THE IMPUDENCE OF ILLITERACY.
Anytime I go to town, I feel sick when I see people spitting all over the place. Although this is a common habit among many Ghanaians, I see that it is something which has taken root in our country and would take a long time fro this problem to go away.
I see this habit very disgusting and shameful for a people who are craving for development. How can a nation develop its health care system if there are people who are ignorant and careless about their public habits? Spitting in public to me is one of the most insulting behaviours any member of the public can put up. And I feel that its time authorities did something about it.
For me, this behaviour demonstrates a high level of illiteracy and ignorance. People who go about spitting everywhere are ignorant of the fact that disease could spread quickly by acts such as spitting and urinating in public. According to medical research airborne disease spread very fast where people do not control what they throw into the environment. It’s a shame that I have to say this. Its as if I am looking down on such people. But what more can a nation do. How much more can a nation be so lawless and allow some of these things to happen.
As a matter of fact I am not too proud about these things. The impudence and ignorance of illiteracy is killing us as a nation and the earlier something is done about it, the better. I find it hard to hear people say that not everyone can have a classroom education and thus we have to pity such people. Well although I agree that not many people can have a classroom education, I do not agree that we have to be sympathetic toward them. All over there developed world there are many people who have not had any form of formal education yet they do not go about spitting and urinating like animals wherever they go. They are law abiding people and would do anything to preserve their society. Why cant we copy such traits instead. Why should we allow illiterate people to determine the direction, pace and development of the nation?
One other insulting thing I see people do is urinating in public. Doesn’t is disgust you? Well it does me. I hate to see men urinating in public. And am particularly disgusted when I see women doing that. Whenever I pass the Tema station area, I feel sick. I see people urinating and spitting as if it was a competition and that someone was going to take an award for doing it best. It’s a shame we have allowed these to persist for so long that children who are born in such areas begin to think that its part of their culture to do these things. And for them tradition goes on.
I always ask myself, when will people learn? When will Ghanaians attain a high level of civility? When will people be considerate of other people’s health and well being? When, when, when? The illiteracy and ignorance of many is leading us into extinction as a people. It is killing us and costing us so much as a people. The impudence with which these illiterate people go about their business in public will lead us to sever under development. We will wake up one day and see that we have become slaves to filth, dirt and disease and we have to worship them and pay tithe to them. What an unholy trinity that will be, when these three become gods. I hope we are learning and picking some important lessons from the developed world.
Peace, and merry Christmas to all. Especially to those who are making efforts to change their surroundings to a better one. More Grease to your elbows and I wish you well.