This flag weaving is my meditation on America. When I think of the flag many words come to mind: freedom, alliance, patriotism, ideal, protection, unity, liberty. The flag is a way to represent all Americans. Here’s the pledge of allegiance:

“I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

Seeing the response to the influx of people at our boarders, the broken system we have in place, the inhumane way we treat people – the way we treat children – the way we rip families apart, and put up lethal barriers that kill people with a dream – dreams of freedom – dreams of what our flag stands for – makes me angry and ashamed.  

Suffice it to say, the actions of our government and elected officials do not represent me and I am not represented by my flag.  

As such, I have taken the unpatriotic act of desecrating the flag. It’s an act of defiance, protest, and decent. I have cut the flag, leaving the threads hanging loose. I have woven it back onto a fencing of sorts and lined the top with barbed wire. In my opinion, this weaving shouldn’t have come out so beautiful.

Resources

• The Houston Chronicle reported on some truly terrible allegations made by a border trooper. Read the July 18, 2023 article for free from the Texas Tribune: State investigating claim that DPS troopers were told to push migrants back into the Rio Grande and deny them water The headline is the tip of the iceberg.

• Learn more about immigration rights here

• ACLU History of Flag Burning here

• Register to vote

• Find your people and be an advocate.

  • Remember, sometimes it only times one person to start something . . . check out Mothers Against Greg Abbott