how carelessly we use our words. Words can start off by meaning one thing but if we are not careful enough they can become something totally different then what we intended them to be. What I learned from Berry’s essay is to appreciate the fact that I have an education, and not only appreciate but use it more. We have to talk and teach others to do so. To talk our language detailed and effectively enough to be able to say the truth about our world. And the only way is to know its literature.
There are many definitions of critical thinking. Many people see it as a specific way of handling information. And others see it as a specific set of skills and abilities. People interested in political and social change see it as challenging and providing alternatives to the generally accepted beliefs and values of the power structure.
Critical thinking is the process of examining, analyzing, questioning, and challenging situations, issues, and information of all kinds. Without thinking critically, you're only looking at the surface of things. It means not taking what you hear or read and believing it, but using your critical power to what you agree with and what you do not agree wit...

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...es and watch a reality show than read a book. We rather learn how a celebrity lives their lives than learn something that will actually be useful to us. Literacy is crucial to the success of an individual. It is more than a basic reading ability, but evidence of how we use written information to function in society.
Strong literacy skills are closely linked to the probability of having a good job that pays good. Usually, literacy is referred to as the ability to read, understand, and use information. But the term has come to take on broader meaning, standing for a range of knowledge, skills and abilities relating to reading, mathematics, science and more. This reflects widespread and deep changes that have taken place in technology and in the organization of work over the past quarter century. Having strong literacy skills are more important than some might think.