I Pledge Allegiance to the Bag Summary and Analysis

In this essay, Sedaris addresses the drawbacks of being an American living in Paris. According to Sedaris, the French assume that an American living in their country has chosen to do so because he hates his native country. Although, in Sedaris's experience, this is simply untrue. Most Americans move live in France because they like it, or they have relocated for a job.

Sedaris also states that Americans living in Paris are often forced to defend their country, and at times themselves. He has come across many people in France who no longer view him as an American, but as America itself. For instance, during the Bill Clinton impeachment trials, Sedaris was constantly being heckled by his French teacher who was always quipping that American thought was so chaste.

Sedaris identifies...