I tossed my shoulders and swaggered away, whistling with pleasure. In the gutter I saw a long cigaret butt. I picked it up without shame, lit it as I stood with one foot in the gutter, puffed it and exhaled toward the stars. I was an American, and goddamn proud of it.

Summary

This quote depicts a sense of pride and defiance in one's national identity. The speaker adopts a nonchalant attitude, flaunting their American heritage and refusing to be ashamed of their actions. By picking up a discarded cigarette butt and lighting it in a manner that others may perceive as crass, the speaker symbolically asserts their independence from societal expectations. They embrace who they are, unapologetically exuding their American pride by metaphorically exhaling their confidence and aspirations towards the stars.

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