New Orleanians 'Enhanced' By Katrina?
There was an interesting article today on MSNBC regarding how soldiers returning from Iraq as well as many previous wars tend to leave individuals with "feelings of spiritual development, improved relationships, a sense of personal strength, a better appreciation of life and new interests and priorities."
I personally can attest to some of that and then some. There absolutely is a new spirit in this town, one that has come from a shared experience of devastation and loss, but also one that is quickly mutating into one of "us against them" as we feel disregarded by our government and forced to deal with insane insurance companies or the Red Cross or tools such as Michael Brown and Tom Benson.
In fact, this "us against them" was even echoed in a letter to the editor of the Times Picayune today where one New Orleanian declared how Louisiana and in particular South Louisiana should secede from the union and become Saudi Acadiana.
I for one am actually interested in this line of thinking. We could join OPEC and then sell Louisiana's natural resources back to the states and use the gargantuan and obscene profits that the Federal Government now enjoys to rebuild and protect our own people - obviously America doesn't want to do it, so why not.
If the government is disfunctioning and unwilling to take the necessary strides to protect its citizens, isn't it our moral and rightful obligation to try and defend ourselves by whatever means necessary? Given how bankrupt our city and state is now, this may be the only logical step for us to be able to afford to protect ourselves.
And trust me, this 'enhanced' spirit down here and the anger that is brewing out of feelings of neglect and derision may very well lead to some creative, out-of-the-box thinking.
This is a new world down here.
I personally can attest to some of that and then some. There absolutely is a new spirit in this town, one that has come from a shared experience of devastation and loss, but also one that is quickly mutating into one of "us against them" as we feel disregarded by our government and forced to deal with insane insurance companies or the Red Cross or tools such as Michael Brown and Tom Benson.
In fact, this "us against them" was even echoed in a letter to the editor of the Times Picayune today where one New Orleanian declared how Louisiana and in particular South Louisiana should secede from the union and become Saudi Acadiana.
I for one am actually interested in this line of thinking. We could join OPEC and then sell Louisiana's natural resources back to the states and use the gargantuan and obscene profits that the Federal Government now enjoys to rebuild and protect our own people - obviously America doesn't want to do it, so why not.
If the government is disfunctioning and unwilling to take the necessary strides to protect its citizens, isn't it our moral and rightful obligation to try and defend ourselves by whatever means necessary? Given how bankrupt our city and state is now, this may be the only logical step for us to be able to afford to protect ourselves.
And trust me, this 'enhanced' spirit down here and the anger that is brewing out of feelings of neglect and derision may very well lead to some creative, out-of-the-box thinking.
This is a new world down here.
posted by TAG at 11:53 AM
1 Comments:
A lot of the anger and hostility that people are feeling seems to be misdirected towards others here too, though. I think this is leading to the increased speeding, cutting people off, and honking of horns when driving. The same is true in stores - - people will nearly knock you down and are so rude.
You're right - - when I make personal contact with strangers (for example, talking with people in lines) there is a sense of common tragedy. But when that personal contact is lacking I feel the misery is destroying the atmosphere that I cherish here.
I've thought of leaving, but the past is beyond our grasp.
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