"Basically, I was pretty ostracized in my hometown. Me and a few other guys were the town freaks- and there were many occasions when we were dodging getting beaten up ourselves"

This quote from Bruce Springsteen paints a vibrant photo of his experience growing up in his home town. It recommends that he and a few other people were seen as castaways, and were often the target of bullying and violence. This quote speaks to the power of ostracism and how it can result in a feeling of alienation and exclusion. It likewise speaks to the power of a community to either accept or reject its members, and how this can have a lasting influence on those who are ostracized. Springsteen's experience of being ostracized in his hometown is a suggestion of the value of developing an inclusive and accepting environment for all members of a community.