Two words
Though this expression says it more graphically and offensively than most (and I apologize for its graphic nature), it pretty much sums up the reaction from a lot of the country about the decision to deploy the National Guard to help out local police.
This is to be expected, of course, from folks who are tired of being beat over the head with stories about The Latest Thing Wrong With New Orleans. What started out as shock first turned to compassion, then worry, followed by boredom, outrage and now disgust. Admittedly, a least in the eyes of too many, we haven’t helped ourselves. But as each month goes by, I see within our city a hardening of the Us vs. Them mentality that began developing sometime around the end of last year. And, frankly, that’s where I find myself.
Those of us who have opted to stay or to return have no choice. The city remains glued together largely by personal grit and humor, sometimes with a generous dose of alcohol and/or antidepressants. We’ve got to have something of an arrogant attitude to just get up and go accomplish something each day. Even those who live in the relatively (physically) unaffected areas are having to deal with a lack of services, personnel, customers and other frustrations. (example — TBK and I got no mail from Thursday through Monday. Why? Because the (brand new) mail carrier didn’t know the front door has a mail slot instead of a mailBOX. Our mail (including some badly needed checks) simply piled up for four days until somone actually took a closer look. A minor point - but emblematic of the series of minor things that pile up to make living here a daily hassle — even in the “good” areas).
We’ve got to somehow hammer, shape, bend and otherwise fabricate a working city once again. The only way we can do that is to rely on ourselves and our neighbors and to accept what help is being offered by the increasingly few who actually understand our city and the challenges it faces. To get where we’re going, we greatly appreciate the help of the National Guard and the State Police — who are Louisianans and likely have faced their own storm-borne tragedies (or worse). And, fortunately, there are a lot of other folks who have spent a lot of money, time and effort helping us, as visitors, new residents or supporters. Y’all are great.
As for our critics these days, I’ve got a two-word response. And it’s a bit stronger than “shut up.”
It was a mistake to ever send away the National Guard. Has there ever been a U.S. police force asked to patrol large sections of the city that became uninhabited over night?
Whew! Angry person, huh? I guess people think we should have all packed up our toys and left after our guy lost the election. That would have shown them!
Just one more person we have to ignore if we’re going
to put one foot in front of the other.
Paranoid from watching too much mass media
where we are all black, mixed or white without any teeth.
Some one needs to whip these irresponsible journalist
for fueling white supremist.
Laurie
It is so easy to be critical when you are not going through the experience. “This expression” is shocking and ignorant. When expressing an opinion you would hope that someone would either be constructive or at least have their facts in order. More than fueling the white supremacy let’s hope that it does not fuel a Rodney King situation
I’m a New Orleanian at soul. There’s no one and nothing that’s going to keep your city down. Remember that there are lots of people pulling for you. I’m coming down to spend some filthy lucre when the heat lets up a bit. Hey, even if I only spend $3 billion, that’s more than the feds have coughed up so far. Head high and keep walking New Orleans!
Craig, I’ve been working in L.A. (got it right this time :)Laurie) for over a week and will be here till next week. I’ve spoken with tons of folks here, and the misconception is mind bogging. And now with the NG there (thank God) you wouldn’t believe the comments I’ve heard!
The bottom line is, unless you live or have dealings with NO, you can’t truly understand what we are going threw. And like you said, it can be even the little things. Our city, and how it is perceived, is at the mercy of the media. I’m certainly learning that here.
I was talking with this art dealer and he asked me where I was from - guess it’s da yat in me, eh? I told him I was from NOLA and so he then asked me how I did with the storm. I paused at first, should I tell him all that my family has been threw? I wanted to lie and say we did o.k. because I couldn’t tell this story again without breaking down. But here’s the rub. It then goes into questions as to why my family would choose to live in a place that floods etc. You need to move somewhere else, bla bla bla. I can’t get over how critical people are. and cruel.
“This is to be expected, of course, from folks who are tired of being beat over the head with stories about The Latest Thing Wrong With New Orleans.”
These are pretty much what you’d call incompassionate bastards. I really can’t think of a part of the country that isn’t subject to some shape, form or fashion of natural (or sadly, man-made) disaster. And without a doubt, these are the folks that would be the first to whine about not getting the attention, sympathy, support, or government assistance.
Be assured that there are people throughout the country that do care, and are concerned about what’s happening, and thoroughly pissed-off about what’s NOT happening.
Reading the posts here, I’ve developed an appreciation and admiration for the citizens of NOLA and the sheer, unadulterated hell y’all are still going through. Defaced street signs, fires, mountains of garbage, towed cars, flat tires, unrepaired roofs, major and minor annoyances, and above all, apathy from those that should be helping.
I’m headed down there the end if July. I know my heart will break and I’ll shed tears at what I’ll no doubt see. But I’ll also have a good time, will eat some good food, hear some good tunes, talk with some good people, and will attempt to drink in moderation (yeah, right).
A final note…friends of mine think I’ve got a screw loose for wanting to go down there. They don’t understand. I just hope that screw never gets tightened.
Thanks Jim, once again, you’ve nailed it.