Border Fence?

I was just reading that Mexico's president, Vicente Fox, is criticizing the United States for authorizing the building of a fence along our border, even comparing it to the Berlin Wall. Ummm... Mr. Fox... the Berlin Wall was built to keep people in so they wouldn't be exposed to the "corrupting influences of the capitalistic west," and to keep people out for pretty much the same reason. People were rarely allowed to cross, and getting permission from the government was extremely difficult. In contrast, our border with Mexico has plenty of crossing points, through which people can cross both ways easily - all they have to do is check in. We're not building this wall in an Orwellian effort to keep people in or out, merely to steer them toward the gates so we can keep track of who's coming and going - its purpose is nothing like that of the Berlin Wall.

Look at it from our perspective. Imagine that your house had no walls, and strangers kept walking through. You'd expect that they'd at least stop and ask to come in, but they seem to have no respect, so they just keep sneaking in uninvited, and when confronted, pretend that they're the ones who are wronged! Wouldn't you want to build some walls to protect your home and family? Well, our nation is our home, and our citizens are our family, and your people have been walking (and climbing, and tunneling...) right into our home uninvited for long enough now. There are millions of you here, uninvited, already, and there is, after all, this terrorist problem; so we've simply decided to build some walls and insist that you knock on the door and identify yourself when you come to visit. Assuming our house isn't already full of guests, and we're in the mood for some company, We'll probably welcome you with open arms. Thank you very much.

Your friendly neighbor to the north...

Daniel