Yeah, NOLA is still messed up in the low lying areas, but the parts with higher elevations are in much better shape. Unfortunately, the poorest lived int he low lying areas, and the weathiest lived in the higher areas.
Oddly enough, I was in NOLA during the Librarians Conf mentioned in that article, and saw how happy the city was to finally have a conference back in town. That's the first and only one they have had there since Katrina. I bought one of the "FEMA Evac plan - Run Bitch Run" shirts, and drove past the old 9th ward area on the way out of town. I took a few photos fromt he freeway as we drove through: http://flickr.com/photos/cameronc/175859827/in/set-72157594174618361/ However, the comparisons in that article hardly hold water. The devestation in NOLA was unlike anything else the writer used as comparisons (ie: the fires in San Diego destroyed MUCH less property). As the writed points out, people in Cali often have insurance that helps them rebuild, and they do. Californians know there are going to be earthquakes and they prepare for them. People in NOLA knew there was risk of a totally devestating Hurricane, and they weren't prepared. Sure, it's a different story. Even the worst Cali earthquake in recent memory is small in comparison to the devestation seen in NOLA. Perhaps it's better to compare it to the Tsunami, or to the recent massive quakes in Pakistan. These events struck poor communities and were massive, almost unfathomable disasters. They will all take years to rebuild, repair, and recover. So really what is the point of that article? That something is unfair about the fact that people lost their homes? Yes that is unfair, but that's life - not fair. Bad things happen to people, and when really big bad things happen, it take s along time to recover. Also not mentioned in that article was the hope in NOLA. I hung out one night at a local hotel bar and chatted with some locals over beers. They have a great spirit of rebuilding and have no plans to leave. For better or worse, some people will never return and others are going to stay at all costs. All I ask is that people don't act suprised that this disaster happened, and don't act suprised that people are going to be affected for a long time by it, and don't act suprised that life isn't fair to everyone. Shit happens. Bad shit. That's life. -Cameron On 7/5/06, Dana Tierney <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Flooded and forgotten > Louisiana is still devastated, and its people -- black and white, rich and > poor -- feel like the rest of the country doesn't care. > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Message: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=i:5:210703 Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/threads.cfm/5 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=s:5 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=89.70.5 Donations & Support: http://www.houseoffusion.com/tiny.cfm/54
