by Amelia Love

Created on: January 10, 2009   Last Updated: November 27, 2011

The book, The Giver, by Lois Lowry, presents a world that is considered by its citizens to be a utopian society. There are no wars. There are no arguments. There is no mourning. Everyone in the community gets along with almost no argument and almost no strife.

As the reader continues, however, she discovers that the society, although seemingly perfect, has a considerable lack. There is no true feeling. People live in harmony because there is no true hate. People hardly argue because there is no true anger. People hardly mourn loss because there is no true love. The society is black and white literally. There is no color. There are hardly any differences. Everyone resembles everyone else.

And, even more appalling, there are no choices to be made. Everyone learns the exact same things from 1 year old until 12 years old. At 12, everyone begins a job or career. No one chooses their own job. Instead, a committee of people in the community tells the 12 year olds exactly what they will be doing for the rest of their lives. Some are told they will be laborers. Some are told they will look after children. Some are told they will be pilots. Each citizen is forced to accept whatever position he or she is given, without argument and without change.

As the reader continues, he discovers that the seemingly utopian society is not a utopia at all. It is lifeless, without feeling, without experience, without joy or love, without change, without hope.

The Giver is certainly not the only book of its kind. 1984, by George Orwell, portrays the dangers of a society taking choice away from its people. It begins with education, and then it extends to the entire world.

It is long been acknowledged that education is the key to the advancement of society. Education is the key to advancement of the individual. Many of the atrocities of our history have been eliminated through education. No educated society would suggest that slavery should be brought back. No educated society would suggest that practicing racism should be acceptable.

It is, therefore, a backward notion to suggest that only a select few individuals should be allowed to seek higher education. It is a notion that belongs in books such as The Giver and 1984, that others should be in charge of selecting the "prime" candidates for college. It is a notion that belongs in other countries, ones that have not attained the realization of the greatness of freedom. It does not belong here, in my country.

Even without the threat of turning a free society into a controlled society, another truth exists. Denying certain individuals their right to go to college will deny the diamonds in the rough the chance to discover who they truly are and to bring forth their light to our world. Many, many people have experienced a low and perhaps even shameful upbringing and childhood. Many, many people have pulled themselves up out of these childhoods to become admirable citizens. Many, many of these people would never have been chosen had a committee been set up to delegate the right to higher education. One look at their high school grades and the upbringing would have caused their candidacy to be thrown out immediately. What a loss for the world. Because people cannot search the souls or potential of others, it would be very short-sighted indeed to suggest that we could determine who should and should not get a higher education.

People run from more-restricted countries to less-restricted countries in order to seek opportunity. The notion to take that opportunity away should never be in play.

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