Five years ago today, we went out for drinks with friends, stayed out late, and woke up to the local newscaster having a meltdown and telling us to get out of town immediately. And we did.
And then spent the next 4 months in Houston.
There is a lot that has been said and is being said on the anniversary of Katrina. Our former neighbor Ken Foster wrote a piece for Salon.com about his experience in Post-Katrina New Orleans. While I don't entirely agree with his conclusions, some of the description is similar to stuff we observed in the neighborhood.
I don't really think we're eloquent enough to add anything meaningful except to say this: we will always hope for the best for New Orleans. There is much that is worth saving and being proud of in that city.
We left three years after the flood. We miss it a lot.
New Orleans will always have a place in your hearts and ours too, because of you.
ReplyDeleteHey, it is Ken here! How are you?
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting to read that you don't agree with my conclusions--I didn't really feel that I had any conclusions in that piece. But it seems to have upset a lot of people, particularly "white nationalists" and "race realists" who are publicly calling for further violence against me in retribution for not mentioning race in the essay. There are some really crazy people outside of New Orleans!
Hey Ken, its Chuck.
ReplyDeleteWhen Jenny wrote this short note, I think the purpose was to state the we love and miss the city but are very conflicted. Five years have passed since Katrina and some levees have been built but the city is by no means healed. We lived in NOLA and loved it but we were no means "of New Orleans" so we don't feel like it is our placed to pretend that we have any grand observations. Her reference to your articles was not to disagree with you but to give an alternate picture than what many hear.
New Orleans is either vilified or sanctified in the media. Your article provides an interesting snapshot. We know that you loved New Orleans and were extremely active in the neighborhood/city and still are. Your article shows the same struggle that we had. We love so much of the city but were terrified to raise Mr J there. We wish we were still in a quiet walkable neighborhood with people on the street, coffee shops, dog parks, art, and parades but I don't know if those are still there in the same way.
As far as a conclusion, the title, "Please Don't Come Back to New Orleans" and picture with the caption "Wish You Weren't Here" is probably what she referring to. Neither of us know what to think about the long-term health of the city and the crime. We do know that we miss the city, miss our friends, and sure wish we were there from time to time.
Not sure what to tell yah about White Nationalists but put us firmly in the "no violence against Ken" camp. Jenny and I have actually been reflecting on your article for days.