A key part of President Trump’s Southern border control initiative is to build a big beautiful wall with a big beautiful door in it. He has said he will initially use federal funds to build the wall but intends that Mexico will ultimately pay for it through a variety of federal legislative measures. But there is another way, and one that makes a significant point.
“Buying” bricks for walkways, foundations, and monuments is a time-honored tradition in America as a way to raise money for worthy as well as charitable causes. Funds are donated in some predefined amount, and the individual donating will be memorialized in some way, including receipt of a personalized brick. Virtually any organization can use this fund raising approach, and can achieve additional value through the creation of a new sidewalk, or even a wall.
So why shouldn’t the American citizenry “Build the Wall” with their own private money? Well, guess what, they have already started to do just that. There are a number of websites that offer to sell personalized bricks as well as personalize t-shirts (see Amazon.com for the latter). One website, Bikers4Trump offers to sell a purchaser two personalized bricks, one as a memento and one to be place in the wall. Bricks sell for about $60 a piece or two for $100. There are other websites offering variations on the brick theme so I suggest anyone interested in contributing use a search engine as new ideas may very well pop up over the next couple of months.
This personal “Build the Wall” approach reflects the quintessential American “can do” spirit that doesn’t wait for the government but just “does it”. Obviously, if you think the wall is a dumb idea or too expensive or too risky because some crazed anarchist just might decide to pay you a visit, you won’t contribute. But if you are with the President on gaining control of the Southern US border, buying a brick just might help make the point that American citizens have had enough of the uncontrolled national border situation.
In the interest of full disclosure, I haven’t bought a brick or two yet. I would be more comfortable if the Heritage Foundation was sponsoring the bricks, but if this initiative grows over the next month, I will chip in – after all I buy those White House Christmas ornaments so why not a brick which will actually have my name on it and be of use?
