The original quotation expresses the protagonist's reaction to the World Trade Center attack and in the use of language is sense of the bewilderment and uncertainty come to surface.

"Possibly", "it seemed to me", "I've always thoughts" are some example of Changez inner confusion and his difficulties to come to terms with America. "To give oneself over" expresses the ironic idea of the protagonist towards the American attitude after attack, to spend one feeling to create a defensive barrier against terrorism. At the same time the protagonist connotes American attitude as "dangerous nostalgia". The semantic choice implies a step backwards on the common American trend towards progress. The idea is highlighted and reinforced by the adjective "retrò", preceded by the adverb "undeniably", one that does not admit contradictions.

Flags and uniforms are more than simple lexical choices: they become a vehicle of criticism of the patriotic rituals American rhetoric still hangs to.  Even the values of "duty" and "honor" sound rhetorical in their graphetic writing and use. In addition, they are set in key positions. Moreover, Changez use of the past perfect expresses the protagonist's disillusionment and lack of hope of change in front of his initial dream about America.

The contrast between "look forward" and "look back", symbolically at the end of the sentence, are divided by the word "determination". It refers to American strict decision to find an escape in front of the tragedy. Living in New York reminds life in the second World War, or better, his idea of it. The simile unveils the perception f the new atmosphere and makes of New York, an almost "unreal city".

The speaking voice communicates the feeling of something unnatural in the world surrounding him. Such image is underlined by the phrase "not in Technicolor, but in grainy black and white". "Grainy" is generally used by the new generations since it refers to Photoshop users and, last but not least, conveys the perception of confusion introduced at the beginning of the quotation. The following question in syntax adds to the protagonist's a feeling of puzzlement.

The reader is strongly involved in the narration  thanks to the language use that creates an intimate relationship of closeness.

The questions imply a negative judgment of the reactional attitude and behaviour.  "Dominance", "safety" anticipated by the adjective "moral" clearly provide the new scenario.

Again, the choice of "I did not know" brings to surface Changez feeling of being in front of something he cannot make sense of.

All the quotations  rest on the expressions of Changez mood, feelings and emotions. The reader, therefore is involved in the sharing of the speaking voice situation, where  reality and fiction look and sound the double face of one single reality. The idea of reaction as a scenery concludes the quotation and conveys the totally new feeling of the protagonist whose detachment becomes therefore perceptible and of analysis.