"Sides are being divided now. It's very obvious. So if you're on the other side of the fence, you're suddenly anti-American. It's breeding fear of being on the wrong side"

In this quote, Sam Shepard is highlighting the growing division within society. He suggests that people are being required to choose sides, and those who do not line up with the dominant side are being identified as "anti-American." This produces a sense of worry and pressure to adhere, as being on the "incorrect" side is seen as a hazard to one's patriotism. Shepard's usage of the metaphor "opposite of the fence" stresses the physical and psychological separation between the 2 sides. Overall, the quote talks to the polarizing nature of present events and the consequences of being viewed as being on the opposing side.