This July 4th is a great time to reflect. Specifically upon flag design with Hijinx Mixed Media! There are many reasons why this country is wonderful and beautiful. There are also many reasons why this country is horrible and ugly. Together, united we are all both wonderful and horrible and that is the human experience here in the U.S. of A.
Phrases like “Make America Great Again” are accusatory and generally unhelpful. When those words are uttered, it is a willing admittance that they believe this country is in fact Not Great. But when others outside of the Trump cult, I mean supporters, point out the glaring problems in this country such as income inequality, racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, xenophobia, or the military state to name a few, we are declared unpatriotic. Since when was so-called American patriotism just a blind following of the leader? Did we not revolt from the British Crown in order to avoid the idolization of a tyrant? Totally unrelated, but have you read George Orwell’s book 1984 recently?
I digress. This blog post is not about why the United States is so horrible but I would be a fool to ignore the dark side. This series of infographix is to formally introduce the Transcontinental Flag of Turtle Island!
When it comes to flag design, each element represents something significant to the flag-flyers. While the design elements are inspired by the “stars & stripes” the meaning behind my design choices differ.
While the original color design of the flag was simply derived from the flag of the United Kingdom, meaning was attached later and is generally agreed upon now. Red symbolizes valor, hardiness, and willingness to sacrifice. White symbolizes purity and innocence. Blue symbolizes vigilance, perseverance, and justice.
The colors of the Transcontinental Flag are pastel versions of red, white, and blue and their meanings are yoinked from the transgender pride flag. Instead of representing what we think people should be like, we are simply representing people. Pink represents the feminine, blue represents the masculine, and white represents the non-binary and transition between genders. Not only do these colors represent all people (as opposed to all men as stated in the constitution), but it also emphasizes the need for trans liberation in the journey to liberation for all. There are many people in this country who are being oppressed in many ways but in the queer community, our trans siblings have had it rough. The idea that bodily autonomy is not our own and can be taken away is a problem for us all. We all deserve the right to do what we please with our own bodies, property, and lives. Claiming trans people as villains does not make them so. The truth is, trans people existing authentically does not hurt anybody. This color palette is a statement on gender equality, feminism, and queer unity.
The iconography within the USA flag is pretty basic. The 50 stars united in the little blue box represent the 50 states. There have been many iterations of the flag with different configurations and numbers of stars in the corner. The flag was last updated in 1960 after Hawaii was made as state in 1959, formerly a territory. The 50 stars exclude the 14 U.S. territories, 5 of which are inhabited. Territories have different rights and statuses according to the U.S. so they don’t get a star.
My blue box is rounded instead of rigid. Within it is a turtle. The North American continent is called “Turtle Island” both now and before it was colonized. (Turtle Island can also refer to the entire planet). Turtle Island today is commonly used as a symbol for indigenous rights. The turtle here references nature and indigeneity while serving as a reminder of the mass genocide of the native peoples, something that we must carry with us. Instead of carrying the guilt of mass murder, I encourage you to carry motivation and determination to never again allow such violence on our land and in our hearts. Unfortunately, the United States continues to perpetuate the very same violence here and abroad with their massive police/military budget and their love affair for weapons of mass destruction. The inclusion of the turtle is a statement of antiracism and nonviolence.
Inside the turtle on the shell we have a hexagon pattern. This pattern symbolizes the honeycomb, the beehive, and bees to communicate mutual support, workers solidarity, and general cooperation being necessary for our collective abundance among the natural world. Just like the working class, bees are often under appreciated yet integral to the everyday lives we’ve become accustomed to. If you have to work to make a living, this pattern is for you.
Finally within the blue corner we have three hearts leading the turtle forward. In contrast to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness," these hearts represent love, nourishment, and mutual respect. Sure you don’t have to like everyone you meet, but you do have to view them as a human being deserving of all the same amount of love, support, and respect as you. Even if I think you’re problematic and I disagree with you, you deserve to be alive and well on this land.
The 13 stripes on the U.S. flag simply represent the 13 British Colonies that won independence from the British Crown in the American Revolutionary War in 1775. These colonies on the east coast are now states called New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia.
There are 12 stripes on my transcontinental flag that instead represent the 12 months and zodiacs of the calendar, encompassing all people who have been born. The twelve months and the twelve zodiacs do not line up perfectly but there are 12 of each nonetheless and they are as follows: Aries: (Mar 21 - Apr 19), Taurus: (Apr 20 - May 20), Gemini: (May 21 - Jun 20), Cancer: (Jun 21 - Jul 22), Leo: (Jul 23 - Aug 22), Virgo: (Aug 23 - Sep 22), Libra: (Sep 23 - Oct 22), Scorpio: (Oct 23 - Nov 21), Sagittarius: (Nov 22 - Dec 21), Capricorn: (Dec 22 - Jan 19), Aquarius: (Jan 20 - Feb 18), Pisces: (Feb 19 - Mar 20).
The stripes on my flag are not straight or rigid but instead are curvy waves. This is to represent the fluidity of life and humanity while emphasizing the importance of water protection. Water represents our ability to change, flow, adapt, and grow to overcome new challenges. Water is life and we must treat this island with more dignity in order to preserve it and in turn preserve ourselves.
Celebrating Independence day can come with mixed feelings for those of us who have been historically marginalized, oppressed, or forgotten by the U.S. government. Aggressive patriotism and loud explosions are not for everyone, despite it being a staple of the holiday. (Side note about fireworks: they are pretty or whatever but consider how unpredictable explosions may be triggering to the very veterans that we are trying to honor and how the materials from them just end up littering our land.) We can celebrate the holiday with our friends and family while recognizing that it is not free from flaws. Just remember, practicing a little compassion can go a long way.
Thanks for reading and take care,
Jinx
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Sources
Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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