The tradition of making the pilgrimage to Mecca is well known.In some ways the black community descent upon Washington DC on January 20, 2009 brings a similar remembrance.
But as I view the multipurpose vehicle in the photo, its cargo and passengers, the mind does wonder to voyages,journeys and railroads traveled. Sometimes underground, sometimes on no ground. Sometimes waterborne but not in a VIP coach bus. Sometimes through swampland and sometimes to the south pole. ( ode to Mathew Henson)
Imagine if next month's pilgrimage could be replaced by direct individual investment in our communities. Imagine if the total amount of money that we will be spend on gowns, buses, gasoline, hotel costs,food, drink and I do not vitamin water, could be spent instead on the community. Of course we deserve to celebrate. But are there not enough folks in Washington DC alone who will not be able to attend the balls and frolic with the "whose who" because of economic circumstances?
Soul journeys are important. But for 2009 might we launch at every opportunity direct community investment strategies and not rely on Bernie Maddof to do it for us.
Might we realize that casting our buckets down where we reside might be better than placing all of our eggs in one DC basket for a few days.
Might we implement the monetary policy experiment that investing locally could be the life line to our economic recovery ?
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