Wall of Shame

"Wall of Shame" is originally a term used by western politicians and media to refer to the Berlin Wall, and more generally a negative term for a wall, fence or barrier that, in the opinion of those using the term, brings shame upon the builders or others. In some cases, it is the circumstances of the wall's construction or its intended purpose that is fingered as bringing 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 as newspaper columns or web pages) which follow this convention.

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". Another name for "wall of shame" is "hall of shame".

Original use of the term

The term was first used in reference to the Berlin Wall, which separated East Berlin from West Berlin. In 1961 the government of East Germany named the erected wall as the "Anti-fascist protection wall", a part of the inner German border; many Berliners, however, called it "Schandmauer" ("Wall of Shame"). Outside Germany it first appeared as "Wall of Shame" in a cover story published by Time Magazine in 1962, and President of the United States John F. Kennedy used the term in his Annual Message to the US Congress on the State of the Union, January 14, 1963.

The Berlin Wall was referred to as the "Wall of Shame" in many more recent notable works, such as:

• Mário Soares, former Prime minister and later President of Portugal (1986-1996), in his academic article "The Democratic Invention"
• The "Our Europe" Speech by Jacques Chirac, President of France, to the Bundestag, 27 June 2000
• 2002 Speech by Romano Prodi, Prime Minister of Italy and former President of the European Commission

Other uses

Some people have referred to other walls, fences and barriers in this manner, including:

• The Spanish fences in Ceuta and Melilla; by Christophe Nonnenmacher in "Europe&Us" the International News Service (Loyalist College, Canada) J. E. S. Fawcett in International Affairs
• The Moroccan Wall in Western Sahara
• The Green Line in Cyprus, which separates the Turkish and Greek Cypriot parts of the country after the events of 1974
• The Peace line separating Nationalist and Unionist neighbourhoods in Belfast
• The Israeli West Bank barrier
• The Mexico–United States barrier
• A long roadside wall in the Dominican Republic, allegedly built to hide the realities of poverty from the visiting dignitary or tourist, is known by everyone there as the "Muro de la Vergüenza", or the "Wall of Shame".
• The Panama Canal fence

Cultural references:

• 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.
• An academic paper by M. Lachance (York University) talks about the Quebec "wall of shame".

Criticism of term

The modern physical walls described above are often criticized as "walls of shame" because as such barriers 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.