The Home That Is New Orleans: Listening to Douglas Brinkley on NPR’s Fresh Air (September 16, 2005), I found three interrelated points worth mulling over. (BTW, Brinkley is a professor at UNO, not Tulane as the NPR site claims.)
Firstly, Brinkley is “very disappointed in the response of the federal, state and local governments …” This goes without saying, but for a New Orleanian to charge his immediate government with inadequacy (and continually) is surprising and refreshing. It makes me wonder how many wish the city to return to the way it was as opposed to a pragmatic rebuilding, which in effect will engender a “new city.”
Additionally, this is not the time for partisan bickering and placing blame. Is there ever, however, a bad time for accountability, specifically in terms of the failure of the levee system, law and order following the hurricane and the ongoing plight of our city’s poorest? I fear, though, that this exercise in The Acceptance Of Responsibility will delay and not effect the needful changes which are water-tight levees, letting super-low-lying parts of New Orleans back to nature, rehabilitating our businesses and schools, and rebuilding with parity.
On to the next point: Will New Orleans be the same? This is somewhat answered in another of Brinkley’s statements: “Historic New Orleans will be back in business … side neighborhoods by levees are devastated … afraid of prefab townhouses … start looking like suburbia instead of rich, subtropical Afro-Caribbean center which I love so much.”
There is no way to reproduce two or so centuries of cultural development in a few years, but reconstruction of some sort must happen. My hope is that HRI stays involved in putting up new homes with some character. New need not necessarily mean boxy, sterile and devoid of charm. Again, who will live in these places, prefab or not? Who are we rebuilding for? As Harvard University economist Edward Glaeser states, “New Orleans has too many people in relation to the size of its economy. The intent should be to help poor people, not poor places.” The rest of this Businessweek article provides insight into the ramifications of the new New Orleans.
In the end, politics and economics notwithstanding, the beauty of New Orleans is her mysterious allure. Well, it’s not really a mystery: There is no place like this in America. As we age as a nation, it is our responsibility to preserve our roots and keep them intact for American posterity. This is identity and character, and I don’t mean just putting up buildings to resemble what was there previously. What I refer to is preserving a place where the twin goddesses that truly represent the American spirit – rich living and spiritual abandon – can live and thrive. New Orleans makes us passionate and interesting as a people, a race, a civilization.
In the words of Brinkley, a resident of New Orleans since 1992, “What an identity I have to New Orleans. I can go other places, I know people, but I’m haunted, I’m driven back to New Orleans. I realize that’s what home is, it’s a place you love so much, your attachments are so deeply rooted to the landscape. It’s not a simple matter of being pragmatic and going elsewhere.”
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A Quarter In Houston?: Tomorrow marks my first day as a working girl in Houston for the remainder of the year (and just that, I hope). While my heart remains in that beautiful city 350 miles to the east, my body and mind (and paying job) must go on here. In other words, I’m being pragmatic and going somewhere else temporarily. At least, I have the good luck of having somewhere to go. Am I emotionally prepared for it? A few months is miniscule in the face of an entire human lifetime, a journey of a thousand storms and sunny days. On this conspicuously bumpy ride, I remember these wise words, “There’s no stopping the future.”
Just writing in to say Hello!
Enjoy your stay in Houston. You will return to the biggest Mardi Gras ever next year. And we will go listen to the Glass Harper together the next time I am there :-).
Hi. I read it, and of course, it was very moving. As so many of your thoughts and ideas are. I’ve known that for a decade now, and you just get more and more adept at it. So, thank you for sharing your thoughts and feelings, and for helping to keep me connected to the progress of the city that means so much to me. (And, of course, the people who do too.)
I wish I had some useful comments, as you requested, but when I read your work, I turn off the commentator and simply hear your voice, and that’s what I did here. I heard you, your sincerity, your fortitude through storms actual and metaphorical. What can I say, except that every day, I’m proud to know you.
Love,
Joel
Well, I’ve given the New Orleans situation some thought, as most who have spent time there have. I hear the “turn it into a tourist spot” or “N.O. isn’t worth saving”. As far as I am concerned, that city is one of our Great Cities, and we don’t have too many of those. It was only a matter of time before this happened, and everybody who lived there knew it. Could much have this been avoided? Yes. But let’s face it, for all of the class, culture and history New Orleans has, the one thing that was “missing” is a boatload of money. All of the great food of southern Louisiana is based on “poor” cusine. All of the great music of southern Louisiana is based on “poor” music. The one thing that makes me sick is the arguement that the “poor” have nothing to offer, yet the whole scene of New Orleans is based on that history, and the French, and the Spanish, and Americans.
It is unfortunate that the outward migration of businesses in New Orleans will not only continue, but continue at a greater rate than before. I sincerely hope that New Orleans does not become the Cancun of the southern U.S., where people go to vacation. There is simply too much to lose if we let that happen. For that, the city MUST be rebuilt, not from an exact template of the past, but it does need to reflect the past. And it cannot become a haven for the “haves”, especially at the expense of the “have nots”. It is their home too, and that simply cannot be forgotten at any cost. So, I guess that’s my opinion and I hope the decision -makers have something similar.
j
I read this post as being more analytical than thoughtful – the one for Sept. 30 moved me more. I guess it’s tough for me to wrap my head around this one as it is more about the city and us as a country, and though I have been to NOLA probably 20 times now, that is not the same as living there and letting the feeling really seep into you.
Of course everything you write here in this post is right: it is critical that the city be rebuilt thoughtfully – and I mean thoughtfully a high level with vision. That will be tough to do. It’s the people on the ground there now and it the near term, previously involved in city/neighborhood affairs who must bear this burden and really work to keep the vision and enforce it whenever possible.
The September 30 post left me sad and emotional, yet filled with hope, the same feelings I had as people poured into Houston after the flooding and Houston welcomed and sheltered them. More intimately, you have grown tremendously in the last 35-odd days in ways and manners you did not ask for nor expect, and that’s tough. But it builds character in you.
All these experiences and challenges will build even more character into NOLA and its citizens, residents, and close occasional guests. Trying times lie behind us and before us, well you and your fellow NOLA residents, and the inevitable, the expected, the good, the bad, the desirable, the heart-wrenching, the pain, the fear, the hope, the diligence, the fortitude, and the challenge will really mould you and the city into something different yet the same, but more importantly for the better.
I have enjoyed much of what Brinkley has to say – his firmness is refreshing….. prioritize the rebuilding – continue to save historical references – the complex history of New Orleans on as many streets as possible. Face up to realities – many people will be unable to return.
Support the police force – residents need to make their voices heard by the Mayor and the Governor. Write your congressmen – make the changes that will support a wounded city – hold open forums to discuss recovery with graduates of your wonderful universities – ask those doctors and nurses who were right there in the hospitals trying to work under most primitive conditions – what are their needs? What are their recommendations?
All the talented graduates of the universities can unite and make changes – alumni should meet and write a directive – a white paper – for the Mayor – hold workshops and rediscover your city and its needs – guide this Mayor to a stronger path to recovery. All your talented engineers and construction folks can bring those levees up to speed – protect the music and its roots – face the issues.
Why was the 9th Ward there in the first place? What was the E&E protection plan for that location? Cities all over the USA need to face inner city failings.
Don’t lose the flavor of New Orleans – use your talents and skills to protect and enhance – work with the Trust for Historic Preservation vigorously – get the press to work with you and review plans and decisions – abandonment has caused much of the failures of the city to sustain its citizens. Face the short term repairs and work harder for the long term solutions. I have loved the fact that this American city has streets names in historic tiles – “Calle de Armas” – Chartres – bring it back but guide it back brilliantly.
one thing that has always struck me about you and your loyalty to NO is your initial post of how you have a past of moving from your roots. One was due to the political climate and this one was due to the weather. To see your loyalty to a city that will be opened once again to the world is amazing. I can’t imagine pulling through with such conviction as you have. And with steadfastness.
Three months is not a long time, but sometimes days and weeks feel like eternity. Home, as you know, is where and what you define it. Being surrounded by people you love, laughter, connections and roots defines my home. And though you have planted your roots in NO, you have used this time to reflect on what roots means.
You have shown such brilliance, leadership, and courage through these weeks. I’m in awe.
My thoughts and love are always with you….