One of the best ways I know to broaden my thinking whenever I feel the need is to read a foreign author. Much good writing comes from Latin America. Eduardo Galeano resides in Uruguay. For some reason he had lived in exile and returned only after a ten year absence. His absence probably meant he stood on the politically incorrect side of the issue he writes about.
He writes passionately for the need of the masses in Latin America to become literate. But there are obstacles such as if only 5% of them can afford to buy a refrigerator, what percentage of them can buy books. He says the educated ruling elite in these countries recognize this and do little or nothing to correct it so as to maintain their power. He wonders how much potential talent has been lost.
I think one of his most profound points asks if a country's people doesn't know who it is or where it came from "how does it know what it deserves to become?" A country needs writers to exhibit and display its literature and history, and it takes literate readers to understand, appreciate and apply the knowledge to their lives.
