All of us are impacted by writing. Many of us are writers, and all of us read, and what we read influences us. Writing, along with other forms of art, shape our civilization.

Why do people write? Different people have different reasons. Writing is a basic way to communicate, to stay connnected, and that's why email is so important to so many people. Some people write because for them it is therapy, a way to get out their frustrations and express themselves. Others like to write to entertain people and make them laugh. And, of course, we use writing to inform and to persuade. That's why media is so dependent on writing.

But probably the most important function of writing is shaping our civilization. Great writers through their works force us to look at ourselves and what we are doing. They encourage us to look at our own lives and question ourselves. They also suggest we look at our instuitutions and their value. Through their works, writers stimulate our minds to make new discoveries about ourselves and our world. Ultimately, without writers (and other artists as well) we would not grow and develop.

Whether it be Plato, Sylvia Plath, or Bob Woodward, each of these writers in his or her own style, along with many other great writers, made us look at something in a different way. Writers impact us and our world in a big way, and sometimes, we forget that. Without them, where would we be?

Blessed be the writers for they make the world a better place!