I don't understand why so many folks think New Orleans is different and not deserving of the same respect the rest of America expects, why so many who live elsewhere express such vehement, venomous animosity towards New Orleanians and why it's sometimes particularly directed at those who are there doing the work of rebuilding. To keep it in perspective it's important to remember: this is the first time in the history of our nation that a major city has been mandatorily evacuated.
Would we be this embittered watching San Franciscans struggle to put their lives back together should an earthquake devastate that fair city? Are we recommending that we abandon that city, because it is, after all, one of those when, not if scenarios? Are we aspiring to become a country of only risk-free communities and where are we planning to put all of those people we must relocate from our coastlines? Have we made a choice to not hold engineering projects, particularly government engineering projects, to any standard of accountability? When the failure of a federal engineering project costs life and lives, should there be no compensation? Has anyone recommended that seven colleges and universities close their doors or that the families of those who staff these institutions of higher learning not have access to education and healthcare? It's so sad to see that sometimes it's those who profess to be "Christians" or "conservatives" who ultimately harbour the most venomous disgust, when the cause of it all is their own need to consume, to have inexpensive access to oil and gas and to benefit from our nation's ability to move goods both in and out, through New Orleans. That little corner of our country, those wetlands on our ever-changing coast are being sacrificed so that we in the rest of the country can buy and sell goods. We all pay for the loss, but the greatest cost is to our collective spirit, what we have become, discarding those whose community has been sacrificed for our collective gain, denying the knowledge that, there but for the grace of God, go I.
It has been a blessing for me, to know these people, to watch their commitment, every story a little different. I have been inextricably drawn to their cause. I will say what I should have said last night, what I wrote on this blog on September 3, 2005 (h/t Cousin Pat):
For now, the Mississippi Gulf coast is in shreds and New Orleans, Louisiana, among the most graceful, earthy, real, musical, delicious, colorful and unique cities in our great country is shut down, fully evacuating, a certified American urban disaster area. May God be with the souls and families of those who have perished or are lost, those who have left there, those who remain there, and, most especially those who have gone there to help. Every dollar donated, every open home, each welcoming gesture to evacuees, and the safe havens and shelters offered, become part of the healing, but amidst the healing we take time to mourn the loss, the loss of lives, of homes and communities, of hopes and dreams and plans and possessions, of place and culture.
I have no doubt that New Orleans will be rebuilt, that Loyola and Tulane will once again welcome students for a fall semester much like this one that was interrupted just before it began. I don’t believe rebuilding could be stopped, even if some in the federal government want to try. I am certain that spirit of this place that is more than a place will prevail, but, in the meantime, soon she will sit empty, finally, and it breaks my heart.
Thank you, New Orleanians.
Update: Here is the link to Ashley Morris' post that I promised in comments.
No comments:
Post a Comment