Borders

Humanity’s third worst invention—after the internal combustion engine and money—is borders.

Why do we even have them?

What do borders even do other than create strife and conflict?  Aren’t we all human beings with the same DNA and evolutionary history?  What’s the difference between an American and a Canadian, for instance, other than some artificial, made-up, and invisible line in the sand, or tundra, as it may be?

It’s generally considered wrong to discriminate against people on the basis of some characteristic over which they had no control.  No one chooses their race, gender, or eye color, so it’s unjust to advantage or disadvantage people based on those qualities.

No one chooses where they were born, either, but for some strange reason, it’s considered perfectly fine to provide or withhold benefits to someone just because they happened to be born north or south of some random latitude line on the map.

What the hell’s up with that?

Think of how much safer, kinder, and more harmonious place the world would be if there were no countries or borders.  Most of the wars and armed conflicts in the world, (and throughout history) are (and were) because kings or queens or Presidents or Premiers are fighting about which side of the invisible line ought to get this or that or where the invisible line should be.

Dumb or what?

When the extra-terrestrial creatures finally decide to invade planet Earth, maybe then human beings will forget about the invisible lines on the globe and rally as one people against the marauding horde from outer space.  Probably not, though; probably different countries will vie to be the extra-terrestrials’ best friend and so the divisions among humanity will continue to be enforced.

It seems ridiculous, though, when you stop to think; we all live on the same planet, no part of which belongs to any of us.  The case isn't one for “open borders;” it’s for no borders all at.