From the Berlin Wall to the Mexico Wall: America's Clock Ticking Towards Closure
A wall is a symbol of division and closure. Just as the Berlin Wall, erected by the former East Germany, split a nation in half, the U.S.-Mexico border wall—to which President Donald Trump is so fixated—throws fundamental questions upon America's founding ideals and its future. It is a historical irony that Trump, himself a descendant of German immigrants, maintains a hostile stance towards immigration in a country built and grown by immigrants. The construction of the Mexico border wall, a policy he promised and executed, acts not merely as a measure against illegal entry but as the core instrument of an anti-immigration policy.
Trade Walls, Disruption of World Order: The Reality of 'America First'
Trump's 'walls' are not limited to geographic boundaries. He has also erected 'trade walls' within the global order. He declared trade wars on countries around the world, including traditional allies, wielding tariff policies as a weapon and disrupting international cooperation. His negotiation style is criticized as closer to 'coercive diplomacy,' where he uses threats and pressure to force other nations to sign agreements under unfavorable terms. Trump proclaims this as the path to 'Make America Great Again,' but the result is an amplification of conflict that ultimately hinders collective global prosperity.
Damage to Human Rights and Humanity: The Shadow of Immigrant Suppression
The Trump administration's hardline immigration policies cannot escape the criticism that they undermine the values of human rights and humanity. This policy, maintained as a reward for the conservative base that supports him, was relentlessly applied even to workers within the United States. Particularly exemplified by the raids on Korean company construction sites, the mass arrests and the public display of migrant workers in chains showed an extreme disregard for human rights. This will be recorded as a cold-hearted practice that prioritizes self-interest while turning a blind eye to universal moral values.
Immigrants Were the True Engine of 'Great America'
The identity and history of American growth—from the hamburger (Germany) to pizza and pasta (Italy), and New York (Netherlands and Jewish people), the center of the global economy—cannot be explained without the contributions of immigrants. Just as the western railroads built by Chinese laborers created today's American West, the exceptional talent and diverse societal roles of immigrants have been the driving force behind America's development.
However, Trump's policies are negating America's founding ideals and cutting off the engine of growth by building border and trade 'walls.' History proves that walls and closed systems ultimately lead to a nation's decline. There is a deep concern that if Trump's policy of right-wing extremism continues, the future of 'Great America' might revert to a 'Wailing Wall.' While Trump's term may be finite, the shadow his policies have cast over America and the world will be coldly recorded by history.
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