In the Land of the Free Essay

In the Land of the Free Since the startle wave of Chinese immigration to the unify States in 1850s, the Chinese go through discrimination and often overt racism. According to Holland, during 1870s, a large itemize of Chinese laborers flooded into the Statesn job market after(prenominal) the issue of transcontinental railroads. Since the Chinese laborers were willing to work for lower wages, they took jobs away from unclouded workers which caused negative feeling toward Chinese. At the same fourth dimension, the economic downturn and the change magnitude unemployment rate led to more heightened outcries against Chinese immigrants.Eventu completelyy, the United States presidential term passed the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, a law that restricted the number of Chinese entrance into America. (Holland 2007) Sui Sin Far, the first fiction writer of Asian descent, wrote an revealing story called In the Land of the Free, which portraits the harsh treatment a Chinese immigrant couple faced and the tremendous pain they suffered due to racism and discrimination upon entering the United States in the deeply 1800s.The story unfolded with a loving, caring and self-sacrificed Chinese young woman named Lae Choo, who was so excited or so the reunification with her husband, Hom Hing, a legal Chinese merchant in the United States. Traced back to three years before, when Hom Hing learned his wife was pregnant, he stubborn to send Lae Choo back to their native country, China, so they would have their first baby, the slim virtuoso and only(a), born there. They had been separated for three years since then, and this was the first time the exact unrivaled would go steady his father.But misfortune fell upon this coupleupon entering the land of America, the small-scale one was denied the entry to the U. S. The rea give-and- interpret was that the little one was born in China and there was no paperwork to verify he was born to Lae Choo and Hom Hing. The little on e was recognizen away by the US custom officers. The winter had passed, but the couple still couldnt land their baby back. Lae Choo got into a depression, going to the point of sharp-set herself.At the end, she had to stipend a lawyer with her entire life saving except one ring, a gift from Hom Hing for her pregnancy, to force back her baby back from the mission. But the refinement was heartbreaking that the little one couldnt recognize his mother after nine month separation. In the Land of the Free, with it darkly wry title, gives readers deep insights into the Chinese immigrants experience in America in late 1800s. The United States is a country with reputation for liberty, and Government is suppositional to religious service promote and protect world rights.But throughout the story, readers only see the fact that rigid Government policy infringed upon the couple and the babys human rights. Hong Hing couple had never expected that their basic human rights the rights of p arents to be with their children was deprived as soon as the wife and the baby arrived this country. In the story, the nine month of forcible separation between Hong Hing couple and their son shows the complete absence of compassion in the American government.During the nine month, the government didnt make any progress except for keeping displace 16 same letters to Hong Hing couple. And without the lawyers interference, it might take years for Hong Hing couple to get their baby back. The governments entire indifference to the spilt of an immigrant family was inhuman and cruel. In the story the author as well demonstrates the human costs of U. S. Governments discriminatory policy.Lae Choo, a caring, loving and self-sacrificed Chinese young woman, couldnt bear the pain of the separation from her son, almost starving herself to death. The words she said how could I close my eyes with my arms free (P 151) express the pain which Chinese immigrants underwent in the United States. For many Chinese immigrants like Hong Hing couple, there might have been economic opportunity in America, but the discrimination they faced made life phenomenally challenging. too Chinese Exclusion Act, during the late 1800s, federal, state and local government enacted a series of other discriminatory law, such as Sidewalk Ordinance, box-shaped Air Ordinance, and Queue Ordinance, etc, which specifically targeted Chinese immigrants. (cr. nps. gov, 2004) Hong Hing family just represents the thousands of victims of discriminatory laws. In addition, Lae Choo spend all of her bullion on legal action pleading with the Great Government at Washington to return her son. When the little one was finally returned, the family became impoverished.The experience taught the couple that the reality of life in America was brutal. Government policy could bring an immigrant family to a ruin. In the story, the author also describes the other form of discrimination the couple faced while backing in the United States. As new immigrants, Hong Hing couple lacked the ability to enunciate fluent English and write appropriate letters to solve the trouble they faced. Since they were new to the country, they didnt know how to advocate for themselves through the right channel.Relying on a white lawyer was their only hope to get the little one back as soon as possible. The lawyer was supposed to be there to help them unfortunately he was trying to take advantage of them. The sentences The young man eyed the Chinese merchant furtively, (P152) and He had a proposition to make and was pondering whether or not the time was opportune,(P 152) tells readers the lawyer was thinking about cheating and exploiting them. He could have helped the family reunion early, but he didnt do that until the couple were willing succumb him at a very high price.The lawyer didnt make do about their problem and was only thinking about his idea to get money as much as possible. Instead of making money and becomin g successful in the land of opportunity, the couple lost all of their money to him. In the Land of the Free is a strong and reigning work that takes readers into the painful life of a Chinese immigrant family of the time. The story helps readers sincerely understand the hardships Ch