Essence of the Wall





“The refusal to permit redress in an unequal world only exacerbates the simmering firestorm within those who have been denied.” 

Dr. BLR


Essence of the Wall

Growing up in the 1960s and 1970s, the music scene lacked songs that made me want to spend my money until 1979, when Michael Jackson released his fifth album, “Off the Wall.” It was a mix of genres that appealed to and connected with a wide range of music lovers. 

In the same year, an English rock band, Pink Floyd, released its eleventh album, “The Wall.” It topped the charts for several weeks and would later be recognized as one of the greatest albums ever made.  

While music’s version of the wall brought people together to sing and dance, politics and religion have led to very different views of it. I am not someone who plays politics or advocates religion because I am agnostic, but I have observed the damage they have caused over the years.

Beginning in 2015, a well-known conman, Donald Trump, announced he would run for the presidency of the United States. He promised, “I will build a great, great wall on our southern border. And I will have Mexico pay for the wall. Mark my words.” I think he took the pulse of America after eight years of Barack Obama's presidency and realized the country needed a more radical person to take charge. He fucking won. 

His idea of a physical wall resonated with conservatives and inspired many to chant, “Build that wall!” It became a rallying cry to limit the influx of immigrants into the U.S. and, hopefully, to increase his supporter base, which it did substantially. Setting aside politics, he was a rookie and couldn’t accomplish what he wanted because career federal employees would oppose his efforts to change America. He later lost the presidency, then made a dramatic comeback and won, but his proposal for a continued wall faded away. His tactics changed, but his goal of stopping immigrants from entering the U.S. remained central. Along the way, I became aware of another wall that would make or break politicians regardless of their religion.

If you stay true to yourself, you'll realize that a particular religious group has a significant influence over many parts of American society. Regardless of where you stand, it’s unavoidable, so let it go. I’ve had to learn about the political structure and found that if you want to be involved in politics, you must show respect for the country of Israel. That’s right, I said it! The elephant’s weight has been acknowledged. The cat is out of the bag, and the rotund woman is singing.

The number of politicians who have traveled to Israel to stand before the Western Wall and either rub it or get so close they seem to be kissing it is astonishing and sad. I don’t claim to understand their religious beliefs, but it’s clear they are pandering for the money they’ll receive for their obedience. As an American, I am disgusted by their actions, but I am glad to see where their allegiance lies. Furthermore, knowing that this same country builds walls to isolate the indigenous people of the land speaks volumes about them as a people and about what their society endorses. 

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