To tell you the truth, Farida, he sometimes comes off as possibly being English or who knows what. I have never been sure. The point is that right wingers would have no problem painting him as an “other.”

Look, personally I don’t care about his race or ethnicity. His represents the better angels of humanity as far as I’m concerned, and that’s what counts. I love the insights of his writing, though I would in certain instances express in general some things slightly differently. I find him inspiring.