Driving around, doing errands on Saturday--the usual. Except today, many places you go, everyone is talking about what and where they were 4 years ago when a Hurricane named Katrina passed just east of the City. The suprising thing to me is that people remember the storm, they run pictures of the storm, all the impressive images of a monster storm. But there is little talk about what really caused the damage to the City. The failure, complete and absolute, of people known and unknown to have done their jobs completely and with care. The responsible engineer who knew the 17th Street canal floodwall component wasn't properly installed and signed off on it; the so called environmentalists who didn't completely examine the situation but sued to prevent flood gates at the lakefront, the engineer who built a sea wall that would fail if over topped with water for even a short time. It was the flooding, occasioned by there people that caused the real damage and no one can touch them, no one can call them to account for their abject failure in their duty to their fellow man. D_mn it really p_sses me off.
RANT OVER
When my wife and I were in Louisiana back in July for SBC2009 we were asked multiple times if we were going to go into the City to see the damage from Katrina. Our answer was "no".
We had decided on the way down that we had no desire to drive into an area, where people lost their entire lives, to gawk.
We felt that for us personally it was disrespectful to those that live there.
This is not meant as a criticsm of anyone else..... I fully understand the interest.
That being said........ we coould still see devastated areas as we drove past the city. It's one of the saddest things I've ever seen.....Knowing that people lost everything right there.
I hope the people of N.O. have found some measure of Peace.........
A friend and coworker of mine went too Louisiana with about 100 other friends and church members too help in the rebuilding process for about two months........
He had nothing but good things too say about the people down there..I was asked too go but i had waaaaaaaay too many responsibilitys at the time... Wish i could have gone !
He felt so good about the trip they all went down there again for another two months later that year.......
A friend and coworker of mine went too Louisiana with about 100 other friends and church members too help in the rebuilding process for about two months........
He had nothing but good things too say about the people down there..I was asked too go but i had waaaaaaaay too many responsibilitys at the time... Wish i could have gone !
He felt so good about the trip they all went down there again for another two months later that year.......
The response of so many gifted and generous people has overwhelmed us, I have literally been reduced to tears when you see the unselfish work of people. After the storm, so many people heartlessly said the City was finished, and it would have been without the selfless sacrifice of so many people from around the world--and I really mean around the world. I live here so I obviously believe the City Of New Orleans is a treasure, but when you see all the folks who have contributed in labor and other gifts it leaves you understanding the real meaning of "Love thy neighbor as thyself." We love each and everyone of you that has helped us in any way shape or form. we are New Orleans, we are the City that Care Forgot, the Big Easy, and you, each and every one who have contributed to our recovery are as much a part of this great cultural center as Bienville who founded it.
With deepest affection and thanks,
Saintc.