On our trip to Canada, we walked over the Rainbow Bridge to see Niagara Falls from both sides. I noticed something odd. There was barbed wire between the two countries — but only on the U.S. side.
It struck me as a bad look. Like a symbol of how America sees itself these days: cut off by wire.
I looked into it later, and it turns out there’s a reason. The barbed wire — sometimes razor wire — is part of the U.S. approach to border security.
After 9/11, the U.S. toughened up its land borders, even with Canada. The wire helps funnel all foot traffic straight into the Customs and Border Protection checkpoint and keeps anyone from skipping inspection. It’s also meant to protect what’s called the “perimeter” of the inspection area — the zone the government considers sensitive.
Canada handles it differently. The Canadian side is just as serious about screening people, but it relies more on inspection than on physical barriers. The visual difference comes down to philosophy: America favors a show of strength; Canada favors calm order.
So that barbed wire I saw wasn’t an accident. It’s a visual reminder of how the two countries see security — and themselves.