HALF-EMPTY OR HALF-FULL? We might wonder how a city such as New Orleans, La. can loose more-or-less-half of its population and survive.
It will vary a great deal, of course, but it could be one of the better things to happen to some such centers of population. Large numbers of people do not make a city.
They will vary a great deal,too and it could be that events which seemed to have been catastrophic could have been one of the better things to happen in some such centers of population.
London, England serves as an example of such changes. Both the Great Fire of London's historical past and the Great Blitz bombings of World War II in our won era, took away from London huge areas of old, dilapidated warehouses and slum districts - some within sight of St. Paul's Dome and The City's finest buildings. As horrible as the methods of removal were – fire in two forms, really, I suppose - a new and better city grew from the ashes and debris. The city was forced to improved - or “led” to do so, we might wish to say.
New Orleans has such needs. It is time to put political considerations aside in the pressing need for community improvements of basics types. We must be more concerned about those things which tells other what a city is rather than what it might be made to appear to be.
New Orleans lost a lot of real estate which was not that might be termed as being “Less than first class”. Restoration is not in the plan; replaced in the broadest sense of the term must be. The current method of attempting to lure previous residents back to the city are, for the most part, blandishments which promise the realization of dreams rather than providing facts and figures. Truly worthy workers will avoid such bait as they are currently being shown. They will come back when assured that changes have been made; not just promised - once again.
New Orleans was not a “mirage”. It was, truly enjoyed because it seemed to be different from other places in the United States. It must make make itself well once again, prove to be alluring, a bit feisty and compelling its manner of accepting strange guests from everywhere.
The true New Orleans which is slowly beginning to live again has an element mystery in its very evolvement from half-a-dozen cultures. You can see it in the styles, the architecture, their foods and drinks, in their conversational ease, and most of all, I think, you can hear their subtle subject-set charm dancing in their music: zydeco, Cajun, Spanish, Mex, English, fandango, flamenco, African, shanty, French, country, cowboy, plans, frontier, riverboat songs, Injun, civil war songs... and techno-mod a-plenty on the way!
Andrew McCaskey amccsr@adelphia.net 9-3-06 [c485wds]
