America Quote by Ken Kesey
““Colonel Matterson reading from wrinkled scripture of that long yellow hand: The flag is America. America is the plum. The peach. The watermelon. America is the gumdrop. The pumpkin seed. America is television. Now, the cross is Mexico. Mexico is the walnut. The hazelnut. The acorn. Mexico is the rainbow. The rainbow is wooden. Mexico is wooden. Now, the green sheep is Canada Canada is the fir tree. The wheat field. The calendar. The night is the Pacific Ocean.””
About This Quote
Source Book: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, 1962
A surreal list equates nations with foods and objects, highlighting absurd cultural symbols and identity.
In simple terms: Countries are compared to everyday items in a whimsical way.
Key Takeaway
Question the symbols we use to define nations.
Themes
identity
surrealism
culture
symbolism
absurdity
Mood
playful
critical
thoughtful
Type
literary
satirical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- literary analysis
- creative writing
- teaching cultural criticism
Key Concepts
postmodernism
nationalism
metaphor
Questions to Reflect On
- What do these food symbols reveal about stereotypes?
- How does absurdity affect our perception of patriotism?
A Different Perspective
The metaphor may oversimplify complex national identities.
![“I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. [salutes]” quote by Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/3d2/bill-hicks-970_america_i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumor_655.jpg)
