Sept. 23 - This was news I didn't expect to awaken to: the future of New Orleans and, worse, actually contemplating that rebuilding it might not be the best course, received another blow today with a new breach in the levee (Texas Braces for Catastrophe; New Orleans Flooding Again.)

I've always had a pet theory that inviting the newly-American inhabitants of the city to join us in fighting the British - and beating the Recoats soundly - brought New Orleans and Louisiana securely into the American fabric and reduced the abandonment many felt when Napoleon sold them along with the territory. We cannot think of Andrew Jackson without remembering Jean Lafite, and the Battle of New Orleans is remembered with a glory which is scarcely diminished even when we consider that it took place after a treaty had been signed.

Abandoning New Orleans is literally a case of abandoning an important part of our heritage and an integral part of the history of extending our borders from sea to sea.

And then there's the personal. So many of us have wonderful memories of the times we visited there (and sometimes the memories are the more cherished because we can't exactly remember!) furthering the dilemma beyond logic and reason. The cuisine. The music. The people. The mystique. New Orleans is part of the American soul in ways I can feel more than articulate.

I can't even imagine how those who call New Orleans home are feeling today, but maybe it is time to bite the bullet and make some hard calls. It is going to hurt. Deeply. Even thinking about it hurts. Part of me knows that with time we'll do what we've always done: cling to that part of the American spirit that has always held that a new future means a better future, but for now I thinks its permissible to grieve.

18:25 - The news out of New Orleans is getting worse. Thank God the city stayed closed, but spare a thought for the troops there.

Glad to see the President sensibly cancelled his trip to the region. People on the ground there have enough to contend with and don't need the security nightmare.

I finally received word that my Texas friends are safely out of Rita's path. I have to go to work tonight (although I really don't want to leave the storm watch) and I'll be holding my breath even though I know on most levels that we'll weather it.

I can't help thinking that the destruction wrought by the hurricanes have brought us together again. I don't mean the politicians and other Important People but just us, the normal, everyday American whom everyone takes for granted. The press was all a-twitter at the lapses at every level of government but for me, it just reinforced the soundness of the joke "I'm from the government and I'm here to help."

Say a prayer for Texas. We owe them: the people of Houston electrified the nation when they strode in with a "we can help" attitude and gave refuge to thousands of NO Katrina survivors (and, more importantly, challenged other cities to do the same) and rekindled belief in something that we've seen too rarely in these modern times: neighbourly actions. Southern hospitality and Christian charity have combined to remind us (again) that we are a decent, good people and that we can help and stand by one another.

Posted by: Debbye at 04:17 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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1 Yes, they are most definatly in my prayers. It is quite sad really, the poor people there. But I do wonder what the mayor was thinking when he told people that they could go back to New Orleans so soon. I think he has had a bit too much stress... I haven't had the opportunity to visit anywhere around the gulf, though I was hoping to visit some old family friends sometime, who are in Texas. Major prayers from me are going that way. Keep up the good blogging

Posted by: Em at September 23, 2005 09:27 PM (Uagor)

2 This is short but revealing reflection of what a local American thinks of our Celine and a mindset about some of those sloshing around a flooded NO. ================================================ A homemade Salma Hayek would be a Celine Dion! On Larry King she said she didn't understand why G. Bush didn't send kayaks to rescue those poor people carry the 25 pair of jeans they just stole. That was after she "opened" her TV. Some days it is more embarrassing than others to be a Canadian! Neat pic of the dudes with the rifles. I can see the rumors about barefoot ================================================ OK the Fleur de Lys page design for the new site was awful... The fleur de Lys was nice but the layout and the font...eeew. Please take a look now... way better, and the Blog roll toggles open and closed.. nice? http://Anchorpin.Redpin.com That's more like it.. eh? 73s TG

Posted by: TonyGuitar at September 24, 2005 01:56 AM (rmMzv)

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