Anne Rice: Do You Know What it Means to Lose N.O. ?

[NYYFan]

*snip*

But to my country I want to say this: During this crisis you failed us. You looked down on us; you dismissed our victims; you dismissed us. You want our Jazz Fest, you want our Mardi Gras, you want our cooking and our music. Then when you saw us in real trouble, when you saw a tiny minority preying on the weak among us, you called us "Sin City," and turned your backs.

Well, we are a lot more than all that. And though we may seem the most exotic, the most atmospheric and, at times, the most downtrodden part of this land, we are still part of it. We are Americans. We are you.

*snip*


More:
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/04/opinion/04rice.html?ei=5090&en=ce2f33f8719dba9c&ex=1283486400&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss&pagewanted=print

[Skink]

1. Americans have stepped up our goverment has failed

[notadmblnd]

2. you're right.. ann Rice needs to blame the government

not the American people. I believe if it haden't been for our outcry, nothing would still be getting done.

[H5N1]

7. Screw you, Anne - blame Bush and Co., don't blame me

Shame on her!

[robbedvoter]

23. She blames BFEE:

And it's true: eventually, help did come. But how many times did Gov. Kathleen Blanco have to say that the situation was desperate? How many times did Mayor Ray Nagin have to call for aid? Why did America ask a city cherished by millions and excoriated by some, but ignored by no one, to fight for its own life for so long? That's my question.


But to my country I want to say this: During this crisis you failed us. You looked down on us; you dismissed our victims; you dismissed us. You want our Jazz Fest, you want our Mardi Gras, you want our cooking and our music. Then when you saw us in real trouble, when you saw a tiny minority preying on the weak among us, you called us "Sin City," and turned your backs.

[proud patriot]

3. Everything I know of New Orleans comes from Anne Rice's books

On my 100 things to do before I die I have
visiting New Orleans because of reading Anne
Rice . Her love of that City made me love and
want to visit it . I'm just so heartbroken.

I can almost smell the magnolia trees :cry:

[dionysus]

4. you're damn straight there

this is the most callous and insufficient response to a natural disaster i have ever seen. This is terribly profane....

[stellanoir]

5. Thanks for posting

I had been waiting for Rice to weigh in. Few know NO better.

Bless her.

[NYYFan]

6. I had been waiting for her too.

I've never been a fan of her Lestat series, but she always speaks so eloquently of New Orleans. I loved to hear her describe New Orleans and the culture. I liked very much reading how she started the op-ed with the City's history. Breaking down perceptions so ppl will understand the REAL New Orleans. Instead of the tourist side that most ppl see.

[dionysus]

8. kick*

:)

[Quetzal]

9. I've been waiting for her response for some time now

thank you for posting this.

[peacefreak]

10. The Lady has spoken.

Her heart & soul is on the page to see. She has already mourned too much in her life & now she has to once again. I hope she knows that there are many of us that are NOT represented by our callous government.
We are crying many tears also.

[Rowdyboy]

11. Very powerful piece....It belongs on the Greatest Page

so I gave it the 5th vote it deserves.

Thanks for posting it.

[prodigal_green]

12. I hope she learns that the country

has stepped up. It is the government that failed her terribly.

[mzmolly]

15. You are exactly right.

Her countrymen came to her aid, * sat his ass on vacation.

[natrat]

16. i dunno

life as usual today in amurika. No football games canceled, not even a moment of silence for the 10'000 dead.

[ribrepin]

21. You are right--the flag still flies at full staff

I wanted to slap the bitch I share office space with silly. It used to be my office until she moved in--so I don't much like her anyway. She handled that move with the finesse of, well, Bush.

I mentioned New Orleans to her and she said what bothered her was the looting. Apparently in her eyes, the only thing happening in New Orleans was an urban riot. I quietly asked if even food and water is considered looting in her book. She had no answer. I then told her that a friend of my friend is missing down there.

I was sickened and depressed that some people I am forced to deal with see this as an urban riot.

I was really enjoyed Aaron Neville "Louisiana 1927."

[opusprime]

13. Only as strong as our weakest link...

Any way you look at it, if we cant take care of the weakest among us, then we are nothing.

Compassionate Conservatism??

I think we've seen about all the compassion from these people that we need to see.

[Dervill Crow]

14. I only visited NOLA once, but

I love Anne Rice's books and loved New Orleans before even laying eyes on it. I hope she realizes that the rest of the country is as horrified as she is and the majority of us did not in fact have anything to do with the idiots who helped cause and are now mismanaging the situation.

[bliss_eternal]

17. Thank you for posting this--I was wondering about Anne Rice...

I'm glad she is alright, and glad she made this statement.

Anyone know if she lost her house? I do so hope it was spared--it would be nice if SOMEONE'S home was spared, kwim?

[mcscajun]

18. The lump in my throat won't go away.

This is surely one of the more powerful pieces ever written by Anne Rice.

:(

[Coastie for Truth]

19. Beautifully written

<>

[Pachamama]

20. Too bad she didn't mention that the Bush Administration are real Vampires

sucking the blood of our country....that would have been a powerful statement that would have been spot-on...

[katinmn]

22. I'm so glad you posted this. AR knows what NO means

means to this country.