Q4 Outside Reading Week 4 Post B

"America was different. America was a river, roaring along, unmindful of the past. I could wade into this river, let my sins drown to the bottom, let the waters carry me someplace far. Someplace with no ghosts, no memories, no sins"(136).

For a lot of people who immigrate to the United States, this is how they feel. It is a chance to start over, to start a new life or maybe a better one. America is the land of opportunity and the phrase "The American Dream" was coined because of it. Many people would be surprised at the amount of foreigners who wish to come to American if not to escape their past. It could mean running away from a repressive government, restricting family, economic hardship or just to give themselves a better chance at having the best life possible. Having come from another country myself, I know what it's like. When people think of America they think of white picket fences, open green lawns, large houses with winding staircases, a stable job with good pay, and some of the best education there is. It's almost a dream the expectations are so unreal, but they can't be blamed. People come here to forget. They come here to run away. It's not the same if you are born in America. When you have lived in the United States your whole life, you'd rather get out. It's likely you are privileged enough to have a decent education, a relatively good standard of living. You have food in your stomach, clothes on your back, and a roof over your head. Other people don't have this. They have to work for it and sometimes it's not as easy as it looks. America is the land of opportunity. Everyone has the chance, but some people have a head start. It's not the easy for immigrants. They have to work unthinkable shifts in unbelievable conditions, but it's worth it if it means they can start over and make a better life for the next generation.