In most horrendous situations in which people get murdered, tortured, and arrested; their are always the burning light known as compassion, but in this case it would be known as humility. When a group of people are being mistreated for an unjust reason, you rarely here about acts of empathy. The Lemon Tree is a perfect example of when humility meets brutality. Humility is a modest view or low view for one’s own importance. Someone that possess this quality is one with self and understands the significance of self preservation. To show humility you also must be humble and meek. Brutality is just pure savagery and senseless killing. For people who show brutality their hearts have to be cold, have no compassion, no soul. These people simply have …show more content…
In the first chapter of this book I noticed how early a simple act of kindness affected the whole outcome of this book. Bashir the main character is returning to his homeland and notices the changes; he knows what is happening to his people and has to blend in. He is on a quest to return to the home he use to live in as a boy, and goes to knock on a door to ask some questions and a jewish woman opens the door and throws insults at him and slams the door in his face. Bashir ends up knocking on the neighbor's door and gets let into the house greeted, and engages into conversation. This is a small gesture but it shows there is still some humility left. During chapter 7 The Arrival “local officials distributed seven hundred live chickens to immigrants. Milk was stored in dozens of collection stations around the country. The ministry established a Flour Committee and a Bread Committee and directly oversaw the daily production of tens of thousands of round loaves, rolls, and raisin milk cakes. Coupon books provided subsidies for wheat, yeast, and matzo and allowed extra rations of meat for pregnant women” (Tolan 111). This showed me regardless of the troubles that the immigrants felt some people in the country actually cared and were willing to help them in their time of
... many immigrants faced discrimination, thus leaving them no choice but to live in the slums of some areas and try fight their way up to success.
Amin Ahmad was born in Calcutta, India. He now lives in Washington D.C. as a published author and has had some of his work appear in such prestigious journals as The Harvard Review (1). Knowing the intelligence and high credibility of the author makes his argument more substantial. Over the years he has built himself up in spite of being an immigrant. Ahmad is no longer looked down upon, because he has worked hard for his position in society. However he still feels the burden of discrimination when people judge him before they learn more than just his skin color. If no one takes the time to learn about his success and only look at the color of his skin or the looks of his passport then all of his hard work is for nothing. Ahmad did not let the world’s hate keep him from living his dream. He got passed the poverty and judgment to pursue his education and make something of his self. Not only is this inspiring; it is heat-warming. It is as if he is proving everyone who ever doubted him wrong. Everyone who looked down upon him with a watchful eye or whispered behind his back should be sulking in their seats.
For thousands of years people have left their home country in search of a land of milk and honey. Immigrants today still equate the country they are immigrating to with the Promised Land or the land of milk and honey. While many times this Promised Land dream comes true, other times the reality is much different than the dream. Immigration is not always a perfect journey. There are many reasons why families immigrate and there are perception differences about immigration and the New World that create difficulties and often separate generations in the immigrating family. Anzia Yezierska creates an immigration story based on a Jewish family that is less than ideal. Yezierska’s text is a powerful example of the turmoil that is created in the family as a result of the conflict between the Old World and the New World.
In a short story called, “Thank you ma’am”, the author is trying to convey the theme, or message, of the importance of showing random acts of kindness towards others to help institute change. Mrs.J show one act of kindness when she washes his face. Another when she makes Roger food at her house. Mrs.J is kind and shows multiple examples throughout the story.
After reading The Book of the Unknown Americans, I realized how difficult immigrating to the United States can be. I am an immigrant also, so just reading the story makes me relate to many problems immigrants experience relocating to a different country. Immigrants often face many issues and difficulties, but for some it is all worth it, but for others there comes a point in time where they have to go back to their hometown. Alma and Arturo Rivera came to the United States to better their life, but also so that Maribel could attend a special education school. While Arturo had a job things had gone well for the family, but once Arturo lost the job and passed away the two of them had to go back because they felt that that was the best option for them. Reading this book made me realize how strong an individual has to be to leave their own country and relocate somewhere else not knowing if this will better your life or cause one to suffer.
Ultimately The House of Sand and Fog tries to teach the overly optimistic immigrants to take
She uses a string full of rhetorical questions throughout her article, as well, to make us contemplate whether people do deeds out of compassion, fear, or something else. She uses rhetorical questions such as “Was it fear or compassion that motivated that gift?”(6), “...what compels this woman to feed this man? Pity? Care? Compassion? Or does she simply want to rid her shop of his troublesome presence?”(9), and “Could it be that the homeless, like those ancients, are reminding us of our common humanity?”(14). These questions make the audience think and contemplate why these people did these acts of kindness. Ascher includes some of these rhetorical questions at the end of both of the narratives to force the readers to quickly analyze the situation and decide what the motivation was. As a result, I can conclude that one woman did it out of fear while the other did it out of compassion; therefore, this proves that people are not born compassionate, but they develop the quality later on in life. This is more effective instead of just expressing how she personally feels about each
When most people think about immigration to the United States, they think of the U.S. as being the “land of opportunity,” where they will be able to make all of their dreams come true. For some people, immigration made their lives richer and more fulfilled. This however, was not always the case. A place that is supposed to be a “Golden Land” (Marcus 116) did not always welcome people with open arms. Even after people became legal citizens of the United States, often times the natural born Americans did not treat the immigrants as equals but rather as outsiders who were beneath them in some way. In some situations, people’s lives were made worse by coming to the “land of opportunity.” Often times people were living no better than they were in their own countries not able to make ends meet, just to live in the United States. Virtually all immigrants during the 1900’s had the same dream, to become successful and provide for their families as citizens of the United States, but they soon found out that the life in their new country was not going to be easy.
Furthermore, Kolker writes an informative non-fiction book about immigrants from different parts of the world. In this book she talks about how immigrants have brought their cultural values with them. Those values have been cherished and accepted in the United States. Kolker goes on to tell us, how immigrant’s lives are more
Immigration is a current issue that has caused a lot of drama in the media but this isn’t the first time. During the early nineteen hundreds immigration was treated in a harsh light. The start of the First World War brought a strong distaste for immigrants. People hoping to assimilate by working in the American community were quickly faced with troubles. Immigrants from countries in Eastern Europe (specifically in the Slovak region) were discouraged from working and the new motto “100% American” began t...
The thought of good people brings warmth and joy to my heart. On a daily basis I would like to think that most, if not all, of the people we surround ourselves with strive to be good people. My initial thought that came to mind before I began to read David Foster Wallace’s “Good People” was that this would be a story about all the people around each other doing good for one another bringing happiness to me as a reader. The story took a huge turn as it did not talk about the good of the people, but the expectations and judgments we hold for others to be good people. My eyes and my heart opened up, as Wallace’s story unfolded, in which he used a controversial issue to make a point by tugging at the emotions of the reader. I now know that this story was not to make a statement about a very controversial issue, but to make us realize that being a good person doesn’t always mean we have to follow by the expectations or rules that have been set for us, but by being who we truly are and having an understanding for one another.
On his journey to cross the border, Enrique has encountered different people who either are detrimental to his progress or helpful and generous. In Chiapas, begging was dangerous because the residents hated migrants. However, once Enrique reached Oaxaca and Veracruz, the citizens greeted him with many gifts such as clothing and food. The people wait outside for the trains to pass by and throw gifts onto the train for the immigrants. Many of them understand that the immigrants had to leave because of the struggling conditions in their countries such as poverty. It’s believed that the root of the generosity of the people in Oaxaca and Veracruz is in their ancient cultures. Once Enrique and the other travelers reach Mexico City, the generosity
...immigrants made sacrifices. Not only were the parents affected but children were also affected. By looking at situations from a Immigrants point of view and how they express things the way they do, you will be able to see that they are more than grateful for the opportunities given to them.
In “Immigrant Benefits America”, Bill Clinton emphasizes the importance of immigrants in America. They are hardworking people who come to America to have a better life. He also asserts that American citizens have the responsibility to welcome new immigrants while immigrants have the duty to learn American culture and language, believe in the US government, and contribute to US society. However, Lawrence Auster delivers a different idea in his essay, “Immigration Threatens American Culture.” He points out that the negative effect of mass immigrants from non-European countries. Because of the difference in culture, language, and religion, these immigrant groups rather stay within their communities than socializing with others in US. This shatters
Immigrants traveled hundreds of miles from their homes, only with what possessions they could carry, in order to obtain the rights and chase the promise that America had to offer. Mary Antin illustrates in The Promised Land how if given the chance, immigrants will represent the promises and virtues of American society. Antin shows that public education, freedom from religious persecution, and freedom of expression as a citizen are aspects of life Americans may take for granted but immigrants certainly do not.