last week i had a guy come in to service our heating system. i had never met him before. as i was leading him to the furnace, he asked me where i was from. i said: “from here.” he said: “yes, but what’s ur nationality?” i said: “american.” he sniggered and went to work. later he started telling me about how he had been in the navy and didn’t believe in “negativity” and had friends from pakistan and israel and all kinds of exotic places. he said: “do u like thai food?” after i told him i did, he said: “oh yeah, coz u must love curries.” i told him not particularly. he asked me about good indian restaurants. i still didn’t commit to any foreign nationality. as he was leaving, he told me i shouldn’t be offended by his questions. he’s not “negative” about any religion or ethnicity. he even watches the BBC. i told him to watch democracy now. also, i said: “since u keep digging, let me tell u something. ur questions r intrusive and u only asked them because i’m not white. what’s ur nationality? i’m sure u’re not native american. what r ur roots? what’s ur food? ur story? why do u feel entitled to ask me personal questions about my background when we don’t even know each other? because i’m not white?” he thought about it and agreed that i was right. he said goodbye and thanked me for teaching him a valuable lesson. he said: “next time i’ll just say hello mara and get to work.” good idea.