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Editor's note: Cynthia Joyce (i.e., me) is a former resident of New Orleans – she'll be recording observations from New Orleans on the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina.
I hadn't been in New Orleans for more than 10 minutes when I heard the first reference to Hurricane Katrina on the radio station WWOZ, which was playing a live version of jazz vocalist John Boutte singing Randy Newman's "Louisiana 1927." In it he alters the lyrics to reference the flood of 2005: "Bush flew over in his airplane with twelve fat men with martinis in their hand/Bush said, 'Fat man, great job...look what the river has done to this poor Creole's land.' " It might have struck me as tragic, except that the DJ, with typical New Orleans irreverence, kept playing over it samples of Bush's infamous "Heckuva job, Brownie" quote to then-FEMA head Mike Brown.
Which served as a good reminder of how much New Orleans is decidedly not wallowing in self-pity when it recalls Katrina--it's just claiming its own narrative of the event.
While the coming days will be all about remembering The Storm (as I write this, the owner of the coffee shop where I'm sitting just told one of her regulars, "God, I'm so sick of hearing about Katrina I could gag"...), people here were never trying to forget it – not that they could if they wanted to. They just have bigger fish to fry. Literally, in some cases. Not to mention a football season to gear up for. You can see the Superdome gleaming from just about every vantage point along I-10. It's being painted black and gold – in honor of the Saints, naturally – and though they're not finished yet, you can already see how spectacular it's going to be. I can't think of a better metaphor for the city's recovery.
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Rich with culture, loyal people, food and history, New Orleans offers a lot to its citizens and visitors.
Noting the story being told mingled along with soulful jazz reminds me of the "Today" Matt Lauer interview with First Lady Laura Bush.
First step to healing is acknowledgment. Mrs. Bush's devotion to rebuilding New Orleans' schools and libraries is a good thing, however, it would be helpful if the First Lady honestly accepts that her husband, the former president and his administration played a hand in the failures linked with Katrina.
Mrs. Bush skipped over the comment of what her husband did or did not do.
Again..healing begins with acknowledgment. Took me awhile to read all the spectacular links Ms. Joyce has offered in support of her Katrina post.
All very good. Excellent read. One immediately learns of a vibrant, beautiful city and it is too bad we failed HER..this incredible city.
The former president GWB and his wife were made for each other. She gave a motiviational speech where my
daughter lives and her company picked up the tab. It's getting old about people blaming him for everything
and he will be vindicated. I am sure if something bad was conjured up in the universe they would no doubt
blame him and as far as I am concerned the Bush-bashers, like Alec Baldwin, can leave the country if they
still have a problem with him. Others, as well.
Phyllis Kunz
PS Cynthia, your bashing of George W. Bush distracts from the celebration of New Orlean's recovery.
Shame on you. Phyllis
Recovery or not, the facts are there. I am not pulling this from outer space. This is one more knot on the huge rope of incompetence. Either Bush did not care or a blatant incompetence- it took Bush and his "good job" fella days to get basic essentials to the folks of Louisiana. If a Democrat was irresponsible as this example..I would say the same. I say the facts as is and I have been critical with President Obama when I feel it is warranted.
Who else do you blame for floating dead bodies and the people's cry.
Obama?
Join the Republican blame wagon. They have no sense of responsibility.
My Mom always say, "one must be responsible for his actions."
George Bush inherited a surplus and whined that when entering the White House, the nation was in a recession. So tell me! Who is wrong? Bush or NBC's reporting!!!
Shame on me..tell that to the families who have lost loved ones due to the gov't being lazy.
The world was watching and once in a while..they laugh out loud.
Cynthia: When I lived in Pensacola, Florida, my wife and I took a bus trip to New Orleans. This occurred during Marti-Gras. We saw the big parade and found it to be exiting. These events happened way before Hurricane Katrina. It was hard to imagine the significance of the event by watching it on television or by reading the papers. The latest Nightly News coverage reported by Brian Williams from New Orleans,painted a tapestry of rejuvination and hopefulness! The new barriers being built will enhance the protection of another heavy surge of water if (and let's hope not) if another storm hits the Gulf Coast. I'll be looking forward to your reports.