So does a wall exclude or contain? The wall could be a physical wall of brick, stone or metal, keeping certain people out such as the Mexican drug cartels. It could also be judicial, or philosophical wall excluding those that have a particular ideologies or religion, refugees from Syria and Muslims from certain countries.

Perhaps there is a third option, walls built with fear, mistrust, bigotry, and hypocrisy.  We start early by telling the children the revisionist history of this great nation, and how it was based on Judeo-Christian values.  In reality, it is hard to prove that any of the founders had any such moral beliefs and that they saw religion from the eyes of Plato and Marx, a kind of pacifier for the masses. Along with this we repeat and continue to repeat a framing story that reinforces the belief that inside the wall is safety and outside are dangerous.  Inside we have the best education, healthcare, housing, etc. Even the World news remains within the wall unless it is to report a military exercise in protecting our freedom or a political visitation to offer leadership to those living on the outside.

Critical thinking is discouraged, activism and protest are shunned, only believe. The wall that surrounds us even keeps God outside.  We occasionally get a glimpse of the divine, but in general, those churches that thrive are made in the image of the corporate entities they serve with a message of prosperity, feel-good motivation, and a militarized Jesus. He is coming soon with his AR-15.

Those who get a glimpse outside the wall and attempt to spread the message of true freedom are ostracized and if they cannot be contained, will be excluded.

“Build that wall, build that wall” cried the people as they rallied behind their leader. But I say, “forgive them, Lord, for they know not what they are saying.”