And the wall came tumbling down

OUR OPINION
Published: September 5, 2008

The wall at 9500 Liberty Street in Manassas is finally no more and we say good riddance.

This newspaper has certainly been no fan of some of Prince William County’s efforts to do away with illegal immigrants, but the wall and its criticisms were largely counterproductive and silly, and it was a
giant blemish in a residential portion of Manassas.

This is all besides the fact that the wall was located in Manassas yet criticized Prince William County, and at times, the writings on the wall confused the fact that then MANASSAS Mayor Douglas
Waldron had nothing to do with what went on in the county.

The wall amounted to protest as showboating. Criticism as a means of drawing attention and a certain kind of praise. The behavior of the wall’s owners, Gaudencio Fernandez and Delia Alvarez, set the
plight of illegal immigrants back.

A sign like the one that was on Liberty Street creates a similar situation to that seen with conservative or liberal talk radio hosts — mostly, they preach to the choir.

Those who are attracted to loud, in your face, obtrusive arguments and actions are usually people that agree with them. Those who disagree tend to become more stalwart in the face of obnoxious
argument. And that was exactly what the wall was.

Not very original, not very compelling, but definitely noticeable and over-the-top, the wall attracted mostly those people who disagree with Prince William County’s actions and alienated many of those who
did not. It also alienated residents of Manassas, living in proximity to or driving by the wall. Some of them were people who, had they not been offended by the ostentatious eyesore, might have been
inclined to listen to reasoned arguments.

But, of course, that is what has been missing from the illegal immigration discussion all along — reason.

Until people can discuss this issue without resorting to reactionary accusations and unfounded assertions, the two sides will remain entrenched and illegal immigration will continue to be a weapon in the
culture war being waged across the United States.

In the meantime, Liberty Street is clean.