The book I am currently reaading is called Across The Wire by the author Luis Alberto Urrea. It is basically about the life of him as he helps the people on the Mexican side of the border. It really shows the many hard things of life that I definitely wouldn't see around the places in my neighborhood. Gang violence, is such a huge part in the book, which is hard for immigrants from Mexico to even leave. This is explained through the first hand experience of the author, Luis.Who's actually seen it happen. Another hard thing that happens in the book is when Luis, sees all of the pproblems that people face in Mexico,and obvious reasons why who wouldn't leave the country for America. Many people are faced with complete and undescribable poverty and many diseases.
In the book that I'm going to be talking about they face huge gang violence in undescribable measures. Something that ou would never expect to happen in any of the communities that people live in, no matter how, bad that community is thought to be. In the prologue of the story they describe many gangs that attack peoplein Mexico,because of the discrimination many gangs have towards other races in society. If your not a local the tough guys of the society, beat you up. Especially for woman who try to cross the border in order to get a better life. Women who walk down the street get harrassed by being called names, or insulted by the men on the street. Sometimes it even gets physical when gang members rape the women. Woman are sometimes beat for no reason, by the many gangs that are in Mexico. An example of a street gang the Pandilleros, they are the most ruthless gang described in the book. They enjoy killing people just for the fun of it. Luis describes how the lucky ones only make it out. There are many ways toget robbed aand killed in your escape. The Rateros or the Padilleros, kill for valuables and the Rateros are thieves. The coyote (escorts) might pull a gun on you and take all valuables. The junkies might also attack you for many things. And of course the border patrol might catch you. Another hard thing besides this is the huge amount of poverty in the story. The mexicans describe living in a dump, and begging better than their old lives "This is a garbage dump. Take all you need. There is plenty for everyone." This shows how bad life is for them to love a life of begging. Another huge problem is the disease that many haave because the unsanitariness. They describe diseases that is oblivious to us because of our available treatment. The most described one is scabies. A disease caused by insects burrowing in the body. Many of them have it because of the fact thatthey live in a dump. I cannot stand a life like this, but this shows the grattefulness they must have for the slightest improvement in their life.
What suprises me is that through so much problems in their life they have great morals. They are so gratteful no matter what the problem is in their life. One ladies was in so bad condition from the scabies and poverty, yet she showed great morals even when Luis said that he'll try to help them. HE's not even sure since many other people have asked for help before. Yet she still said thank you, that I found touching through a page. Another thing that surprises me about the mexicans is the fact that they keep a positive mind no matter what. One of them had scabies and they didn't know what it was t'ill Luis told them. The most oddest reaction to expect was that they laughed like it wasn't serious. Who lauughs?I would be so scared to even sleep with things crawling in me. This book is very persuasive in the sense that it gives you the idea why they would cross the border. Even though we give them names, but don't realize the other point of view. Which Luis is trying to display in the book.
This book has made me realize a lot of things. The greatest moral I feel that I can take away from this is no matter in what situatuion don't forget your morals. They may be illegal immigrants when crossing the border, but they deserve the land we live in.
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