BUILDING WALLS NOT THE WAY TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER

MUCH of the news over the Christmas break focused on American politics as the President of the United States enforced his decision about building a “wall” to keep out southerners and consequently the government shut down its public institutions with more than 800,000 innocent workers falling prey to his stubborn approach.

This has created the longest government shutdown in the history of America.

As we watch history unfold, we only need to look at early American history to learn about another “wall”, one which was built around New York in the early 1600s.

I was fascinated to learn more about the origins of Wall Street in New York’s lower Manhattan – ironically the epicentre of the city’s financial district and the pinnacle of influence in the global economy.

The name of the street originates from an actual wall that was built in the 17th century by the Dutch, who were living in what was then called New Amsterdam. The 12-foot (4 metre) wall was built to protect the Dutch against attacks from pirates and various Native American tribes, and to keep other potential dangers out of the establishment.

Not dissimilar to the sentiment around the world today on building borders and dividing us instead of connecting us.

The area near the wall became known as Wall Street. Because of its prime location running the width of Manhattan between the East River and the Hudson River, the road developed into one of the busiest trading areas in the entire city. Later, in 1699, the wall was dismantled by the British colonial government, and while the name of the street stuck, New Amsterdam was renamed New York.

Later, the financial industry got its official start on May 17, 1792 with the opening of the first official stock exchange, Now known as the modernday New York Stock Exchange.

It will be interesting to see what finally happens with the President’s demands for a “wall”, and whether history repeats itself, with a wall built to keep “those unwanted out” and demonstrate that centuries forward, humanity has learned absolutely nothing about cooperation and compassion.

If a wall is built, it will only be symbolic for yet another period in history where a leader has pressed their arrogant and economic might against a struggling minority that simply wants a more prosperous life for all. Where is the equality in this world and when will we stop putting up walls to divide our society between those who have and have not, purely built on a false sense of nationalism, and fear of the unknown?

Ironically, over 40 years earlier another President of America, Ronald Reagan, had a different approach to “walls” and to this day his resounding words “Tear down this wall” – a line from a speech he made in West Berlin in June 1987, where he called for the leader of the Soviet Union, Mikhail Gorbachev, to open up the barrier which had divided West and East Berlin since 1961.

Reagan’s speech emphasised the advancement of freedom and unification, by seeking peace, prosperity and liberalisation in removing the wall that was a physical and metaphorical symbol of division.

What history has taught us, is that it is more noble to bring people together by connecting, not dividing. As one planet, we are the fruits of one tree, and we should connect with one another with utmost love and harmony, friendliness and fellowship. Let 2019 be the year each of us carry a voice that shows more love and greater harmony.

Let’s also hope that compassion prevails and the true voice of humanity, where liberty and freedom are its defining traits, achieve a peaceful solution for the prosperity of all, so that in the years ahead, we do not have to wait for the words of another President, to repeat “tear down another wall”.