( The American Dossier, Reverend William Devlin -Contributor )
We are all hearing much these days about walls. What is a wall? Webster's Dictionary defines a wall as "a side of a building or room, typically forming part of the building's structure." Sounds simple enough? Not in today's national discussion.
So, that's how a wall is defined but Webster's also states that a wall is "a thing perceived as a protective or restrictive barrier." Can a 'wall' be racist? Not possible due to the wall being an inanimate object. If a wall can be racist, then because it is part of a building, then can a building be racist? Sounds crazy and it is crazy to say that a "wall" itself is racist.
But look at the first definition that Webster's gives us: a wall forms part of a building's structure. To get magnanimous about this, America is a structure; we are still in the process of building a nation; and every building needs walls; if a building doesn't have walls, it is not a building and it is not a structure, prima facia.
America is still being built from a metaphorical vantage point; we've been building American ever since we defeated the British. And without 'walls', America does not exist. We hear about this in the popular nomenclature: A nation without borders (read 'walls') is not a nation." And that is totally true. Look at how each nation/country in the world has been formed. As nation is formed, boundaries and borders are drawn and decided upon.
Without those borders and boundaries, a nation does not exist. Everyone reading this has 'walls.' You have walls in your home; you have walls at work; you have walls, ahem, if you live in a gated community. In your home you have exterior walls and interior walls. Imagine your home without either-you might then have a pipe of log or tree or two holding up the roof of your home. Who votes to live in a house like that? Any volunteers?
Didn't think so....
The purpose of a wall, says Webster’s second definition, is to act or be perceived as a thing that is a protective or restrictive barrier. I like walls; I like the walls in my bedroom and particularly in my bathroom.
I remember my combat days in Vietnam when there were several 'crappers' in one straight line (no walls) and we all disliked sitting down together (all men) in the morning after reveille, and as we sat down (sorry to be so graphic), trying desperately to avoid looking at the guy next to you. I never met a guy during the Vietnam conflict who said he enjoyed those times. We hated our morning constitution because it was wall-less.
We enjoyed coming home and having, what should I say, privacy with protective and restrictive walls around the places where we desired, wanted and needed privacy-protective and restrictive.
And THAT, is what a wall is designed to do and that is what walls were created for-whether for a home, a business, a bathroom or a nation-for protective and restrictive purposes. In the age of #METOO, would anyone advocate for no walls in showers at your local work-out or fitness club? Sending your kid to a camp without walls?
Reverend William Devlin, is the CEO of REDEEM!, an organization involved in caring for girls and women who have been human trafficked. A life-long urban Democrat, Devlin is married to Nancy, and they have five children and seven grandchildren. Last grandchild born on New Years Day, 2019! Submitted by Reverend William Devlin, RN BSN MA, doctoral candidate octanefaith@yahoo.com January 9, 2019