NOLA USA

I think it's something people have really forgotten. Those in the city feel abandoned by their government, and even by their fellow citizens. The outpouring of support after Katrina was enormous, but as time goes on, political arguments have turned nasty and many in a certain segment of the population have turned to attacking the people of New Orleans for daring to be victims of circumstance.

For daring to live in a place where natural disaster could strike, as if there is a place on this planet where you are totally safe, where nature does not intervene. For daring to be poor. For daring to reveal governmental incompetence at all levels and making their favorite leaders look bad. How dare they. Who do they think they are? Why should we even help them?

New Orleans is a unique city with its own long history that predates this country, yet it is as much a part of the USA as any city that you could name within our borders. I think some people need to be reminded of that. I think some people need to be reminded of the cries of unity they themselves scream loudly. They need to be reminded that what they saw (and now what is obscurred by flashy stories about inane celebrities) happened and is happening in America.

I think if people are reminded of that fact, they won't tolerate what is happening in an to New Orleans. If enough people remember that New Orleans = America, they will demand their politicians from both sides actually do the jobs they were elected to do.

Maybe I'm just too much of an optimist.