The story “Leaving Ireland Behind” talks about a little boy named Liam. He and his mother were currently leaving their home: Ireland. This is because a terrible rot has killed their crops and potatoes. These are the important foods and all the people in Ireland were either starving or sick. Liam had just woken up from her mother’s call: The ship will arrive at New York before noon. They have the American Dream. Liam was as excited as his mother was because they will meet dad. Dad’s work was dangerous and hard, but he stayed positive and cheerful. They finally arrive in New York. They found dad and his smile was as wide as the ocean.
Between 1845-52 Ireland suffered a period of starvation, disease and emigration that became known as the Great Famine. The main cause was a disease which affected the potato crop, up to which a third of Ireland's population was dependent for food. There had been crop failures before but during the famine it failed across the whole country, and reoccurred over several years. In the story, Liam and his mother had to leave Ireland just because of the Great Famine. About one million people died during the Great Famine from starvation or from typhus and other famine-related diseases. An estimated two million more left and emigrated from the country.
It is estimated that as many as 4.5 million Irish arrived in America between 1820 and 1930. They became teachers, firefighters, police officers, labor leaders, farmers, business owners, and more. Along the way, Irish Americans contributed enormously to the American labor movement — championing safe working conditions, advocating for children's rights, and fighting racism, prejudice, and income inequality. In the story, Liam’s dad worked in an iron factory in New York. His job was really hard and dangerous, but he didn’t complain. His letters home were cheerful. He worked with a group who also stayed positive. But not only did Irish people move to America, other people came to America too. In 2017, about 29 million immigrants from different countries were working or looking for work in the U.S., making up some 17% of the total civilian labor force.
The American dream is a dream that some people have. Some people want to move to America and hope to have success in life. The term "American Dream" was coined by James Truslow Adams in 1931, saying that "life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement" regardless of social class or circumstances of birth. In the story, Liam, his mother, and other people on the ship have the American Dream. They chose to go to New York not just because one of their family members is there. Ke Huy Quan can be another star example of the American Dream. Quan went on stage to describe how he went from living in a refugee camp after his family fled Vietnam in 1978 to ending up on "Hollywood's biggest stage." "They say stories like this only happen in the movies," he said. "I cannot believe it's happening to me. This — this is the American dream!
This story really gave us an idea of how Liam and his mother faced The Great Famine. They escaped to have a better life in New York. They have the American Dream like Ke Huy Quan. We can connect this to habitat loss. Animals too face danger because of humans. ANimals also have to leave their home because it is ruined. Animals have to search for a better place to survive and thrive. Some animals do find a better home, but others do not. Luckily, humans have noticed this problem and helped them.
Comments