After reading "Our Wall" by Charles Bowden, describe what the wall signifies for the people on the Mexican side of Naco versus what it signifies for people on the US side. How effective do you think it is to separate people by walls (for example, the Berlin Wall, the Israeli/Palestine Wall, the US/Mexico Wall)? Please explain your answer.
After reading the article, I believe the wall on the Mexican side of Naco symbolizes a chance for a better life. Many cross the border illegal to find a better job or to live more peacefully. On the other end, the wall is significant because it keeps illegal immigrants out of America and is viewed as a sense of security. Some individuals in the article quoted that the wall keeps them safe, deters people from entering the country freely, and stops the illegal immigrants from taking their job. When it comes to being effective, however, the wall isn’t keeping them from crossing but it’s better than having no wall at all. A wall is a formidable object, but people will always find a way to get what they ultimately want, even if it means getting past a wall.
ReplyDeleteThe wall symbolizes to the Mexican side of the division a sense of aggressive separation while it signifies to the U.S. side a sense of protection. I think the use of the wall around the U.S./Mexico border is a joke and an embarrassment. The wall is ineffective at keeping people out, it is a waste of tax dollars, it is an unfeasible project because the borderline is several miles long, and it is not even a complete wall; there are several open areas around the border that can easily be crossed. In the case of the Berlin wall or the Palestine/Israel wall, the walls were effective in terms of accomplishing their goals: the walls separated the people, restricted the economy for the sectioned off side, and kept the people walled off oppressed. Borders are arbitrary intangible lines that are drawn up simply to claim ownership over land, and putting walls around them is an obsolete method of attempting to protect them.
ReplyDeleteThe wall between the United States and Mexico is a symbol that can be interpreted many ways. The article stresses the difference between the symbol's meaning to people on the Mexican side and the U.S. side. For many Americans, the wall is a security policy. It keeps out unwanted illegal aliens. I believe that the presence of the wall can also breed hate and fear. People will see a wall and recognize a need to keep people out, making them afraid of what is on the other side. For people in Mexico, especially those who are poor and have limited options to provide for their families, the wall symbolizes a great obstacle but provides hope for more opportunity.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading the article “Our Wall,” I that the wall signifies protection and safety on the US side from illegal immigrants from coming into the United States. I believe that the people from Mexico may feel trapped in a sense because of the wall, since many of them wish they could come to America for job opportunities and a new way of life. I think the wall is effective at keeping illegal immigrants out of the United States because the Border Patrol has cut the number of illegal immigrants by ½ in the past year. They may be ineffective in some ways because people can always find a way to get around it, but for the most part, Border Patrol does a good job at keeping people where they are supposed to be.
ReplyDeleteI do believe that walls are effective in separating people. Because without them people would realize that these walls represent imaginary lines drawn in the sand. Big walls such as the US/ Mexican Wall are a very blatant tangible expression of one side that is unwelcome to the other. Walls send a message to people that on the other side things are different on the other side and that the differences are not tolerated. On the Mexican side of the wall they see an economic difference. To them on the other side symbolizes financial stability. On the US side of the wall, the people interpret a symbol of comfort despite its lack of effectiveness.
ReplyDeleteI also believe that walls are effective when it comes to separating people. Without that wall, or any wall in history, there would be increased violence between those on each side. The views on either side of the wall are extremely different. The Mexican side may view our side as a beacon of hope. To them, our side has the greener grass. The view shared by them is very different from the view shared by Americans. Our side views the wall as protection from something more barbaric, they find comfort in knowing that there is a barrier between us and the Mexican people. In the article, Bowden compares the wall to a locked home, despite the relationship with the neighbors, everyone locks their houses. Which explains why walls on boarders exists, to keep people out who do not have permission coming in,
ReplyDeleteI think that the wall symbolizes how people in the United States feel about the military. We view the military as something that can help people hence why the flower is coming out. However, I would say that separating people by walls is extremely ineffective. The reason for this is it just potentially makes everyone more curious about what is on the other side. This is especially true in socialized states where rumors on how the other side lives are abundant. It generally makes people want to go over to the other side even more so due to peoples curious nature. Also, the phrase the grass is greener on the other side applies a lot to trying to keep people separated via walls.
ReplyDeleteThe Mexico/America wall signifies different things for each side. For the Mexican side of Naco, the wall symbolizes an economic divide and an interpretation of “the grass is greener on the other side.” For the American side, the wall signifies separation and aggression. However the wall has been ineffective. Yes there’s a reduction in the amount of people who cross, but there is still a significant amount of those who do illegally cross. And those who get caught and taken back will still continue to try to do so no matter what because conditions in their home country force them to do so.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading “Our Wall” by Charles Bowden, it is very clear that the wall that separates Mexico and the United States symbolizes two very different outlooks from both sides. On the Mexican side, the wall can be viewed as almost insulting since it is meant to keep them out of the United States. This can cause them to feel trapped and unwanted. To some Mexicans it is an obstacle in their hopes of a better life. However, from the U.S. side, the wall is seen as a sense of security that keeps illegal immigrants from entering the U.S. The wall is positive from the United States standpoint and negative from the Mexican standpoint. Even though the wall is seen differently, the wall is still meant for the sole purpose of keeping unwanted illegal immigrants out. I believe that it is effective for that purpose. For example, it has cut the number of illegal immigrants in half during the past year.
ReplyDeleteIn the article "Our Wall" there are obvious differences in opinion about what the wall signifies. To the people on the Mexican side it is viewed as a big obstacle that, if overcome, will lead to a better and more stable life. To the American side it is viewed as a protective barrier to keep out illegal immigrants that want to take jobs away from Americans. The proof that the wall has been effective is that the number of illegal aliens that have gotten into the United States has been halved. Some may say that there are still a great number still getting in but if the wall was not there then there would be an even greater number getting in illegally.
ReplyDeleteTo the people on the Mexican side of Naco, the wall symbolizes aggressive exclusion. However, the ineffectiveness of physical walls used to separate people provides hope to the Mexican side. There is a glimmer of possibility for a better life beyond the concrete divisor. To the people on the American side, the wall serves as a security measure, protecting our country and its border cities from illegal immigrants who take American jobs and sometimes bring crime. A wall may seem like a simple solution, but people always find ways around them. The US/Mexican wall, for example, is about 350 miles long and contains openings that can easily be breached.
ReplyDeleteIn Bowden's article, "Our Wall," it's clear that there are different views about what the wall signifies for both the Mexican and American side. For the Mexican side, the wall is most likely seen as something that's blocking them to a completely different, and free life, full of endless opportunities. That's why so many of the Mexican population end up become American citizens, because of what's on the other side. For the Americans, the wall is seen as safety, or protection. Most Americans don't want immigrants coming over to steal jobs, etc., so we use a wall as a sort of boundary. Regardless of the fact that we have this wall set, it's not in stone. I feel as though the wall is effective, but to a particular extent. We still have illegal immigrants come over, but say the wall was not there, then we'd have even more in the US, so it is effective just know 100%.
ReplyDeleteFrom the perspective of the Mexican’s, the wall symbolizes more of an insult than an obstacle. It’s saying that “we”, that being whoever is supportive of that wall, have the ability to help you but choose not to. Or, we may not want to help you but will if necessary, but the wall keeps us from having to make that decision. I feel the wall comforts more of Americans than it offends. Those who have been negatively affected by immigration support it and those who haven’t feel nothing for or against it. The wall probably isn't very effective, if people want to get over it, they will find a way to get over it.
ReplyDeleteThe wall symbolizes much more for the Mexicans than it does for the Americans. The wall symbolizes freedom and the possibility of a better life for the Mexicans yet it also symbolizes the impossible. Many people would not be able to get past this both physical and emotional wall. For Americans, the wall could represent two different things: the place where people who use our jobs and money to improve their own lives or a location of intense poverty. There are people in the US that would do whatever is necessary to prevent Mexicans from getting past the "wall" and into our land but there are also Americans who would want to help Mexicans from the impoverished and corrupted land.
ReplyDeleteI believe that the people of Naco see the wall as an insult rather than something that I used as protection. They see it as that the people of the United Sates do not want them in their country whatsoever and would go to extreme length to make sure that it does not happen. Personally I do not believe that the wall is effective in any way because thousands of illegal aliens get into the United States every year. Now the wall that was built in Berlin was completely different because that was used to stop extremely violent and fatal riots that were going on in their country. The situations are just not the same and I think the United States could come up with a much more effective strategy.
ReplyDeleteI see walls as things that separate people as very bad things because it seems like the nation who builds the walls wants nothing to do with the other side and once the wall comes down if it ever does the repair takes long for the two countries and effects them forever. The berlin wall is one of the most famous one , that one was alittle bit different and was more of a rejoyce becasue many had loved ones on the other side but i see the Naco seeing it as a bad thing because the americas want nothing to do with them.
ReplyDeleteI see walls as things that separate people as very bad things because it seems like the nation who builds the walls wants nothing to do with the other side and once the wall comes down if it ever does the repair takes long for the two countries and effects them forever. The berlin wall is one of the most famous one , that one was alittle bit different and was more of a rejoyce becasue many had loved ones on the other side but i see the Naco seeing it as a bad thing because the americas want nothing to do with them.
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