Literacy Rates & Oppresion

[PhiPsiRuss]

This is something that has interested me for some time. Not just the literacy rate of a nation, but the differential between men and women.

The CIA has their well regarded World Factbook on line, and offers these statistics.

For example, take lovely, scenic Afghanistan. men have a literacy rate of 51% and women have a literacy rate of 21%. That offers a lot of insight.

[Kevin]

Literacy is always something that oppressive groups have used against other groups.

I recall that in the South back pre-civil war, it was illegal for blacks to be literate.

[KSigkid]

Originally posted by ktsnake
Literacy is always something that oppressive groups have used against other groups.

I recall that in the South back pre-civil war, it was illegal for blacks to be literate.

I believe it was also a punishable offense to TEACH blacks to be literate at that time as well.

It's always interesting to look at literacy rates and where differences lie, etc.

[Rudey]

One man killed all who wore eyeglasses and watches...

-Rudey
--And this man is?

[moe.ron]

Originally posted by Rudey
One man killed all who wore eyeglasses and watches...

-Rudey
--And this man is?

Poll Pott? (spelling mistake)

[IowaStatePhiPsi]

Originally posted by PhiPsiRuss
For example, take lovely, scenic Afghanistan. men have a literacy rate of 51% and women have a literacy rate of 21%. That offers a lot of insight.

That's interesting to note since I've read there are a lot of women doctors in Afghanistan. But- a whole generation has been raised with the Taliban forcing basically no education and no public life for women, so I could see the literacy rate of women being higher for those who had the fortune to be allowed to attend school before the Taliban came into rule (probably those aged 30 to 40 as that would place them as teenagers between Soviet and Tribal conflicts).

[Rudey]

Originally posted by moe.ron
Poll Pott? (spelling mistake)

Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge slaughtered approximately 2 million Cambodians. One of their criteria was based on appearance and to them someone who wore eyeglasses or had a timewatch was considered an intellectual - a candidate for murder.

-Rudey
--Year Zero was the campaign I believe

[moe.ron]

Originally posted by Rudey
Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge slaughtered approximately 2 million Cambodians. One of their criteria was based on appearance and to them someone who wore eyeglasses or had a timewatch was considered an intellectual - a candidate for murder.

-Rudey
--Year Zero was the campaign I believe

Pol Pot also died peacefully in his sleep before he can face justice.

[Rudey]

Originally posted by moe.ron
Pol Pot also died peacefully in his sleep before he can face justice.

Yeah in 1998 I think. A few of the top Khmer Rouge have been located but really the work to prosecute them has been poor and nothing much has come from it.

-Rudey

[IowaStatePhiPsi]

Originally posted by moe.ron
Pol Pot also died peacefully in his sleep before he can face justice.

"And he lived out the rest of his life under house arrest- which was good. If you don't want to be killed, don't go in the fuckin' house."
--Eddie Izzard

[moe.ron]

Originally posted by Rudey
Yeah in 1998 I think. A few of the top Khmer Rouge have been located but really the work to prosecute them has been poor and nothing much has come from it.

-Rudey

April 15, 1998 to be exact.

One of the biggest problem is who is going to actualy conduct the trial. Many of the current government officials were somehow connected with Khmer Rouge. The government want to have Cambodian sitting as the judges and juries, but one of have to wonder just how fair and balanced the trial would be. Especially with the possibility of embarasement toward the current ruling elite, with even the king implicated.