Webster’s dictionary defines terrorism as “a state of intense fear.” In response to the Jan. 1 letter, “Way too easy for terrorists to enter,” I believe that building walls at the Mexican-American and Canadian-American borders would not resolve terrorism. Putting up a wall does not eliminate terrorism, such as the Oklahoma bombing, Columbine shootings and Sept. 11; it just hinders America from being a free nation.
An act of terrorism that comes to mind would be the Oklahoma bombing over a decade ago. This bombing by Timothy McVeigh killed 168 people and injured hundreds. Terrorism, by our own citizen, was among us that day. For the writer to “believe it is in our national security interest to protect our border,” by being “a proponent of building the wall between the U.S. and Mexico,” is absurd when we can’t even protect ourselves from our own citizens.
Another example is the Columbine shootings. This 7-year-old event was novel to America in 1999. Two 16-year-old boys, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, were also U. S. citizens who killed 13 and injured 21 classmates. How are Americans supposed to be protected, when American citizens are the ones contributing to the terrorism?
None of the above acts were committed by Mexicans or Canadians. To build a wall between our borders to seal them off is not ethically, morally or politically just. It brings up the question of what the wall is trying to accomplish. What are we truly going to resolve by placing a wall on our borders? I believe Americans have the right to be secure and vigilant, but not secluded and untouched.
ANTHONY SMITH
Lake Stevens
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