Independent Investigative Journalism and Commentary from New Orleans, LA
Monday, June 21, 2010
The Outrage will increase...
...in orders of magnitude now that the white, pristine beaches of the Redneck Riviera are being tarnished. Pictures like these will start to weigh heavily on the blue collar workers who bring their families to the Florida panhandle every summer.
5 comments:
Anonymous
said...
YEa.. who cares if those people in south La. are affected every day for the rest of their lives.... but.. WOW.. the place I go for 3 days a year is oily !!!!!
A lot of the people who demonstrate contempt for Louisiana are mean for those old basic reasons, jealousy (because New Orleans and the Gulf Coast ecosystems are so special), and guilt.
My mother once said, "People never forgive you once they've hurt you. It is easier to forgive them. You can let it go. But if they know they have been taking advantage of you, or that they have wronged you, they will often stay mad at you, because they don't want to face what they did."
However, the contempt did not come from jealousy, the contempt came from a general disgust for our inability to deal with the wreckage in which the Federal Flood left our city. It came from people passing judgment on our city based on images of looting they were watching on CNN and Fox from the comfort of their recliners in their living rooms, thinking they were immune from such a breakdown in societal law. It came from people who are under the delusion that private companies, particularly insurance companies, actually have their best interests in mind. It also came from a deep seated racism and general hatred of the poor.
It did not come from jealousy.
My point being that if the southern coast of Louisiana was the only state affected by this oil spill, I suspect Rep. Barton's sentiments that 20b escrow fund set up last week was a "shakedown" would have played much better with the American public. But seeing oil wash up on areas they are familiar with, instead of areas that are crucial to their economic prosperity but not as visually appealing, creates a larger degree of outrage.
Regardless, I appreciate your support and sentiments. I wish more folks in this country recognized what South Louisiana means to this country and how perilous our situation is right now.
I don’t see that contempt you speak of here in Midamerica. Unless you’re talking about for those that allowed busses to sit empty, when lives could have been saved, or politicians that misused dollars that could have helped your city rebuild and bring people back home. Contempt is putting it mildly when you’re talking about the callousness of a politician, who in the wake of the double whammy delivered to the people of New Orleans, was concerned only with the balance in his campaign fund.
Let the New Madrid Fault produce that big earthquake in the Midwest and I’m sure you’ll see more looting on CNN, and sadly just as many atrocities as we all saw with Katrina. What you might not see is so many with the passion you people have for your city, and the level of determination to return and rebuild. So many of us envy you red-headed stepchildren.
I live in the south, but not near any water. I used to live in Florida so the oil washing ashore there feels like a physical assault. It's almost too hard to think about and yet, I never stop thinking about it.
Rest assured that America loves Louisiana and is praying daily that you are watched over. Know in your hearts that you are loved.
5 comments:
YEa.. who cares if those people in south La. are affected every day for the rest of their lives.... but.. WOW.. the place I go for 3 days a year is oily !!!!!
People outside Louisiana do care.
A lot of the people who demonstrate contempt for Louisiana are mean for those old basic reasons, jealousy (because New Orleans and the Gulf Coast ecosystems are so special), and guilt.
My mother once said, "People never forgive you once they've hurt you. It is easier to forgive them. You can let it go. But if they know they have been taking advantage of you, or that they have wronged you, they will often stay mad at you, because they don't want to face what they did."
Your mother is a wise woman.
However, the contempt did not come from jealousy, the contempt came from a general disgust for our inability to deal with the wreckage in which the Federal Flood left our city. It came from people passing judgment on our city based on images of looting they were watching on CNN and Fox from the comfort of their recliners in their living rooms, thinking they were immune from such a breakdown in societal law. It came from people who are under the delusion that private companies, particularly insurance companies, actually have their best interests in mind. It also came from a deep seated racism and general hatred of the poor.
It did not come from jealousy.
My point being that if the southern coast of Louisiana was the only state affected by this oil spill, I suspect Rep. Barton's sentiments that 20b escrow fund set up last week was a "shakedown" would have played much better with the American public. But seeing oil wash up on areas they are familiar with, instead of areas that are crucial to their economic prosperity but not as visually appealing, creates a larger degree of outrage.
Regardless, I appreciate your support and sentiments. I wish more folks in this country recognized what South Louisiana means to this country and how perilous our situation is right now.
I don’t see that contempt you speak of here in Midamerica. Unless you’re talking about for those that allowed busses to sit empty, when lives could have been saved, or politicians that misused dollars that could have helped your city rebuild and bring people back home. Contempt is putting it mildly when you’re talking about the callousness of a politician, who in the wake of the double whammy delivered to the people of New Orleans, was concerned only with the balance in his campaign fund.
Let the New Madrid Fault produce that big earthquake in the Midwest and I’m sure you’ll see more looting on CNN, and sadly just as many atrocities as we all saw with Katrina. What you might not see is so many with the passion you people have for your city, and the level of determination to return and rebuild. So many of us envy you red-headed stepchildren.
I live in the south, but not near any water. I used to live in Florida so the oil washing ashore there feels like a physical assault. It's almost too hard to think about and yet, I never stop thinking about it.
Rest assured that America loves Louisiana and is praying daily that you are watched over. Know in your hearts that you are loved.
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