Support internationalism Support Macalester Support Isra Imagine walking past 45 flags at graduation, flags that represent all your fellow classmates’ countries except yours. Imagine being called Jordanian and Israeli, when you can't live in Jordan or vote in Israel. Imagine having to explain your country's politics all the time, just so that people understand your identity. Imagine being a student at Macalester for four years. Imagine Kofi Annan. Imagine internationalism. Imagine flag policy. Imagine no flag at your graduation.

“The U.N. flag, along with the U.S. flag, continues to be displayed as a symbol of Macalester's commitment to international understanding.”

Can we stay true to our statements? International understanding means understanding our Palestinian friend living in East Jerusalem, which the United Nations and most governments do not recognize as the capital of Israel.

“The flags displayed at campus events represent international students studying at Macalester College whose countries are recognized with permanent observer status or are members of the U.N.”

According to the U.N., Palestine is an entity, who has an office at the United Nations as Permanent Observer Mission of Palestine to the United Nations. Palestine indeed does have permanent observer status. It may not “officially” be a country, but people around the world recognize that the Palestinians are a people in need of a state. The proposed state would have East Jerusalem, Isra’ Muzaffar’s hometown, as its capital.

How much does it take for three Macalester officials to change the school’s flag policy and add one word, entity, to its policy? Let's be generous.

In this grave political situation, why can’t Macalester, which prides itself on internationalism, be a space for a student to define, understand and have her identity recognized? Let’s be true to our ideals.

The Palestinian flag has been flown at peace agreements in Madrid, Oslo and even on the White House lawn. “Macalester College was among the first in the nation, and the first in Minnesota, to fly the flag of the United Nations” Why can't we be the first to fly the Palestinian flag?

Administrators admit that the flag policy may leave some students out in the cold. They have implied that if there is a public outcry, they may have to consider changing the policy.

Support internationalism. Support Isra’. Support Macalester. It’s easy.

Send your e-mails to hornbach@macalester.edu, hamre@macalester.edu and samatar@macalester.edu. Attend events of the International Week “the Arts, Identity and Internationalism,” and ask whose identity is valued in our commitment to internationalism.