"The surroundings say to “Americanize” oneself, one’s words, thoughts and maybe feelings, without regard to how scarring that concept is; without regard to what it requires of a person, of a family—without regard to how it destroys relationships, languages, friendships and history."
“Said's ‘Reflections on Exile’ summoned to mind the only 7 words my grandfather ever said to me about Ireland, where he had cousins he never knew: ‘I don’t think I’ll go back there.’”
