Being American means buying your way into the mold, or at the very least pretending.  You must look like the mold, sound like the mold, act like the mold and mingle with the mold.  Being outside the moldlike box brings the inevitable question: “Where are you from?” You can’t possibly be American if you are not white, not somewhat verbally gruff, not somewhat isolated and lonely, not somewhat wanting more than you have or have access to.

- Zan Gibbs