October 04, 2005

Illiterate sets up library. ...nearly all the books are mysteries. Born into a poor family, he dropped out of school after third grade and, at 51, is practically illiterate...books, he knows, are the gateway to a life of greater possibility and more promise than his own. So bloomed the passion that has consumed Leite's free time over the last two years: transforming his home into a public library...
  • Lovely post, rodgerd.
  • Lovely and moving indeed - set me pondering on the 'habit of reading' and the independent access to a catholic knowledge unbounded by place and circumstance it can confer.
  • Very cool story.
  • What an inspiring story (^^).
  • This is an awesome and truly inspiring story, but I keep wondering why he hasn't learned to read.
  • Doesn't seem like he's had time to learn. Hopefully, one day soon he'll be able to pause and really explore the treasure he's got there. In the meantime, how amazing a person.
  • I keep wondering why he hasn't learned to read As has been said, mayhaps his chosen "career" does not allow for a lot of study time, tuition fees, etc. But FUCK READING, anyway. I never learned to read - and I'm fine! I just got a few monkeys together (I can't count either so they're basically infinite). They tap, tap, tap away on the keyboard, present me with various options, and I just pick a comment that looks good and has lots of ALLCAPS in it diagonal abattoir insomnia thorgggglup TYEOUJR TTT Act 1 Scene 1 Elsinore. A platform before the castle. FRANCISCO at his post. Enter to him BARNARDO. BARNARDO: Who's there? FRANCISCO: Nay, answer me: stand, and unfold yourself!
  • Of course, these monkeys are probably writing complete rubbish fgftwja agdgfs hghhi III jushss ojsjhBARNARDO: Long live the king! FRANCISCO: Barnardo? BARNARDO: He. FRANCISCO: You come most carefully upon your hour. BARNARDO: 'Tis now struck twelve; get thee to bed, Francisco.
  • I unfolded myself once. I'll never do that again.
  • ripe bananas to ye, rodgered
  • I was thinking about this last night--weren't the monkeys looking for a charity to support? Seems like if we could find a way to get money to this fellow, the amount that we could raise could make a substantial difference in his ability to keep the library open, and for the quality of life of his community. Either that or we should do the legwork and get him some kind of grant or funding... hell, we should probably try to do both. Any monkeys have contacts in Brazil?