When did they learn to read? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Gilbo · 10-29-2003, 12:41 PM

Coquerors very often use signage to intimidate, as well as frustrate. The Nazis posted signs in German in all their vanquished countries. English colonists posted signs in India and Africa that were unintlligible to the native people. There were signs in the US outlining slave behavior to a people that were forbidden by law, under penalty of death, to learn to read. It's just another tool to make you feel worthless and unimportant. Saruman didn't want the people to learn to read to keep up with industialization; he bloody well didn't care if they could read or not. Enforcement of the rules was not predicated on the ability to read by those that he ruled. [img]smilies/evil.gif[/img]

10-29-2003, 12:41 PM	#7
Gilbo Animated Skeleton Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: maryland Posts: 34	Coquerors very often use signage to intimidate, as well as frustrate. The Nazis posted signs in German in all their vanquished countries. English colonists posted signs in India and Africa that were unintlligible to the native people. There were signs in the US outlining slave behavior to a people that were forbidden by law, under penalty of death, to learn to read. It's just another tool to make you feel worthless and unimportant. Saruman didn't want the people to learn to read to keep up with industialization; he bloody well didn't care if they could read or not. Enforcement of the rules was not predicated on the ability to read by those that he ruled. [img]smilies/evil.gif[/img]