an iron curtain all our own

rather than comparison to israel's fence/wall, i recall the last time we dealt with border barriers we did all we could to entice escape to the free world, where we welcomed folk, settled them all over america, found them homes, jobs, schools, &c, and, in general, made sure they enjoyed all the "blessings of liberty" our constitution promises.

but that was ideological: we were determined to prove our system better.

now the inferior system has (mostly) folded. we've discovered our own job shortages, resource shortages, money shortages, and compassion shortages. ideology no longer checks uncertainty, so we seek comfort in religion (still) yet feel less hospitable—even xenophobic—and, step by step, find our open society shutting down. indeed, we see terrorists and invaders wherever we turn. israelis have no monopoly on siege mentality.

perhaps we'd lure and welcome mexicans—as we did cubans and east europeans—if their country went communist, but that may take a while.