U.S. Flags
As the genocide of Palestinians continue to unfold. The veil of western imperialism and its roots in foreign affairs is beginning to collapse. The money, lobbying and political support provided by the United States has revealed to be a relationship with deep commitments to abiding by Israeli policies. The following flags allowed me to experience the mental fatigue of being an Arab/Palestinian in America.
Finding an abundance of U.S. flags at thrift stores was not a challenge, however, checking out with about 20 or more of them at a time was. Feelings of anxiety and fear rose every time. One day, I researched for hours on end of all the laws and regulations of what you can and cannot do with a United States flag. I now have these laws printed and pinned on my studio wall. Featuring this work in public spaces, galleries and even through social media unlocked a second level of fear and anxiety. Thoughts of whether or not I was confident and educated enough to explain, defend or protect this work rushed through my mind. Why do I, an American born Palestinian feel these struggles of fear and anxiety? Where do they come from? I hope to unpack this in my future work.