Wednesday Wrap Up

Might have time for a post or two tomorrow before joining the family for dinner, but I'll finish up today on a high note, of sorts. First, thanks to No Katrina, I came across Murph's link to a NY Times op-ed by NOLA resident and former Murph prof John Biguenet that really captures the bittersweet season in South Louisiana--an additional hat tip goes to World Class New Orleans. I'm really need to update my blogroll--soon:

The mood here has turned angry in the last month, as we've begun to lose hope we will get the hurricane protection the future of the city depends on. On the street, the sense of betrayal boils over into empty talk of closing our oil and gas pipelines, which supply much of the nation's needs: "They won't build us levees that work? Then let them freeze in the dark."

Even the reliably conservative Times-Picayune ran a heated front-page editorial on Sunday, blasting the federal response to a disaster caused by one of its own agencies. Noting the false assurances we received that our levees would protect us in a Category 3 storm - all that was left of a weakened Hurricane Katrina by the time it sideswiped the city on Aug. 29 - the paper exhorted its readers to flood Washington with demands for protection against Category 5 storms: "Flood them with mail the way we were flooded by Katrina."

Why are we all so angry? An afternoon working beside me would make that clear. Like many of my fellow New Orleanians, I've spent much of every day for the last two months gutting my flooded house: dragging soggy furniture and reeking appliances to the curb, ripping out moldy walls, throwing my children's mementoes on a huge trash heap of ruined clothing and family photos and books and artwork.

On my way every day to where we used to live, I drive through a city I love that lies in ruins. The park that lines one side of a boulevard I follow home is now a solid wall of debris 20 feet high. On the other side of the street, desolate houses destroyed by the flood gape back with shattered windows, open doors and ragged holes in rooftops kicked out by families trapped in their attics when the water rose. Every single thing - wrecked houses, abandoned cars, even the people - everything is covered in a pall of gray dust, as if all the color of this once vibrant city has been leached out.

Exactly. Maybe I'm not as creative as Biguenet, but it bears repeating...and repeating: protecting the Gulf Coast, which includes, but is not limited to New Orleans, is of vital NATIONAL interest. So, it should be a NATIONAL project. Duh.

Oyster found a report about Charles Melancon asking for a March on Washington to emphasize the necessity of action. I'll have to see about the march itself, but I'll damn well sign the petition he wants to circulate. I'll also doff my figurative hat to YRHT for something he wrote in a previous post about the possibility of NOLA focusing even more on gambling as a tourist draw/revenue source...I put my own .002 cents worth in a comment--how would gambling affect the music and restaurant scene--drawing this astute reply:

Your concern about casinos "bottling up" their guests inside the hotels is definitely valid. I would only hope that visitors would insist on walking and dining in the Quarter if they've come to New Orleans. Some young maniacs who had a good night at the craps table would also insist on going to bars outside the hotels (and other entertainment spots where the burdens of disposable income can be quickly alleviated).

the burdens of disposable income can be quickly alleviated...I like that. Some enterprising businessperson could turn it into a slogan.

Anyway...until tomorrow, and, if I don't manage to post anything, I sincerely hope you and yours have a wonderful holiday, wherever you happen to be.

Later.