Wall of Shame

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The term "Wall of Shame" may be used to describe actual walls or barriers that bring shame upon the builders or others. In some cases, it is the circumstances of the wall's construction or its intended purpose that brings dishonor. In other cases, a collection of photographs or names is posted on the wall, for the purpose of shaming those listed there, or the actions or situations depicted or described. The term may also be used to refer to a published collection of names or photographs (such a newspaper column or web page) which follows this convention.[1]

In the sense of a collection of information, a wall of shame is the opposite of a "wall of hope", "hall of fame" or an "honor roll".

Contents


[edit] History of physical walls

The term was first used in reference to the Berlin Wall.[citation needed] In 1961 the government of East Germany named the erected wall as "Anti-fascist protection wall", a part of the GDR border system. But many Berliners called it "Schandmauer" that translates as "Wall of Shame". Outside Germany it first appeared as "Wall of Shame" in a cover story published by Time Magazine in 1962[2]. Shortly, the President of the United States John F. Kennedy referred to it explicitly as Wall of Shame in his Annual Message to the US Congress on the State of the Union, January 14, 1963 [3]. Since then and in the same spirit, the term is used by their opponents when referring to walls erected worldwide. Examples include:-

The term has been used to refer to the steel rings that security forces build around protesters during G7 and other world top summits, as in Quebec in 2001.[8]

[edit] Criticism of purpose

In ancient times, defensive walls were an integral part of the military defense strategy of many cities, and in some cases (such as the Great Wall of China and Hadrian's Wall) large territories. Later developments in warfare technology, such as artillery, aircraft, and missiles, have rendered the defensive wall considerably less effective at preventing full-scale invasion.

The modern physical walls described above are often criticized as "walls of shame" because as separation barriers they prevent the free flow of civilians. They may also be perceived as a tool of some other form of oppression or injustice, such as the maintenance of an authoritarian regime or territorial expansion.

The term "wall of shame" is not used by the creators of these physical walls. Military, security, and economic reasons are most commonly cited to justify the building of such barriers.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Online examples include: [1] (includes bloody images, intended to criticize violence in the foreign policy of the United States), [2], [3], and [4]
  2. ^ [5]
  3. ^ [6]
  4. ^ [7]
  5. ^ [8]
  6. ^ [9]
  7. ^ [10]
  8. ^ [11]

[edit] External links

  • "The Democratic Invention" academic article by Mário Soares, former Prime minister and later President of Portugal (1986-1996), referring to the Berlin Wall as the "Wall of Shame". Journal of Democracy 10.2 (1999) 105-112 [12]
  • "Our Europe" Speech by Jacques Chirac, President of France, to the Bundestag, 27 June 2000, referring to the Berlin Wall as the "Wall of Shame" [13]
  • 2002 Speech by Romano Prodi, Prime Minister of Italy and former President of the European Commission, referring to the Berlin Wall as the "Wall of Shame". [14]
  • "Gibraltar: The Legal Issues" academic paper by J. E. S. Fawcett in International Affairs (Royal Institute of International Affairs), Vol. 43, No. 2 (Apr., 1967) , pp. 236-251, mentioning Spain and British Gibraltar border as a "Wall of Shame" [15]
  • In 1998 UNIFEM organized a photo exhibit at the United Nations that contrasted a "wall of shame," focusing on women's plight and suffering, with a "wall of hope" showcasing initiatives to end violence against women [16].
  • A wall, allegedly built to hide the realities of Dominican Republic poverty from the visiting dignitary or tourist, is known by everyone there as the "Muro de la Verguenza", or the "Wall of Shame" [17]
  • Academic paper by M Lachance (York University) "Geographies of protests: spatialities of social movements activities" (2003), about the Quebec "wall of shame" [18]
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