soap is a political statement

so i live in the united states, the country where zionism and allegiance to the state of israel is baked into almost every candidate running for public office. also, election season is coming WHICH I AM VOTING IN. as a leftist who lives in a conservative red state, i must do everything in my power to denounce the rise of far-right christian nationalism in my country, even if it means compromising my views on the middle east to appease the center-left. 

make no mistake, the end of the occupation of palestine must happen in my lifetime, and the end of the current genocide must happen as soon as possible.

in this aspect, i carry no pride in my country because the united states government does not view this as a problem in need of a solution. as a voter, i hope to see a president that will actually listen to the pleas of millions of people calling for an end to the USA-backed occupation. but often it feels as though my government refuses to listen to me and the people who share my views.

if my government won't contribute to the palestinian cause, then i will try to take matters into my own hands. recently, i purchased a keffiyeh, making sure it was sourced from a legitimate textile factory in the city of nablus in the west bank. along with my order came both a bottle and a bar of nabulsi soap, also making sure it was manufactured in the west bank.

soap, by itself, carries no political meaning. however, the significance of the soap comes from the fact that it was handmade by palestinians with olive oil from palestinian olive trees. in a way, it can be just as much of a symbol of resilience and resistance as the keffiyeh. 

i'm aware it's not much, but it gives me a sense of pride in knowing that i, an american, can personally support the economy of a country that my country does not recognize.