New Orleans is a sad place to be
I decided to wait a while before posting about New Orleans. There’s simply a wealth of stuff already out there on CNN, Foxnews, Drudge, and pretty much every other press agency in existance. I think I waited out of shock. I still can’t believe this has happened. I grew up in Louisiana and knowing a hurricane was coming was usually not a big deal–they ALWAYS came. I have many connections to people in New Orleans and the stories make me sad.
One buddy of mine from college had just bought a house in Metairie–That’s between New Orleans and Lake Pontchartrain. He doesn’t even know the status of his home right now because he had to evacuate and they aren’t letting anyone back in.
Another buddy of mine had to siphon gasoline from another car just to get out. They were stuck down there for a while, and couldn’t get gas anywhere. They were lucky.
I was born and raised in Louisiana, and it holds a special place in my heart. I’ve spent a lot of time in New Orleans and have had some memorable moments there. It saddens me to think it’ll never be the same.
There are many dead. None of my friends are among them, luckily. There are some people out there who blame the government, but this was an act of God–or at least that’s what the insurances companies are calling it. The government in New Orleans knew this was possible, they even predicted it to happen. It doesn’t take a brain surgeon to know that if a city is below the sea level, it’s going to have a bad day–eventually. I grew up wondering when it would happen, knowing it was only a matter of time.
The government is doing a great deal to help. Other countries are pitching in too. Will it be enough? Who can say. All I know is this– Change takes time and time brings change. I just hope we can cram a lot of change in a short time period. I’m ready to see New Orleans again, as a happy place to go.
September 4th, 2005 at 10:17 pm
I have never been to New Orleans… and with the hurricane, I don’t think I ever will. I believe that the people affected by Katrina, will relocate in other places in the country, and that It’ll be decades before New orleans has the population it had before. Its very sad that this happened, and I hope that all of the survivors get back on their feet, and have hope again in their lives.
September 5th, 2005 at 5:54 pm
New Orleans has always been a special place for me, and I now feel the same way I felt after 9-11, maybe even more so.
The city may never be the same again, but at least I’ll remember it as it was when I visited.
That’s something many people in this world will never be able to say.
My home state’s economy was already on the verge of collapse before this hurricane……….and now……….the damage may be irreparable!
What’s really ironic is that none of us paid any mind to Katrina as it passed over South Florida, seeing as how it was only a Category 1 hurricane then.
September 6th, 2005 at 8:09 am
I’ve been maintaining a website for my fraternity brothers in Louisiana. Just a list to know who’s okay, who’s missing, who needs help, etc. Many of their homes, cares, and all of their belongings are destroyed. No one has a working phone. Most of my friends it seems, were able to get out in time. With their lives. That’s it. Nothing else.
September 7th, 2005 at 2:10 pm
has your website helped anyone? I mean if they don’t have access to a phone, what makes you think they’ll have access to the internet?
Many people are helping out… many places are giving free rent and stuff too… anyone in New Orleans looking for a place to stay in the dallas area should go here:
http://www.dallas.craigslist.com
many people are asking for low rent of nothing! So goodluck to anyone looking for a place to stay!
September 7th, 2005 at 2:17 pm
I know this has absolutely nothing to do with New Orleans… but I was just talking about this with my boss…
Why is it that you see people standing with picket signs protesting abortions, and changing women’s minds about having them done, saying that a life is precious… when we have plenty of children in foster care, adoption agencies, and orphanages, where most people don’t give two cents for them?
If life is so precious, why don’t they support the lives that are already here, and protect the children already suffering? Why aren’t they protesting at these places, saying that these children deserve better?
Is it better send a child off to a foster home, or adoption agency, and risk the possibility that they will be raised by the state? Or have these women or teens, give it up and have an abortion?
I can assure you, that the state doesn’t do much for children who don’t have parents.
September 7th, 2005 at 4:22 pm
Wow, I didnt really see a discussion going from New Orleans to Abortion.
Is it better a child to have chance to live? Or be aborted before the child has that choice.
Why do people on death row want to live. Many death row inmates would rather just have life in prison, because when faced with having a life of hell or no life at all, they almost all would choose life.
Needless to say, all children deserve a chance at life, even if it is a life you think is a sad life.
On topic:
It is a sad situation In New Orleans, but it really seems the country is pulling together besides the the poeple playing the race card.
Could we do more - Always, but are people’s compasion showing through - Absolutely.
September 7th, 2005 at 5:08 pm
I love that word… “compasion” it is a beautiful word.
The abortion thing was something that my boss brought up at work… so I had to ask a second opinion.
New Orleans is a sad place to be right now, I am thankful to anyone who is helping out there… I wouldn’t be strong enough to go.
September 7th, 2005 at 8:43 pm
After Hurricane Frances last year, it took FEMA a few days to get to us in South Florida………a mostly white area.
I’ve also done stories about CERT (Community Emergency Response Team Responders) at least a year ago.
You know what they all told me???
After a hurricane, it usually takes rescue and recovery workers at least 3-4 days before they can get to an area affected by a hurricane………..people who stay behind are ON THEIR OWN for that length of time.
But the media and the liberals (one and the same) have to play the race card on this.
Anyone who says Bush is at fault for all those deaths can kiss my pasty white ass.
Read up about LA’s esteemed governor and the New Orleans mayor, and what they could have done to evacuate New Orleans in time, and you’ll see where the blame REALLY lies!
September 7th, 2005 at 10:09 pm
Now… what color is pasty again?
September 7th, 2005 at 11:03 pm
white.
September 8th, 2005 at 7:56 am
Elmer’s glue white
September 8th, 2005 at 10:04 am
Elmer’s glue… thats a pefect picture… of someone’s ass…hmmm
September 9th, 2005 at 2:18 pm
Just reading up on the comments of the last few days… ditto… you have such a knack for mingling ideas that don’t necessarily flow with the current topic….
As for the website, it is not meant to “HELP” the guys without internet. But our fraternity brothers all over the country are calling me and others to find out about those affected. The website is a way for everyone to go one place and find out. Plus, most of my guys actually got out in time. They are in Houston, Dallas, Baton Rouge, Ruston, Chicago, Little Rock, all over. Thanks for the pessimism though. Keepin’ it “real” … I guess.
September 9th, 2005 at 2:32 pm
I may say things without knowing all the facts… but ignorance is just that! You can shoot me for not knowing, so instead.. just explain, and don’t judge.
September 9th, 2005 at 6:38 pm
Hey Guys,
I am in Houma Louisiana. We are about as close as you can get to New Orleans before you hit devastation. Because of my job I work closely with Home Land Security and the OEP directors. I’ve been able to hear and see many cool and sad things from the guys on the front lines. What you see on the news is just a pin hole look. So many more things are happening. I wish I could write more about what I know, but I dont think it would be appropriate.
Some other side info that might be interesting. Within two days all of the rentals in Houma were rented. over 100 houses were sold in a day. I have 4 families from Metarie living in my house. (they helped me move to the place I was buying).
I am worried about Ophelia.
A lot of really bad people doing really bad things stayed in New Orleans to cause trouble. The police did not play around with them.
There are thousands of evacuees that are here in shelters in Acadiana. Many of them are being run totally by local people. The evacuees are very appreciative and I am very proud of my parish and how everyone has pulled together to help. Many of the evacuees have given there city a better name by us getting to know them and see what they are really like and I am sure it is true vice versa.
Sorry for the ramblings. Things are CRAZY and I wanted to put a few things I thought might be interesting.
September 12th, 2005 at 10:04 am
Ditto, I dont think that he was judging you. Just pointing out that you mingled the idea of Hurricane Katrina with abortion.
September 12th, 2005 at 1:02 pm
hehe.. well later he also instant messaged me to say a few other things too… so yes he was judging me… oh well…
I do mingle ideas… but Its fun… most of it isn’t serious.
September 12th, 2005 at 3:04 pm
Ahh, the overly-quick wit/resonse of a 19-year old. I was not judging anyone. Ditto’s choice of words and phrasing sometimes leads me to think she doesn’t necessarily think things through fully before giving a negative response.
ditto writes - “has your website helped anyone? I mean if they don’t have access to a phone, what makes you think they’ll have access to the internet? ”
Seems overly critical to someone doing something to help in a small way.
September 12th, 2005 at 3:25 pm
19 years of experience does not wisdom make!
jimvford, political idealouge he may be, but he is right on to call you on your youth an inmaturity. It is about time someone besides myself call you boys and girls on your youth and in-experience. KIDS! THATS what you are KIDS! Living in the land of Snide.
September 12th, 2005 at 6:05 pm
I am sorry Joey and Jim…. but I am not a “Kid” I am insulted to be called that. When I made that comment Jim… I was kidding… If I were serious.. I’m sure I would have gone into greater detail about it. Plus if I were serious… then when you instant messaged me I would have said siomething.
Also… if I was trying to be insulting… I wouldn’t have finished that comment with all of this… after i said that… I also told people about another website that was offering housing… so why would I make such a horrible comment and then add another website in there?
here is the whole comment:
“# ditto50997 Says:
>Wednesday 07 September, 02:10:25 PM
has your website helped anyone? I mean if they don’t have access to a phone, what makes you think they’ll have access to the internet?
Many people are helping out… many places are giving free rent and stuff too… anyone in New Orleans looking for a place to stay in the dallas area should go here:
http://www.dallas.craigslist.com
many people are asking for low rent of nothing! So goodluck to anyone looking for a place to stay!”
After I said that… I said… “Many people are helping out…” such as you are helping out… and so are many others…
So i am sorry Jim is I offended you, I was kidding… I am ignorant, but so is everyone else, I do make unthoughtful comments, and I apologise for those too. So Basically I am sorry. However, I am not the only person to make such comments on this site!
BTW… what is your defination of Inmaturity?
September 12th, 2005 at 6:07 pm
also… its spelt immature.
September 12th, 2005 at 9:34 pm
See? Bewick isn’t dead. Neither is BEEwick
September 12th, 2005 at 9:57 pm
I doubted it for a second… he just causes more and more problems.
September 13th, 2005 at 8:22 am
I didnt call you a kid did I? I am sorry if I did.
I believe Beewick did, but heck he, she, it always does that.
September 13th, 2005 at 10:23 am
Joey no you didn’t call me a kid… I put the wrong name… I was just reading your comment after that… and I still had your name in my head thats all. Beewick is a joke…!
September 13th, 2005 at 11:22 am
Yes, Beewick is a joke.
September 13th, 2005 at 2:56 pm
Bewick swore he’d never post on here again.
Guess his word doesn’t count for much.
September 13th, 2005 at 3:21 pm
BjEoEsWhImCK, is just BEEWICK with some help, right?
September 23rd, 2005 at 12:26 pm
Things are perking up for New Orleans now.
September 23rd, 2005 at 12:27 pm
Not anymore though with Hurricane Rita threatning all the hard work thats been helping out the city.