"An Open Border" - Poem Analysis

An Open Border
by
Scott Rohter
Take some bricks and build a wall
Make it solid, strong and tall.
Let it stretch from gulf to sea
That safer at home we all may be.
Build it wide from rim to rim
So terrorists and smugglers can’t sneak in;
And make it deep, secure from holes
Through which flow the drugs that wreck our souls.
Stop the drug trade in its tracks.
Keep us safe from terrorist attacks.
And let it stand the test of time
I pray, keep safe this land of mine.

Consider this, that it’s your job
To keep those out who would rape and rob;
From this great cause you cannot run
While so many of us have lost daughter and son.
You ask our children to serve and fight;
They trust their leaders to do what’s right.
And what’s right is this — it’s easy to see;
It’s plain and simple, as one, two, three —
If you’ll keep us safe in the war on terror
An open border is a fatal error.

This poem was found on a website entitled "We Need a Fence," so this poem is very one-sided, only pointing out the negative aspects of incoming immigrants. But while this plan to create such a wall is discussed, the possibility of terrorists and drugs entering the country by a different route, perhaps by plane or boat, is never mentioned. Also, the allusion to the war in Iraq is questionable. If we should not allow anyone into our great country, what gives us the right to invade other countries? This is not to say that the piece is useless: one can learn much about the methods of propaganda, including the usage of patriotism and unity, a strong rhyming scheme, and the one-sided perspective.