A True American Wall

There has been a lot of talk about “The Wall” in the news these days. This wall, to be built along the border between the United States and Mexico, is supposed to stem the tide of “illegal aliens” (the governments term not mine) that is believed by some to be threatening to the wellbeing of this country and its economy, if not its culture. There have been many arguments made both for and against the construction of this wall, and they are easy to look up if one is not familiar with them. Yet, whatever one’s opinion of this wall is, one thing is undeniable: It is a wall, and when constructed it will do what walls do. It will separate those who are here, from those who are not, but want to be; those who have jobs, from those who have none, and want to work; those who are rich, from those who are poor, and simply want to have enough.  Some might also argue that the purpose of this wall will be to keep those who are brown away from those who are white, and those who are diverse in their cultures from threatening the dominance of this country's Anglo-European heritage. It will, in the end, fail at all of these goals, as such walls always do. It will however deepen the sense of misunderstanding and mistrust between the people of this country and those of Mexico. And in seeking to keep out “aliens” we will, instead, alienate those who presently wish to be our friends.

This past week, I was privileged to have been invited to a “Multi-faith Community Prayer Gathering focusing on Refugees and Migrants”. Described by its sponsors as a “coming together”, it was attended by individuals from various faith communities as well as those whose interest in the treatment and wellbeing of refugees and migrants is primarily secular. The event was brief, barely an hour, and at the end, those who had spoken lined up across the stage. Men and women of diverse cultures, faiths, and colors, they stood side by side forming a different kind of wall: a wall of diversity, a wall of inclusion, a wall of truth, and hope, and promise. It is a wall that runs not along our borders, but through the heart of each of us, connecting us, making of us living bricks of solidarity, bound one to another by our common belief in human kindness, justice, and tolerance. This wall will never separate people; but must and will always work to separate bigotry from truth, and hatred from compassion. This wall is a true American wall. And, though others might disagree with me, it is, at the very least, My American Wall.