Thursday, January 25, 2007
Hate New Orleans? Read this!
In his State of the Union Address on Jan. 23, George W. Bush made not one comment on the still-ongoing effort to rebuild New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. I noted this here yesterday, receiving the following comment in response:
I know!
Lets use taxpayer dollars to rebuild a s--thole that was built below sea level between a lake and a BIG F--KING OCEAN, which all honest observation should be a F--KING SWAMP except for the HUGE PUMPS that keep it dry.
That way, next time there is a hurricane, it can be destroyed again. This way, s--t in New Orleans will always be new.
Wait, I have a better idea. MOVE THE F--K OUT A--HOLE!!!!
As much as I'd like to dismiss that comment as mere heckling (coming as it does from someone who, I'm sad to say, is a regular reader), it unfortunately reflects the attitude that too many Americans have regarding the post-Katrina Big Easy. However these people choose to jeer New Orleanians, it boils down to this: Quit complaining, because you had it coming! After all, New Orleans is a diverse cultural and trading hub and one of America's most valuable resources. Why would anyone want to save that?
This is the United States of America. UNITED. Remember that word? The one everyone used with such abandon after 9/11? The feeling then was this: if one of us is down, then we're all down. Cultural and economic differences were suddenly insignificant, because in that moment we are all Americans. Allies. Friends. Family. Blood. And we knew then that helping our neighbors was the same as helping ourselves.
But New Orleans? That's different.
I don't ever recall a moment after 9/11 where anyone seriously thought New York City didn't deserve to rebuild. I never heard anyone say, "Well, it's their fault for being on the coast at a major port" or, "They had it coming with that giant voodoo statue in the harbor" or, "Maybe they shouldn't have built such a massive business district to attract terrorists in the first place." Can you imagine what the backlash from that would have been?
But New Orleans? That's different.
Football fans aren't off the hook either. Chicago fans had horribly bad press this week for their disgusting behavior at Sunday's Saints-Bears NFC Championship Game. Not only did Bears fans allegedly taunt and threaten visiting Saints fans, but they also sported tasteless signs. "Bears finishing what Katrina started?" "Ride your boat back to New Orleans, Katrina victims?" But, of course, that's just football. Whatever helps your team win, right? Well, consider this: in November, the Bears throttled both the Giants and the Jets at The Meadowlands. No reports ever surfaced of any signs reading, "Bears finishing what the terrorists started." See, that would have been bad taste. Crossing the line. Uncalled for.
But New Orleans? That's different.
California has earthquakes. Arizona has brush fires. Washington has Mt. St. Helens. Utah has nuclear mountains and windstorms that can rock your car off the road. Kansas has tornadoes. Missouri has freak ice storms. Iowa has dust. Hawaii is a volcano. The town of Calama, Chile, has never seen rain. In short, every square inch of the planet Earth has its potential environmental hazards. That does not stop people from living in and loving those places, nor does it earn a rebuke from outsiders whenever natural phenomena does hit. Human decency, you'd think, would never allow that under any circumstance.
But New Orleans? That's different.
Americans have always nurtured their neighbors in times of disaster. Think about the past 20 years: Texan baby fell down a well? Live national coverage. Major earthquake in San Francisco? Outpourings of sympathy. Oil spill in Alaska? Corporate accountability and environmental reform. Hurricane Hugo? Let's rebuild the east coast! Hurricane Andrew? Let's rebuild Florida! Iraq invades Kuwait? We're there! America attacked by Afghan terrorists? Back to Iraq! Whatever trouble we face, be it natural disaster at home or political disaster abroad, count on the United States to be there with a quickness.
So ask yourself: why is New Orleans any different?
(Cross-posted to Daily Kos)
¶ 1:41 AM I know!
Lets use taxpayer dollars to rebuild a s--thole that was built below sea level between a lake and a BIG F--KING OCEAN, which all honest observation should be a F--KING SWAMP except for the HUGE PUMPS that keep it dry.
That way, next time there is a hurricane, it can be destroyed again. This way, s--t in New Orleans will always be new.
Wait, I have a better idea. MOVE THE F--K OUT A--HOLE!!!!
As much as I'd like to dismiss that comment as mere heckling (coming as it does from someone who, I'm sad to say, is a regular reader), it unfortunately reflects the attitude that too many Americans have regarding the post-Katrina Big Easy. However these people choose to jeer New Orleanians, it boils down to this: Quit complaining, because you had it coming! After all, New Orleans is a diverse cultural and trading hub and one of America's most valuable resources. Why would anyone want to save that?
This is the United States of America. UNITED. Remember that word? The one everyone used with such abandon after 9/11? The feeling then was this: if one of us is down, then we're all down. Cultural and economic differences were suddenly insignificant, because in that moment we are all Americans. Allies. Friends. Family. Blood. And we knew then that helping our neighbors was the same as helping ourselves.
But New Orleans? That's different.
I don't ever recall a moment after 9/11 where anyone seriously thought New York City didn't deserve to rebuild. I never heard anyone say, "Well, it's their fault for being on the coast at a major port" or, "They had it coming with that giant voodoo statue in the harbor" or, "Maybe they shouldn't have built such a massive business district to attract terrorists in the first place." Can you imagine what the backlash from that would have been?
But New Orleans? That's different.
Football fans aren't off the hook either. Chicago fans had horribly bad press this week for their disgusting behavior at Sunday's Saints-Bears NFC Championship Game. Not only did Bears fans allegedly taunt and threaten visiting Saints fans, but they also sported tasteless signs. "Bears finishing what Katrina started?" "Ride your boat back to New Orleans, Katrina victims?" But, of course, that's just football. Whatever helps your team win, right? Well, consider this: in November, the Bears throttled both the Giants and the Jets at The Meadowlands. No reports ever surfaced of any signs reading, "Bears finishing what the terrorists started." See, that would have been bad taste. Crossing the line. Uncalled for.
But New Orleans? That's different.
California has earthquakes. Arizona has brush fires. Washington has Mt. St. Helens. Utah has nuclear mountains and windstorms that can rock your car off the road. Kansas has tornadoes. Missouri has freak ice storms. Iowa has dust. Hawaii is a volcano. The town of Calama, Chile, has never seen rain. In short, every square inch of the planet Earth has its potential environmental hazards. That does not stop people from living in and loving those places, nor does it earn a rebuke from outsiders whenever natural phenomena does hit. Human decency, you'd think, would never allow that under any circumstance.
But New Orleans? That's different.
Americans have always nurtured their neighbors in times of disaster. Think about the past 20 years: Texan baby fell down a well? Live national coverage. Major earthquake in San Francisco? Outpourings of sympathy. Oil spill in Alaska? Corporate accountability and environmental reform. Hurricane Hugo? Let's rebuild the east coast! Hurricane Andrew? Let's rebuild Florida! Iraq invades Kuwait? We're there! America attacked by Afghan terrorists? Back to Iraq! Whatever trouble we face, be it natural disaster at home or political disaster abroad, count on the United States to be there with a quickness.
So ask yourself: why is New Orleans any different?
(Cross-posted to Daily Kos)
Comments:
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Yeah, maybe Louisiana's citizens should be tighter with their money next time there's a disaster in Florida or some other part of the country.
Glad you took that comment to task. It is porbably also worth noting that in these pugnacious diatribes against New Orleans, St. Bernard parish, Slidell, Southern Mississippi etc. are never mentioned. St. Bernard is at the same elevation as the Lower 9, yet no one has debated or protracted their right to return. Towns in Mississippi were wiped out by the hurricane (and not the levees) but there was no public outcry against rebuilding them (likewise any other gulf resort town damaged in the past).
The hatred of New Orleans evident in the singular denial of the city's right to exist. I wonder what this hatred is really towards. The ignorance of the city's cultural and economic importance is pretty shocking. Fortunately culture will persist, but perhaps if the port had not reopened, and if the refineries weren't back online, the tune would be different.
Also worth considering: what is the opinion of New Orleans and its recovery outside of the U.S? There were of course people from all over the globe living in NOLA before the storm...plus the constant tourism...and the foreign countries that sought to help after Katrina...I just wonder if any foreign people are more hostile to rebuilding New Orleans than our fellow Americans.
The hatred of New Orleans evident in the singular denial of the city's right to exist. I wonder what this hatred is really towards. The ignorance of the city's cultural and economic importance is pretty shocking. Fortunately culture will persist, but perhaps if the port had not reopened, and if the refineries weren't back online, the tune would be different.
Also worth considering: what is the opinion of New Orleans and its recovery outside of the U.S? There were of course people from all over the globe living in NOLA before the storm...plus the constant tourism...and the foreign countries that sought to help after Katrina...I just wonder if any foreign people are more hostile to rebuilding New Orleans than our fellow Americans.
# posted by 
: 10:49 AM
: 10:49 AM
Let's assume for a moment that Al Gore, the genius climatologist, is right about global warming. Millions of people around the world are going to have to move to higher ground, including all of the Mississippi valley which New Orleans is a part. Any good Bush hater should take this as gospel, so why sink billions of dollars in a place that will, with 100% certainty, be under water within a short time?
The money should be spent to relocate all of New Orleans and all of Florida, the Sacramento river valley, etc. Look at a map of North America 200,000 years ago and you will see what our continent will look like according to Al Gore. Those foolish natives did not heed the global warming warning back then and kept burning campfires.
The money should be spent to relocate all of New Orleans and all of Florida, the Sacramento river valley, etc. Look at a map of North America 200,000 years ago and you will see what our continent will look like according to Al Gore. Those foolish natives did not heed the global warming warning back then and kept burning campfires.
Al Gore's assertions about global warming are about prevention. Though we can't prevent every contributor to global warming (such as volcanoes), we can measure man-made factors and take steps to curb them.
We can apply this thinking to the American coastline as well. New Orleans can be protected by levees and wetland barriers; Katrina proved that these barriers can and do work, PROVIDED they aren't ruined by engineering incompetence or excessive oil drilling. Correct those factors, and Louisiana's coast can be saved.
Gore is not aiming to be pointlessly alarmist. And neither should anyone else who wants to solve truly resolvable issues.
We can apply this thinking to the American coastline as well. New Orleans can be protected by levees and wetland barriers; Katrina proved that these barriers can and do work, PROVIDED they aren't ruined by engineering incompetence or excessive oil drilling. Correct those factors, and Louisiana's coast can be saved.
Gore is not aiming to be pointlessly alarmist. And neither should anyone else who wants to solve truly resolvable issues.
In the history of the world, there have been many episodes of global warming. One thing they all have in common is the weakening of the Earth's magnetic field and occur over short (a matter of years) time periods. The evidence is in the alignment of iron within the minerals (rocks) formed during these episodes.
There is evidence of weakening of today's magnetic field, which can be measured. The magnetic field keeps our atmosphere from being pushed away by solar winds, but as the field weakens, we loose atmosphere. This causes more solar radiation absorption which in turn heats things up.
We may even be headed toward a magnetic field pole reversal, which is preceded by a weakening and nearly non-existent magnetic field. I think our resources should be spent on trying to lessen impact of the possibly catastrophic events that may accompany the pole reversal. It is measurable fact that this has happened several times in the history of our planet.
Don't get me wrong, we need to stop burning fossil fuels simply because it will improve the quality of the air we breath. But, we can not put all our efforts and money into one theory that has in no way been proven or even agreed upon by the scientific community. Like Al Gore, I am not a scientist, but I can read. There are other ideas out there that make a lot more sense that can be quantitatively measured and compared to historical records within the Earth itself.
I know it's hard to fathom for ego driven humans, but maybe this is not a "truly resolvable issue".
There is evidence of weakening of today's magnetic field, which can be measured. The magnetic field keeps our atmosphere from being pushed away by solar winds, but as the field weakens, we loose atmosphere. This causes more solar radiation absorption which in turn heats things up.
We may even be headed toward a magnetic field pole reversal, which is preceded by a weakening and nearly non-existent magnetic field. I think our resources should be spent on trying to lessen impact of the possibly catastrophic events that may accompany the pole reversal. It is measurable fact that this has happened several times in the history of our planet.
Don't get me wrong, we need to stop burning fossil fuels simply because it will improve the quality of the air we breath. But, we can not put all our efforts and money into one theory that has in no way been proven or even agreed upon by the scientific community. Like Al Gore, I am not a scientist, but I can read. There are other ideas out there that make a lot more sense that can be quantitatively measured and compared to historical records within the Earth itself.
I know it's hard to fathom for ego driven humans, but maybe this is not a "truly resolvable issue".
"That way, next time there is a hurricane, it can be destroyed again. This way, s--t in New Orleans will always be new."
Yes, all this having to rebuild New Orleans every three hundred years is much too much trouble for everyone. I must say, though, one nice thing about living in New Orleans is that everything is so darned new.
I believe that if you trace the hateful attitude of many Americans toward New Orleans, you will find that it comes from racism. All those TV pictures of poor black Americans don't fit our national narrative. Look how much easier it is to scapegoat New Orleans than to address the inequities in our society. No matter what happens to San Francisco, there will never be the same level of venom because the people climbing out of the rubble of that city will be white.
Yes, all this having to rebuild New Orleans every three hundred years is much too much trouble for everyone. I must say, though, one nice thing about living in New Orleans is that everything is so darned new.
I believe that if you trace the hateful attitude of many Americans toward New Orleans, you will find that it comes from racism. All those TV pictures of poor black Americans don't fit our national narrative. Look how much easier it is to scapegoat New Orleans than to address the inequities in our society. No matter what happens to San Francisco, there will never be the same level of venom because the people climbing out of the rubble of that city will be white.
The natural state of New Orleans, you know, with the pumps off, is swamp.
Katrina was nature reclaiming her ocean.
The other places you mentioned are naturally and normally inhabitable land.
that is how it is different. asshole.
Katrina was nature reclaiming her ocean.
The other places you mentioned are naturally and normally inhabitable land.
that is how it is different. asshole.
Um, you know, I live in New Orleans, in a house on a slab, and the natural state of my yard with the pumps off is, you know, high and dry. It's called a natural levee, not a swamp. It's been inhabitable for over 5,000 years. And it's called the Gulf of Mexico, dickhead, not the ocean.
I'm sure that beerman will lead us all to whatever paradise he calls home. Since it's clearly a superior place and all.
I would certainly hope not! Michael seems like a stand-up kind of guy. And certainly not one to disparage New Orleans.
I don't think that Beerman or the other person who commented have ever been to New Orleans. Those who have would never want to see the architectural jewel that is this city destroyed. Everyone but the lunatic fringe feels that way. There was no need for this disaster to have happened on this scale. The means of avoiding it were well known and are now being undertaken. It is a shame that it took something like this to awaken the corrupt or incompetent bureaucracies whose job it was to ensure the integrity of the flood control system here. We have lost a lot but we will be back whether the President mentions us or not. We will come back in spite of the governments, if not because of them. We appreciate the enormous outpouring of help and sympathy from 99% of the rest of the "united" states and its people but ultimately, we know it is up to ourselves to make sure the problem is fixed this time and to preserve this jewel that we have been allowed to guard for another generation at least ...
# posted by : 8:05 AM
: 8:05 AM
"Lets use taxpayer dollars to rebuild a s--thole that was built below sea level between a lake and a BIG F--KING OCEAN"
No, I think it's a MUCH better idea to rebuild a country that's between oil fields and terrorists. That way the insurgents can blow up what we spent billions building (I won't go into loss of American servicemen's lives) and everything there can always be new.
Let's send 20K more troops over there licketysplit. (Although 20K troops sent to New Orleans could get the levees built in short order, but alas they'd be under the supervision of the Corps of Engineers not the Dutch. Too bad.)
This is all making perfect sense to me. What is WRONG with those people in New Orleans?
No, I think it's a MUCH better idea to rebuild a country that's between oil fields and terrorists. That way the insurgents can blow up what we spent billions building (I won't go into loss of American servicemen's lives) and everything there can always be new.
Let's send 20K more troops over there licketysplit. (Although 20K troops sent to New Orleans could get the levees built in short order, but alas they'd be under the supervision of the Corps of Engineers not the Dutch. Too bad.)
This is all making perfect sense to me. What is WRONG with those people in New Orleans?
Why does it have to be something wrong with the people in New Orleans??? I didn't grow up here, but I love it here, I wouldn't give up the ability to call this place home for anything in the world.
Why rebuild New Orleans people ask???
Because it is one of your main import/export centers in this country of the United States that you call home. Because New Orleans is a huge part of the reason that the United States of America is one of the richest countries in the world. The reason that people choose to call it home. And because it is a cultural center. It has so much history, especially do much history that defines how the United States of America became what it is today!!!
Why would someone even debate whether to rebuild this city or not? And because people call it home. If something were to happen to the place that you called home, you would want it to be rebuilt also. If some kind of disaster were to come and destroy your home, the place you live, everything that you know, I promise, you would still go back, because its your home, your heart is there. Anyone not from here, that didn't have to go through losing everything that they know and losing touch with everyone, not knowing the state of your things, not knowing what was going to happen next in your future. You people only know what you have seen in the news. So bug off!
Why rebuild New Orleans people ask???
Because it is one of your main import/export centers in this country of the United States that you call home. Because New Orleans is a huge part of the reason that the United States of America is one of the richest countries in the world. The reason that people choose to call it home. And because it is a cultural center. It has so much history, especially do much history that defines how the United States of America became what it is today!!!
Why would someone even debate whether to rebuild this city or not? And because people call it home. If something were to happen to the place that you called home, you would want it to be rebuilt also. If some kind of disaster were to come and destroy your home, the place you live, everything that you know, I promise, you would still go back, because its your home, your heart is there. Anyone not from here, that didn't have to go through losing everything that they know and losing touch with everyone, not knowing the state of your things, not knowing what was going to happen next in your future. You people only know what you have seen in the news. So bug off!
# posted by : 3:37 PM
: 3:37 PM
what can i say, when you're right you are right. You guys are totally right and I was wrong. We do need New Orleans. We need a port. It would guess it takes about 200 people to operate the port. It is totally reasonable to build a dormatory at taxpayer expense to house these people while they travel from their homes to work. I would not mind sponsoring a galley so they can dine as well. Of course, they would need to pay for their meals just as they would if they were not traveling.
I agree whole heartedly with you. Thank you for showing me the errors in my logic. BTW I live in North Dakota.
I agree whole heartedly with you. Thank you for showing me the errors in my logic. BTW I live in North Dakota.
You live in North Dakota? Then you know all about sponging off the federal government.
I hate seeing my tax money used to support you leeches.
I hate seeing my tax money used to support you leeches.
Even if that urban legend WERE true, it still smacks of smugness and racism. It reminds me of an anecdote from one of Rush's books, about a conservative group in Colorado that had a massive bake sale. Supposedly, the sale went so smoothly that no one left even a spot of litter afterwards. Which was good, because trash would have required city sanitation services--Big Government in action! (Presumably, every person there hauled their trash straight to the dump like rugged individuals.)
The Katrina tragedy has been a dream excuse for the intensely hypocritical "do it yourself" crowd.
As for Beerman's solution: it's much like the one proposed in Robocop 2 (Delta City), but dismissed by the mayor as being too fascist. A city is much, much more than the sum of its parts.
The Katrina tragedy has been a dream excuse for the intensely hypocritical "do it yourself" crowd.
As for Beerman's solution: it's much like the one proposed in Robocop 2 (Delta City), but dismissed by the mayor as being too fascist. A city is much, much more than the sum of its parts.
Your are right, Ian, from the moment the levies broke the poor of New Orleans have been the examples of the do it yourself crowd. There was a sickening explosion of post, explaining just how the would survive and grudgingly requested that assistance should be given. So many of them, assumed that the poor owned nothing and the state provided everything, that they knew of nothing but handouts and couldn't survive unless their was someone to guide them. Those that assumed that all of the poor were black or all the black were poor were more put off when the mayor said he wanted New Orleans to remain a chocolate city. I don't know how white New Orleaners felt, but the white conservative blogosphere had to explain how certain chefs were French and the Cajuns origins. To make it clear to the rest of the world that New Orleans is not chocolate. The reason New Orleans is not rebuilt is because it does have too many African roots. The country wants a Disney Land version only for tourist. The port and refineries are not important, that can be spread out to other ports and refineries.
Of course it is popular to blame the Democratic governor for sitting on the money. Bottom line, its racism and partisan politics.
Of course it is popular to blame the Democratic governor for sitting on the money. Bottom line, its racism and partisan politics.
# posted by : 1:37 PM
: 1:37 PM
you said we needed New Orleans for a port. That is fine. You are right. Now you go back and say, ok we need a port but also please rebuild my city too because "a city is more than the sum of its parts"
What is New Orleans?
A port and a bunch of public sex and chicks showing their tits and snatch for a few beads?
Seriously, New Orleans is a shithole. There is no other way to say it.
What is New Orleans?
A port and a bunch of public sex and chicks showing their tits and snatch for a few beads?
Seriously, New Orleans is a shithole. There is no other way to say it.
Has North Dakota forgotten the 1997 flood so quickly? The FEMA "tin bins" and the hundreds of millions spent on new levees for Grand Forks and East Grand Forks?
Oddly, while North Dakota as a whole is facing a massive population-drain crisis, the Grand Forks area is growing.
Oddly, while North Dakota as a whole is facing a massive population-drain crisis, the Grand Forks area is growing.
Beck,
North Dakota, unlike New Orleans, is naturally suitable for inhabitation. Yes, there are some natural disasters anywhere. BUT, the natural state of New Orleans is swamp. The natural state of N. Dakota is dry land.
North Dakota, unlike New Orleans, is naturally suitable for inhabitation. Yes, there are some natural disasters anywhere. BUT, the natural state of New Orleans is swamp. The natural state of N. Dakota is dry land.
Dry land, tundra...
But that would be splitting hairs, no?
And I resent the fact that my tax money bailed out those idiots that live there. They should have known better.
But that would be splitting hairs, no?
And I resent the fact that my tax money bailed out those idiots that live there. They should have known better.
Beerman, have you ever actually been to a swamp? It's much more than a hot, steamy lake with plants in it. Most of south Louisiana is swamp land, though I'd challenge you to notice that when driving through here. Most of the state is at (or slightly above) sea level, as are parts of New Orleans.
New Orleans was a hot spot long before the pumps ever showed up. Indeed, much of the catastrophe caused by Katrina was due to man-made failures, which were easily correctable if the government had ever given a damn.
Becky and Ashley are right: North Dakota has its perils just like everywhere else. And I find it sad that, even in times of need and frustration, Louisianians are still more open to helping other states in times of need than the rest of the country wants to help them. If something happened again in North Dakota, you'd know that we'd put all grudges aside. Too bad that it doesn't always seem to work the other way.
New Orleans was a hot spot long before the pumps ever showed up. Indeed, much of the catastrophe caused by Katrina was due to man-made failures, which were easily correctable if the government had ever given a damn.
Becky and Ashley are right: North Dakota has its perils just like everywhere else. And I find it sad that, even in times of need and frustration, Louisianians are still more open to helping other states in times of need than the rest of the country wants to help them. If something happened again in North Dakota, you'd know that we'd put all grudges aside. Too bad that it doesn't always seem to work the other way.
New Super Saint Video.
Check it out!
(and of course posting is also appreciated).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbNMsI011ls&eurl=
Check it out!
(and of course posting is also appreciated).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbNMsI011ls&eurl=
"What is New Orleans?
A port and a bunch of public sex and chicks showing their tits and snatch for a few beads?
Seriously, New Orleans is a shithole. There is no other way to say it."
How dare you? How dare you even call New Orleans a "shithole"? There is so much more to this city than you could even imagine.
I have lived in New Orleans for my entire life, born and raised. I am not a drunk girl showing off my body to equally drunken frat boys, nor is that what New Orleans is. You're describing one street and a day and in saying that all of New Orleans is like this, I have to wonder how stereotypical your beliefs really are. Have you even been here? I mean, have you been HERE, past Bourbon Street? Do you know what it's like? It's a huge economic and cultural mecca that should not be ignored or allowed to die out. There are people here, past what America sees. People like me, my family, my community. People who are kind and considerate, people like those anywhere else, people who do not deserve to be looked over.
So New Orleans is a swamp city. We are below sea level. How would you feel if your entire life was uprooted and your house, possessions, everything destroyed? If you were left with only the clothing on your back or the mere junk you shoved in a suitcase for what you believed would be a weekend trip to Tennessee or wherever you chose to evacuate? When you see your home and city destroyed, you don't care about sea levels or swamps or anything, you just want your life to return to what it was. You want, need the levees to save your home. FEMA does nothing. Wouldn't you ask the country for assistance? Wouldn't you ask anyone for assistance, at this point?
I'm terribly sorry that this response has come so late, but I feel that I have to say something to stand up for my city that I love.
A port and a bunch of public sex and chicks showing their tits and snatch for a few beads?
Seriously, New Orleans is a shithole. There is no other way to say it."
How dare you? How dare you even call New Orleans a "shithole"? There is so much more to this city than you could even imagine.
I have lived in New Orleans for my entire life, born and raised. I am not a drunk girl showing off my body to equally drunken frat boys, nor is that what New Orleans is. You're describing one street and a day and in saying that all of New Orleans is like this, I have to wonder how stereotypical your beliefs really are. Have you even been here? I mean, have you been HERE, past Bourbon Street? Do you know what it's like? It's a huge economic and cultural mecca that should not be ignored or allowed to die out. There are people here, past what America sees. People like me, my family, my community. People who are kind and considerate, people like those anywhere else, people who do not deserve to be looked over.
So New Orleans is a swamp city. We are below sea level. How would you feel if your entire life was uprooted and your house, possessions, everything destroyed? If you were left with only the clothing on your back or the mere junk you shoved in a suitcase for what you believed would be a weekend trip to Tennessee or wherever you chose to evacuate? When you see your home and city destroyed, you don't care about sea levels or swamps or anything, you just want your life to return to what it was. You want, need the levees to save your home. FEMA does nothing. Wouldn't you ask the country for assistance? Wouldn't you ask anyone for assistance, at this point?
I'm terribly sorry that this response has come so late, but I feel that I have to say something to stand up for my city that I love.
# posted by : 2:03 PM
: 2:03 PM
BAM!!! Nicely said. I've lived in Seattle for most of my life, but New Orleans was my home till I was 12. I've never experienced such a wonderful place to live like New Orleans. I laugh at the people who speak poorly of it considering where they're living. BORING!!!! That's where most of them live. Outside people will never understand what it means to live in New Orleans. Unfortunately they think it's what they see on girls gone wild, or what their drunk college buddy told them about. The only trash they have in New Orleans is the tourist trash that shows up on spring break and summer vacation. They are the ones doing the tasteless things not the people of New Orleans. I'm going back home after 21 years of Seattle. You could say I'm getting out of Seattle before the big earthquake comes and wipes out the Northwest, or the volcanoes erupt and make the city unlivable. I'm thinking ahead because if the politicians start thinking the same way as some of these a--holes, Seattle will never be rebuilt. I'm looking forward to living in a city where the people know their neighbors like family and everyone takes the time out of their day to say hi and ask you how your family is doing. New Orleans is simply an unbelievable place to live, and to tell the truth I'm glad the rest of America doesn't get it. If they did it would impact NOLA in a negative way.
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# posted by : 11:40 PM
: 11:40 PM<< Home
