Like Rebecca, I also felt that I was receiving contradictory messages regarding immigration. When the immigrants first began to live in New York, did it truly seem worth the effort they had exerted to come? The filthy conditions were absolutely horrifying…not to mention the amount of immortality swarming the streets of Five Points. I was also bothered by the fact that the low-class neighborhood became a tourist attraction and the source of business for writers—instead of having those citizens promote health in that area. It seems as if they stood by and observed them suffering, as if they were encaged in an isolated world. Of course, not everyone, but still, there were those people who were capable yet they did not assist those so desperately in need—people who were literally bordering on the edge of almost an animalistic society. While it is simple to analyze history in retrospect and criticize past misdeeds, I can’t say that on a national level, we, Americans, are constantly actively aiding the third-world countries. Certainly America intervenes, to some degree, in promoting life in such countries, but life in those locations isn’t exactly top-notch…no where close. I feel that, in a way, we too are acting like those well-off citizens observing and being appalled at the horrible conditions of the less fortunate, yet aren’t exactly making enormous changes. I agree with ToniAnn, in that it is difficult to relate to those who are so different from us, in terms of economic, social, and political stature. I think that is the reason for irresponsive behavior towards another’s adversity. This also explains why the poor helped each other out; they shared each others’ pain and lacking.
Perhaps the reason why the immigrants continued to endure these revolting conditions and demeaning lifestyle was because they were determined to achieve a better future. They had struggled tirelessly to escape their home-country, they underwent the unpleasant journey to arrive at their destination, and they had finally, finally made it. Living this kind of substandard life, they hit the bedrock of lowliness. I guess that the only direction from there seemed to point upward, and they still had the painted image of the Golden Land lingering in their minds. It was now that they had to materialize the dreams they had dreamt for such an incredibly long time. So, they persevered.
At least we know that they did take pleasure in life to the smallest degree. Anbinder in Chapter 1 mentions that once the commercial and residential neighborhoods were separate from each other, the employees had more freedom, because their employers were not constantly supervising them during after-hours. They spent their leisure time in they way they chose—on their own.
