An Eritrean Kid in USA

A first grade teacher explains to her class that she is an American.
She asks her students to raise their hands if they were American too.
Not really knowing why but wanting to be like their teacher, their hands
explode into the air like flashy fireworks.
There is, however, one exception. A girl named Selam has not gone along with the crowd.
The teacher asks her why she has decided to be different.
"Because I am not an American." replied Selam.
"Then", asks the teacher, "What are you?"
"I'm a proud Eritrean," boasts the little girl.

The teacher is a little perturbed now, her face slightly red.
She asks Selam why she is a Eritrean.
"Well, my mom and dad are Eritreans, so I'm a Eritrean too."
The teacher is now angry . "That's no reason", she says loudly
"if your mom was an idiot, and your dad was an idiot, what would you be then?"

A pause and a smile.
"Then" says Selam,
"I'd be an American."
Semhar Tekeste(University of Ottawa)