Border & Fences

Nurit Greenger

July 18, 2009

Good fence makes “good” neighbors.

There is a defined and marked border between the U.S and Canada. To cross it one has to use a bridge or a tunnel. In the past there was free and easy entry between both nations. When U.S citizens crossed into Canada they were not required presenting a passport. One knew one is welcomed into Canada because the guards allowed an easy entry. In general, the border guards on the Canadian side were not that friendly or welcoming; they were not there to be nice or friendly but to do their job right. As one crosses the border from the U.S into Canada one sees the proudly displayed sign: “Welcome to Canada.” The tunnel or bridge that define the U.S-Canadian border prominently displayed American and Canadian flags to mark the borders and one crosses between the flags to get to the other side.

The USA and Canada have never been at war, never been at odds and never shared conflict, yet, there has always been a border fence between these two nations and no one ever complained. These two nations have however, shared visitors, trade, respect and a free exchange of ideas and products for the mutual good of both nations.

Now a new Canadian law makes a passport necessary to cross the border from America into Canada. With this law the Canadian border guards may be even less friendly. The fence hasn’t changed; perhaps the Canadian neighbors did. Are U.S visitors less welcomed today? Perhaps.

Israel built a Security Fence. Unlike the fence between Canada and the U.S, it wasn’t built to allow free access between countries, with boasting border guards assigned to frighten anyone who would dare bringing illegal drugs or any other unwelcome goods across the border unnoticed.

The Security Fence Israel was compelled to erect was designed to save life, many lives; it was built to protect Israeli citizens from the endless Arab terror attacks. Rather quickly the fence achieved its goal by almost totally eliminating the free passage of terrorists, who, in the past, entered Israel with explosives strapped around their bodies and brought about death and destruction everywhere.

The Security Fence was erected as a mean to protect Israeli men, women, and children from murder and chaos inflicted on them by the neighboring Arabs; it is a way to keep out the enemy’s intent to kill and destroy. The fence makes it safer for Israeli youth to go dancing in clubs; it keeps the bar ‘hopers,’ the open market shoppers and the street strollers safe and unafraid that the next person coming at them will explode thus will kill dozens and injure countless others.

The world says that the Israeli Security Fence is a bad fence and it makes bad Arab neighbors. But in truth, it is a very good fence allowing Israeli citizens to live peacefully and almost without fear.

The United States had no fence with its neighboring Mexico, yet Mexico has a very strong fence on its southern border with Guatemala and Belize. Mexico demands free passage into the USA, while preventing passage from its neighbors to its south.

The U.S unfenced border with Mexico resulted in drug smuggling, crime exporting, illegal immigration and much chaos. There was no other way to prevent the evil from entering the U.S but building a fence. The U.S is in the process of completing building a border fence along its border with Mexico so it can prevent people with ill intent from entering the U.S. But like the Israeli Security Fence many judge and deem this fence to be a bad fence. Truth be said, this fence is a good fence for good people and a bad fence for bad people.

Could this bad Mexican border fence on the U.S south border be the reason why Canada now requires that those who cross its border with the U.S present a passport, or is it the lack of such a fence that creates fear with the US peaceful Canadians neighbors?

Clearly, the USA-Canada’s border fence, the USA-Mexico border fence and the Israeli Security Fence simply prevent strangers with ill intentions from crossing into the bordering country to cause harm.

Is the U.S-Mexico a bad fence because it prevents the building of illicit smuggling tunnel? Is the Israeli Security Fence with the area where the Palestinians Authority people reside is bad because it prevents the building of illicit smuggling tunnel? Where is the logic? After all, these are border fences many believe will prevent crime, terror and chaos.

Does any nation want such evil entering its Homeland? Have they ever? Surely not!

So what is a good fence and what is a bad fence?

Good fences create good comfort zones.

A fence merely establishes marked borders. If no fence than what is the benefit of having borders that are not respected?

Good fences don’t separate, rather draw together. They establish boundaries that are the cornerstone of a respected, safe, strong and healthy relationship between whether it is countries or simply human beings. Fences, some high, some low, instate marked borders and dictate behavior.

The Israeli Security fence is a good fence for people who mean well and a bad fence for people who want to be able to cross with ease into Israeli territory and blow up busses, cafeterias, markets, pizzerias, people at bus stops and the like. It is a bad fence for people with ill intent.

The American poet laureate Robert Frost once said that “good fences make good neighbors.” There maybe numerous interpretations of the phrase, but in light of today’s world more than likely good fences do make good neighbors. Maybe it’s time the world acknowledges Robert Frost was right and that in the not too far past the world was different and a far easier place in which to live but no more.