Couldn't have said it better myself. We really do need tourists right now. I know I've gone out of my way to be helpful to whatever tourists I've run into. For anyone who has ever thought of spending a little time in New Orleans, or for those who have been here before, now is the time to return. You'll find a safe city, full of die-hard locals determined to bring it back... all extremely apprieciative of you coming down to spend a little money and help out the city. Stay in a hotel, eat at a few restaurants, and stay out a little too late... all of which will greatly help us out. Right now, a walk through the French Quarter can be done in solitude... taking in the sounds and admiring the archietecture without interference. And of course we can't forget the Garden District. It's really an experience. These last 7 months have brought many locals back to the Quarter to rediscover it, and reconnect with our past... a past that for many, was shaped by our ancestors. It's really a great time to be here for a visitor, and your presence will not go unnoticed and will be greatly apprieciated.
Reality Living In A Disaster Zone...
Living in the United States is a great thing and being from New Orleans is one of the best things I could ask for..I was born here, and I had/have no choice in the matter, but, this is where I'm from on this planet. I've always appreciated being from here..it's different. We know it and people that visit here know it. We have a strange mix of corporate America in this city, wealth, and we have poverty and true voodoo. We have 24 hour bars, Mardi Gras, the largest Jazzfest on the planet, the biggest gay celebration in America at Labor Day, we are the home of boiled crawfish, and blackened food. Yeah, it's all cool and good, but, things have been weird down here. We have people calling for our damnation because we live below sea level..that makes us feel weird. Our representatives (national and state) continuously have to treck to Washington to ask for help (which is humbling and embarrassing for our folk down here--but, we truly don't have the resources to deal with the mammoth size of this tragedy..we are in America. The layout of it all calls for us to go the Federal Government for all of us with an event this size). I have friends and family that have truly lost it all...everything they have ever owned (including my parents). Yeah, my Mom frantically packed all of her European art collection over the last 30 years and her wedding and family photos in 6 hours before she left), but, everything else is completely gone on both floors of my parents house. I drive around and see people trying to keep their dignity and planting shrubbery around their FEMA trailors parked in their front yards. It's all very hard to take and it's humbling and confusing that many in the rest of the US really have no idea what's going on down here, while they spend leisure time doing the things we USED to do....my point? It gets tiring and exhausting, but, we continue to keep our heads high...I know I do. But, it's a lot longer than any of us thought it would be. It's harder than many of you realize. Yeah, we have our skyscrapers coming and, truly, our economy looks awesome for the future. We'll be fine...likely better than we were before. But, it hurts down here right now. It's taking a long time. When you hear people saying we need help and support...it really is the truth. If you have any doubts...come down here. I'll be obliged to walk you down the sidewalk of my parents' street. Everyone has pride in their city...we do too down here in New Orleans. Come see us...that's what we'd like more than anything right now. Be a tourist. It will put a smile on our face and our greatest asset has always been, our hospitality. Maybe we miss giving that to others....
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I'm sorry, but this schtick is getting old. Quit with the guilt trips, the entitlement, the pity party.
You think you're the only region of this planet going through hardships? The only region in this country?? No, you're not. Look at all the homes and families that have lost everything the last week with those tornadoes.
Yet, with all that, with the hurricane ravaged region and the tornadoes ravaged regions and the flood ravaged regions all that is heaven compared to what other people in other countries and other regions around the world go through on a daily basis.
So please, cut the “please feel sorry for us” act and get moving with the world again, because whether you want to believe it or not the world never stopped on August 31, 2005.
And having to ask the government for money is humbling? Why? Did you actually except them to just throw hundreds of billions upon hundreds of billions of dollars your way? Just like that.
What should be humbling is looking outside your own exsistance and seeing how other people have to live.
You think you're the only region of this planet going through hardships? The only region in this country?? No, you're not. Look at all the homes and families that have lost everything the last week with those tornadoes.
Yet, with all that, with the hurricane ravaged region and the tornadoes ravaged regions and the flood ravaged regions all that is heaven compared to what other people in other countries and other regions around the world go through on a daily basis.
So please, cut the “please feel sorry for us” act and get moving with the world again, because whether you want to believe it or not the world never stopped on August 31, 2005.
And having to ask the government for money is humbling? Why? Did you actually except them to just throw hundreds of billions upon hundreds of billions of dollars your way? Just like that.
What should be humbling is looking outside your own exsistance and seeing how other people have to live.
You obviously have no understanding of what has taken place down here. I'm not mad at you for it... ignorance of the facts will bring about responses like that. From my understanding, he was just encouraging people to visit, and that's what I reiterated in my post... certainly a worthy cause with businesses struggling in a tourist economy. Just try not to embarrass yourself on a public forum.
While I agree with most of what you just said, you need to keep in mind that this is an entire city that is in a depressed state, not just two or three houses in a cornfield. Also keep in mind that the point of his post was not for us to feel sorry but for us to visit and give them a sense of normalcy. I wouldnt mind visiting New Orleans myself, I have a cousin from down there.Marjorie Fair said:I'm sorry, but this schtick is getting old. Quit with the guilt trips, the entitlement, the pity party.
You think you're the only region of this planet going through hardships? The only region in this country?? No, you're not. Look at all the homes and families that have lost everything the last week with those tornadoes.
Yet, with all that, with the hurricane ravaged region and the tornadoes ravaged regions and the flood ravaged regions all that is heaven compared to what other people in other countries and other regions around the world go through on a daily basis.
So please, cut the “please feel sorry for us” act and get moving with the world again, because whether you want to believe it or not the world never stopped on August 31, 2005.
And having to ask the government for money is humbling? Why? Did you actually except them to just throw hundreds of billions upon hundreds of billions of dollars your way? Just like that.
What should be humbling is looking outside your own exsistance and seeing how other people have to live.
hopefully i can make it down soon.
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..Nevermind...not worth it!
Sean, I have done my part, in the form of several small donations, and I am looking forward to visiting NO some day. Certainly, I am not waiting for the situation in your city to improve before I head down there. However, I do need to wait for my financial situation to get better before I plan such trip.
To show you how much I understand your frustration, allow me to bring my hometown (Kalamata, GREECE) in the discussion. Back in 1986 the city was almost leveled by 2 big earthquakes. It lost 80% of its population - only a few people got killed - and took MANY years before it reached the pre-earthquake numbers. As of today, the scars are still visible in the city, and not just things you can see and touch. It really did hurt me to view images of the great looking city of Kalamata after the disaster hit. Anyway, people got back together and rebuilt, and today Kalamata is slowly returning to where it should have been. Still not there, after 20 years, but life goes on.
Likewise, NO, although a MUCH bigger city than my hometown, will pull a miracle. It is not just Feds and people that have to help... We need New Orlean's corporate world to lean on the daily challenges that residents of NO are facing and make sure that they do not leave in favor of another place. Hey, if a Trump Tower is under way, I am sure things will get better sooner than later - in terms of the city's financial resources. As for the poverty, I strongly believe that only after Katrina people realized the magnitude of the problem. Up until then - and this is only my opinion - most people ignored the social barriers between well-off residents and poor ones. We can only hope that the situation improves at a faster pace than expected.
To show you how much I understand your frustration, allow me to bring my hometown (Kalamata, GREECE) in the discussion. Back in 1986 the city was almost leveled by 2 big earthquakes. It lost 80% of its population - only a few people got killed - and took MANY years before it reached the pre-earthquake numbers. As of today, the scars are still visible in the city, and not just things you can see and touch. It really did hurt me to view images of the great looking city of Kalamata after the disaster hit. Anyway, people got back together and rebuilt, and today Kalamata is slowly returning to where it should have been. Still not there, after 20 years, but life goes on.
Likewise, NO, although a MUCH bigger city than my hometown, will pull a miracle. It is not just Feds and people that have to help... We need New Orlean's corporate world to lean on the daily challenges that residents of NO are facing and make sure that they do not leave in favor of another place. Hey, if a Trump Tower is under way, I am sure things will get better sooner than later - in terms of the city's financial resources. As for the poverty, I strongly believe that only after Katrina people realized the magnitude of the problem. Up until then - and this is only my opinion - most people ignored the social barriers between well-off residents and poor ones. We can only hope that the situation improves at a faster pace than expected.
I think the most upsetting thing is how many people died in New Orleans (over 1100), and there are over 1000 still missing. We're making it, and like I said we hold our heads high, but, it is difficult. It's kinda sad for someone to throw the tornadoes at us..that's uncalled for...I gave the Red Cross $500.00 yesterday on their behalf. I don't normally publicize my private contributions, but, false accusations on this thread directed at me in a straightforward way call for me to let this particular contribution be known. But, we do thank everyone for their support, thoughts, and prayers. Without you guys, it would be all that more difficult.
Even though this thread went ugly real quick, I have to say one more thing. The people of this country have really helped us in many ways. One thing is for sure, this country has some really great people... donating money, time and resources to help us out. For all of the problems our government has had, we'll never forget that it's the people of our country that have come through for us, and continue to do so. Thanks for that.
And Sean, you're going through what I went through a month or so ago. It catches up with you, and you get depressed. But, all we can do is pick OURSELVES up by our bootstraps and get to work. It's happening, and it will continue.
And Sean, you're going through what I went through a month or so ago. It catches up with you, and you get depressed. But, all we can do is pick OURSELVES up by our bootstraps and get to work. It's happening, and it will continue.
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