Emily Lim

21, August 2023

IB English

Time and Space Presentation Reflection

The poem “It is Dangerous to Read Newspapers” is a poem by Margaret Atwood, written about

the helplessness Atwood felt during the Vietnam War. In this poem, cultural and historical

context played an important role. In order for the reader to feel the same way Atwood was

feeling at the time, needing historical and cultural context was necessary. When I first read the

poem, I knew it was about the war, but not about the war. After doing some deeper diving into

the poem and learning about the Vietnam war, I can clearly feel and understand Atwood’s target

with this poem. At the same time, the poem gives us insight about North America in the 1960’s.

Atwood was only one of the many people who felt stuck in their homes, or in their everyday

lives during the Vietnam War. This poem gives us an idea of how normal, ordinary citizens living

in North America were feeling during the chaos and violence of the war. The poem expresses

how explicit the newspapers depicted the events of the war. In modern day, the media censors

much of the gruesome details of conflicts. Instead of feeling stuck at home, helplessly watching

the force of violence and conflict, people nowadays step in to help in whatever ways they can.

Social media has played a large role in how we learn about and respond to conflicts. With social

media, it’s easier for people to learn about what is happening in the world. It’s convenient,

inexpensive, and quick: words spread fast. Social media has also made it easier for us to react

and act to conflicts. People are able to start fundraisers, petitions, and rally up with others who

feel the same way. With bigger conflicts, much of the world unite on social media to help in

whatever ways possible. Because of social media, we are able to learn and react quickly rather
than being stuck at home. We are able to do things and learn things without needing to feel the

same helplessness as Margaret Atwood did during the Vietnam War.