Posted: 1/26/07 Section: Opinion Columns

As for funding a fence with Canada, it would cost more than a few loonies to finish the project. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the proposed 700-mile fence with Mexico will cost about $2.2 billion. That's roughly $3.2 million per mile. The Canadian border is 5,500 miles. Throw in the exchange rate and Alex Trebek would cringe at the cost.

Imagine what the border between Montana and Saskatchewan would look like if the United States were able to overcome these obstacles and build a fence.

In my plan, the barrier separating the state and province would be a 15-foot-tall triple fence. The first would be made of military airplane landing mats that are welded together. Steel mesh and concrete pillars compose the second layer. Between these two sections, there would be a constantly monitored, 150-foot no man's land.

The third fence would consist of linked chains covered with barbed wire. Of course, such an ambitious fence would require many, many guard towers equipped with the latest in flashlight technology. Several helicopters would constantly be patrolling the sky while hundreds of troops monitor the ground.

Soon there will be motion detectors, heat sensors and seismic activity trackers as part of the "Virtual Fence" initiative that utilizes military technology to safeguard the homeland.

Sound too far-fetched for a border with Canada? It's true that this idea doesn't seem to mesh with the American ideal of an open society. In reality, it's a description of the 10-mile border between San Diego and Tijuana that exists today.

It's obvious that problems exist with illegal immigration and homeland security, but we should look past that. Forget all the statistics and loud opinions for a moment and look at what a fence really is: a barrier between two sides. Robert Frost wrote a poem about neighbors and borders.

Maybe the United States should take his advice:

"Before I built a wall I'd ask to know / What I was walling in or walling out, / And to whom I was like to give offence."

< prev Page 2 of 2

Article Tools

The Daily Illini encourages on-topic discussion through article commenting on its articles and blogs. It is our policy not to delete any comments based upon political or ideological point of view. However, we reserve the right to remove comments that are abusive, off-topic or use excessive foul language.

If you feel any post meets these conditions or merits reviewm please e-mail our editors at meonline@dailyillini.com