Fish and Fowl

Many times I have been asked to choose to be American or Sicilian.  My own relatives have criticized my deep commitment to both cultures.  Yes, it takes more work; yes, it is expensive to fly to Sicily often, and yes, at times, I feel neither American nor Sicilian.  I look at it like this - My children are Sicilian and African-American.  One night a 6 foot Italian-American bully, confronted my 10 year old son and told him to choose whether he was Black or White.  My son said nothing.  I appeared on the scene and rescued my son.  I knew he would never choose, because it would deny half of what he was.  Same with me.  I will be Sicilian and American as long as I live.  I choose not to choose.