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is the enemy. The moral relativism of existentialists, according to which who is locked out by the wall it is a question of point of view, is utterly invalid here. Here the struggle is for survival, and the outcome of that fight is in doubt. From this point of view, the wall’s defense is understandable and acceptable since it is legitimate protection in the form of the protection of the individual. It is at least as indisputable in the case of an individual as it is for a group or even a community. The community can protect itself just the same as the individual. If 1 defend myself, this is grounds for exemption from all legal punishment, so long as I meet two conditions: % the danger cannot be avoided in any other way, ® and my actions are proportionate. We might add that the struggle here is not to occupy the other’s living space or destroy the other, but to defend. This is what the wall stands for. It is only for your own protection. It cannot be used to retaliate. Anyone who thinks in this way inevitably sees the other as hostile even without a realistic threat from that other. This seems good and desirable because it puts the person ina legitimate position of defense against the other (whether there is a real threat or not), and that person firmly believes that they can and in fact must take steps to defend their territory, culture, economy, etc. from the enemy, otherwise the other will distort and then completely change the same, and thus identity will vanish and be destroyed. The words of King Alcinous are clear and unambiguous: “Stop our convoys home for every castaway chancing on our city!” Cooperation is replaced by confrontation, justified by legitimate protection. You need a Wall. The bigger, the stronger, the more protected, and of course the longer, the higher, the better. And the Night Watch (Game of Thrones again) will resolutely defend the Wall, if necessary, by any means. This is understandable and follows powerfully from human nature. In the past, castles were built, ditches were dug, watchtowers were erected, and defenders opened fired when someone approached with hostile or even un
