Everybody in New Orleans: when the cameras are on make sure you're all sulking in the misery of Katrina because if you're not, people are going to judge you for not caring about all those people (like yourself) who have suffered from losing your/their home. Its only been a year! Sulk! I just read Chris Rose's latest column where he quoted a few Letters to the Editor from USA Today about how appalled people are by re-opening the Superdome. Also my good friend now living in Portland OR (hey Me!) pointed out that people around her are aghast that New Orleans actually celebrated the opening of the Superdome and bringing back the Saints when so many homes are not yet fixed. People are clueless when it comes to what's going on in New Orleans. Homes are being fixed, but at a slow rate because there are only so many city inspectors around to okay the work being done on electrical, water and gas lines. So far that, the lack of plumbers, electricians, carpenters and of course money is what is holding everyone back. Did the Superdome's construction stop the building of so many homes? It being a completely different building type, I doubt it. And for those who say the Superdome should have been demolished, just remember if it weren't for that building so many more people probably would have died from Katrina. If you were here in the last year you would have seen the progress of the Superdome, the most distinguishing building of our skyline being repaired day to day. Tiny little people all over the dome on ropes working to repair it for the September 24th game when it would re-open. I would get giddy everytime I passed by, even though I had only been to one Saints game in 33 years. It wasn't about football as much as it was about our city just being itself again- although that football game did put a really big smile on everyone's face. And is that so wrong?
Update: Here's a photo montage from Nola.com for those who need some perspective on what this event meant to this city.
Update: Here's a photo montage from Nola.com for those who need some perspective on what this event meant to this city.
6 Comments:
In New York, my friend from Sydney, had the same attitude about the Saints game. Couldn't comprehend that they put millions into the dome for a sports team while house are destroyed. Lack of perspective on his part. New Orleans needs to show it is bouncing back. The only positive angle the media has portrayed as far as the rebuilding. Mostly the media concentrates on scandels and how slow Nagin is for the rebuilding. I never see any attention brought to the clean up that took place uptown. It took my father a year to rebuild his house and a year for the dome to be rebuilt. Some people do not have money, labor or permits to begin construction. Whenever they do, it will be at least a year from that point. The Superdome is worthy to be rebuilt and showcases much more than NFL football games for the area. Even if people only know the dome for its Saints team, can they not see how much revenue the Saints being in New Orleans generates?? The city needs the Saints and their dome. Its all part of the recovery process.
When it comes to talking about the Saints, portland should stick to stuffing granola in their mouths.
Seeing the beat up dome whenever I got on the I-10 was just so sad.
It was a good thing no matter what people say. Granola eaters and all.
Portland doesn't even have a team. Actually, I could write a looong list of things about Portland to dislike other than granola. But, Butterchurn already knows about that.
Chris Rose sums up my experience to the reaction of people across the states. But I get to live with people practically sneering at me like I'm wearing a white sheet and pointy hat.
Not many places have had a disaster as large as New York or New Orleans to understand that it takes the enjoyment of little things in life to help keep your mind off the big things. New Orleans needs positive morale more than anything and for the United States to be supportive. And if anyone complains, ask him or her--"What have you done to help rebuild New Orleans." or "Have you even been to New Orleans since Katrina?"-- People are idiots.
My white pointy hat is at the dry cleaners. No problems wearing it in New York as long as your south of Harlem.
Butterchurn really needs to make a new comment or something. This issue has become mundane.
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