Did you hear the latest? Coming up with a scale of literacy of big cities! Because somebody thought there should be one more way to judge large cities - that person had nothing better to do than look into literacy. Sixty four cities were chosen for the critique. I will hold my breath to find out how my city rates in the judgment.

Where does this notion come from that insists good, better, or best is so important? Does high competition mean there is more concern about how the rest of the country perceives our city than there is concern about improving the basic things that allow a healthy setting for the pursuit of happiness?

Does a judgment make citizens of the "lowest" on the scale work harder to come up to the "highest" standards? Or does such a judgment lure settlers into a more highly rated city leaving their "substandard" living conditions behind to deteriorate even further?

Whatever the consequences, the part of this kind of competition that continues to be disturbing is that someone saw a need to raise a warning about an issue that our president has already forcefully stated will not happen. He swore that no child shall be left behind. In making that lofty promise with much sincerity it would seem there can be no competition because all will have access to good education. All will top the scales in literacy tests.

But our language demands judgment so this somebody that raised the question will be making judgments. What is the criteria? School tests?- because if kids can't pass tests obviously they cannot read.

Joblessness? - because if people don't have jobs they must be unable to fill out applications.

Book sales? - because if people don't buy books they must be unable to read.

Surely there is some easy way to check literacy of a big city.

What makes Americans so determined to be judgmental? Could it be our Puritanism handed to us through the English who set down the bases for our laws? Could it be the language itself? A language based on placing individuals in competition with one another other?

Feminists were given a bad score when pointing out unnecessary competition. Feminists were ridiculed further when cumbersome changes of - he was to he/she were used instead of using they or theirs.. We are stuck if we don't invent new words to cover gender to prevent unfair competition between the sexes. We need a twenty first century Shakespeare. And we are stuck if we let judgment structure our thinking. We need a desire to take control of our lives.

Maybe you already do have control. If so invent new words. But practice them in your everyday talks. New words in print make editors very upset. The way we speak through e-mails is already causing much tearing of hair. But above all, ignore the ratings of the literacy of cities. Just keep talking to one another.