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61 " He’s got to fight for democracy everywhere, he’s got to oppose tyranny wherever he finds it, bullshit like that. Tell you the truth, I stop listening after the first few minutes because all I can think is, Tyranny is locking us up. Tyranny is taking our freedom. Tyranny is right here. Tyranny is American. "
― Traci Chee , We Are Not Free
62 " About half the crowd is eating it up. He’s got them slobbering at his feet, ready to throw themselves on the Germans’ bayonets in the name of the red, white, and blue. "
63 " want to scream at him. I want to beat some sense into him. Don’t go, Mas. They don’t give a shit about you. We give a shit about you. We’re your family. I’m— I’m so mad, I stalk the Topaz streets after the meeting, getting madder with every step. How could he do this to me? How could he leave me? He was supposed to be the guy we could all rely on. I’m ready to pummel someone. Just give me an excuse. C’mon. And all of a sudden, I’m on Mas’s block. They all look the same, these barracks, but Mrs. Ito’s got a neat little rock garden in the plot outside the front door. I’d recognize those stones anywhere because I helped haul ’em here. My fists curl. Mas. C’mon. My feet are carrying me forward. I’m seeing white. But before I make it there, a couple guys sneak out of the shadows. I can’t see their faces because it’s "
64 " must look a mess, because the guy who’s supposed to help me with the questionnaire kinda recoils when I sit down across from him, but I just grin. Uncle Yas was right. I can’t stay here. I can’t be locked up with my anger like this. If I stay here, my anger’s gonna eat me up from the inside, like a white-hot fire, and if I don’t get it out somehow, I’m gonna turn on everyone who ever loved me. And I’ll die before I let that happen. “Sign me up,” I say. “I wanna fight. "