Which New Orleans will rise from the water?

[Cascadian]

I have been one of those people who have never visited New Orleans. In the light of this tragic disaster, I most likely will regret not having to experience one of America's most unique cities. A city that is now a death-infested, water logged ghost town. Much of the city will have to be rebuilt and what of the people that had been stranded? Will these poor neglected people ever return? The big question that comes to mind is what New Orleans is going to replace this New Orleans?

While the generousity of ordinary Americans has arrived and the offer to come to stay in their towns such as Houston, Phoenix, San Francisco, Seattle, Las Vegas just to name a few. The question will remain in the long-term. Will these people who have gone to these far-flung places ever return? I find it distrubing that Halliburton has been handed the contract to help rebuild the city. Who invited Halliburton to come in? What plans does it have for the "New" New Orleans?

The newly rebuilt New Orleans, I dread to say, could well become a watered-down (no pun intended!), yuppified, Disneyesque shadow of it's former self. If I ever come down to Louisiana one day, am I going to see a New Orleans that has retained the uniquness of it's people, it's hospitality, it's music, and culture? Or am I going to see something that is nothing more of a corporate driven mockery of what the Old New Orleans once was?

Anybody can make their own asessments on what's going to happen because it's still to early in the game to know what the outcome will be but so far, I am a little disturbed at the whole picture.

John

[Wilber_Stool]

1. They'll probably give it to

Disney. New Orleans Land.

[eallen]

2. I'm now glad for all the time I spent in the old New Orleans

[damntexdem]

3. It was a wonderful city, for the visitor.

It was also a very-poor city. But for a visitor, it was a delight. The French Quarter (minimally flooded, apparently) was always great: jazz in club after club, street musicians and artists, beautiful old buildings, Jazz Museum and Mardis Gras Museum. The St. Charles street car ran from nearby at Canal St. and ran down the middle of St. Charles through the Garden District (beautiful big houses of the rich from long ago), out past Tulane and the Audibon Zoo. Along the River was a river walk for tourists, ferrys across, and fake steamboats for river cruises.

I've been there many times for professional meetings, and I was scheduled to go there in November for another one. I'd looked forward to it. (Now, instead I'm going to Philadelphia in December for that meeting. Brrrr!)

[Name removed]

4. Deleted message

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[Cascadian]

6. It was on the few overwhelmingly liberal cities in "Jesusland"

Plus it was one of the most tolerant compared to most Southern cities.


John

[Trillo]

5. Glad I'm not the only one to feel this way

I've always hoped that one day before I die I would be able to visit New Orleans, to experience the local and unique culture there. As I've gotten older, I've seen more and more communities turned into generic-town USA, with the same corporate entities overwhelming the landscape. The same chain restaurants, the same hotels, the same big-box stores, etc.

Under these conditions, I've asked myself why travel if where you go to visit is the same as the place you've come from? Sometimes a different facade is placed on a building housing a corporate chain, but it's still just a facade.

Without the people there that were there, it'll never be even close to the same.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=4652654&mesg_id=4656393

[ForrestGump]

7. I never liked New Orleans much

But it offers some interesting places and experiences to the visitor. Most of the areas that tourists have traditionally swarmed to will still be there, but will the city feel the same after this? Doubt it.

Sure, it was a nasty big city and more dangerous than many, but it had a unique character and you've got to respect that in this age of cookie-cutter conformity. Like I said, it was never my kind of place, but I mourn its irrevocable change in character as I mourn the loss and displacement of so many of its people. And you just know that the opportunists are already lined up, ready to go in and steal it all away. F***ing carpetbaggers.