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DEL.ICIO.USA day in the Big Easy
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Two things that struck us after a day in New Orleans:
—Hurricane or not, broken levees or not, New Orleans remains one of the most publicly political towns in the USA. You see billboards for candidates in neighborhoods that look like they couldn’t support a bumper sticker. And to judge from what we saw at the “Right of Return” rally Saturday, local politics still depends heavily on personal contact.
—Maybe it’s because so many people who had homes are gone now and they stand out in sharper relief. But there seemed to be a striking number of homeless men and women on Canal Street.
It reminded us of a story we heard in Waveland last year about an old woman who pushed a shopping cart around that Mississippi town. Some who knew her thought she would be the storm’s first victim, but the day after the eye of Hurricane Katrina passed over Waveland she was said to be out in the road, doing what she had always done. When you ain’t got nothing, as Bob Dylan sang, you’ve got nothing to lose.
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By RWH
April 3, 2006 03:41 PM | Link to this
New Orleans is one of the most beautiful cities I have visited. There is something about the city; its people and its history that many don’t know about. I deeply appreciate the efforts and the heart of its people. From every walks of life. New Orleans is a warm and unique place regardless of what has taken place there. It draws you back for more even if you desire not to be back. Like all cities; you will see homelessness; crime, poor, this or that…but New Orleans stands on its rich and profound love like I have never seen! Food is great, they are not afraid or skip on their love and friendly hospitality. To them; that what the city have done long before we knew of the city of New Orlean. People; French, Indian, etc bring a lot of happy spirits where many dwell. In time, New Orleans will clean up it streets; redo what has been a sort-eye on its city image; it will bring beauty back where it once stood. They will bring forth a whole New Togetherness for all to see. They are not afraid to move forward and begun a new work among its people. Officially, that beauty, and unique sight has never left; the wind and the sea keeps bring in different stillness that New Orlean residents can see and feel over everyone. Something somehow, we can’t see. I bid New Orleans all of my best well wishes for a speedy recovery and return. “Laissez Les Bons Temps Rouler”