HARVIN COLUMN: Can you read the signs to get where you want to
go in life? Your airplane lands in China or Germany or France,
and from the minute you get off the plane, nothing makes sense.
You may recognize letters, but you canít make out any words. You
canít figure out how much a stick of gum costs. As you make your
way to the rental car, some kind people may point you in the
right direction, and a clerk will understand enough English to
take your money. But from the minute you drive out of the
terminal, you are lost. You canít read the language. While
travelers make plans for the problem, the dilemma is the same
one faced daily by those who canít read. Even the simplest of
acts like going to the grocery store is a problem. Basic food
labels that tell of rice, beans and eggs are just letters on a
package. A smart person learns the shape and color of the
package, but wonít be able to read the sign telling them which
one is on sale. Applying for a job is worse. These days, every
employment application has que