When I read Margaret Atwood's Letter to America I found myself relating well to everything she was saying. I have dual citizenship and before the Iraqi war I was proud to have family from a country that gave the world so much. But, so much has changed since George W. Bush started the war on terror; I started to avoid mentioning my family was American.
Although this essay is addressed to America, it is more likely aimed at Canadians since it was originally published in the Globe and Mail. I think one of her main points is a critique of the Patriot Act since her essay was published 2 years after the Patriot Act was put into effect. She mentions how the Constitution is being violated because the police can enter a house without the owners knowledge, or people can be arrested and held without cause. To make matters worse the Patriot Act is supposed to protect democracy and freedom in America and the Middle East.
I think the least effective part of the essay is the beginning references to "pop culture." Even though her primary audience would be people who would be familiar with her references I think it would be more effective if she had included more references to things the younger generation would be familiar with.
My favourite part was the end when she talked about the old British myth. I think that it is a great idea for Americans to look to the past, to all the great things that America did and try to go back to what America used to be. If this letter was written more recently I think it would be very different. Instead of being so critical I think it would be more complimentary with Obama doing so much to change what is going on.
How would this letter be different if it was written by an American?
Hi Angela,
ReplyDeleteGreat question. I think that if this letter was written by an American, it would be much more direct and would probably lean to one side of the political spectrum. If it was written by a so-called republican, then its tone would be one of blame for the democrats. I believe they would sort of turn a blind eye to all the wrong that happened during the republican administration and concentrate solely on the present state. Heck they might even blame the democrats for some of the things the republicans did. If you don't believe this could happen just watch FOX news sometime.
Now if this were written by a democrat, I believe their would be a feeling of hope instilled in this letter. They would probably begin by mentioning all the nasty things that were done to America by the last "REPUBLICAN" administration. Then they would begin to praise the democrats for all they have done since taking over. But they most likely would not mention any of the bad that remains or has gotten worse. Such as debt or unemployment, the intensifying Afghanistan war which is now become the Afghanistan/Pakistan war.