The Wall

The Wall

by James R. Campbell

“We are going to build a great wall on our Southern border to stop the flow of drugs and illegal immigration in to the United States!” – Donald J. Trump, during the Presidential campaign.

On the first day of his candidacy in 2015, Donald Trump stunned millions of Americans with his anti-immigration stance. I was one of tens of millions who watched his campaign entry speech, and I was left with no doubt as to the position he has adopted.

According to him, Mexico is sending the worst elements of the population of their country to our shores. The tone of the message struck a chord with many Americans who feel threatened by the wave of immigration in to the U.S.

There are many reasons for their concern: the drug cartels, violent Mexican gangs, and the new threat of terrorism in our homeland. According to some sources, there is mounting evidence that the Islamic State is joining forces with the cartels, at the least. Some believe that the Muslim extremists are bringing in terrorists from Mexico and other Latin American countries, via Syria, Iraq, and other Muslim nations According to the Washington Post, as of 2015, Isis was operating in Mexico, eight miles from the border of the U.S. Homeland Security has tried to shoot down those reports.

President Trump’s answer:

The wall that he has promised to the American people as part of his America First policy. According to Fox News, he signed an executive order that allocates Federal resources to construction of the wall.

I was seven years old in 1961 when the East German government constructed the Berlin Wall, dividing East and West Germany. I was far too young to understand the threat posed by the Soviet bloc. Only during and after the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962 was I more aware of the world situation.

Make no mistake:

We are in World War Three, right now. We are fighting Islamic State-sponsored terror. It stands to reason that Isis will do anything to weaken the United States, and bring more violence to the streets of our cities. If hooking up with drug gangs and cartels in Mexico is a way to do that, so be it. This is their thinking, and it is this kind of thinking that scares those who voted for President Trump.

On the other hand, those who voted for the Democratic ticket are scared of Donald John trump. His radical views and his rabid nationalism threatens the global community and promotes racism and divisiveness, the Democrats claim.

I don’t approve of the wall. More border guards and DEA agents, yes. Stronger enforcement of existing laws, absolutely. The idea of a wall is frightening to many people. It smacks too much of Berlin for them.

If the wall is built, it will cost ten billion dollars, at least. Then there is the matter of the funds needed to maintain it once it is built. Finally, there is the matter of history.

I was around in 1989 when the demise of Communism brought the wall down. The West Germans took out the first brick, and from there, it was a matter of time before the people had their final say with this hated symbol of the Cold War. And so it will be with the wall that our new President wants. He can’t maintain it forever. It is a waste of resources and our tax dollars. And I do not believe that it will protect us from gangs, drugs, and Islamic State fighters. If we build the wall, they will find another way to get in to the U.S. If Donald trump has his way, he will build it, at the expense of the American people, and this nation will lose its reputation as a kind generous people. I can hardly see that the wall represents who we are as a nation. Only the future will judge whether or not it was all a grave mistake.

About the Author

James R. Campbell, 61, is poet and writer living with total blindness. He has a Bachelor’s in psychology. He has written articles for the Matilda Ziegler Magazine and Consumervision. A a member of Behind our Eyes, Campbell has three poem collections on CD. They can be downloaded at Recordinglibrary.org. In his free time, he likes cooking, playing harmonica, reptiles, and keeping up with current events.

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