I'm Sorry to Who It Offends, But This Is No Hole in the Ground
Once again, New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin has caught the national spotlight for snapping at reporters after being questioned on the pace of rebuilding in New Orleans. He derided NYC's efforts to rebuild the "Freedom Tower" over the old WTC site after 9/11. Of this situation, he said: "You guys in New York can’t get a hole in the ground fixed, and it’s five years later. So let’s be fair." This caught flak nationwide.
Why? Is it a brutal truth? Yes. But is it truth? Yes. NYC lost not just two towers, but several surrounding buildings. True. But I have been there. August 2003. Did a set of important buildings get lost? Yes. Was the loss of life tragic? Of course. But was 99% of the city doing just fine? Yes. That horrible night, did most people go home? Yes. Business was bustling, and once the shock of the initial attack was over, most people could go back to their normal, every day lives.
The destruction wraught by Hurricane Katrina on New Orleans is not even comparable. Entire neighborhoods were destroyed. Even the buildings still standing, most of their first floors had to be completely gutted. To this day, people are still gutting everything. Businesses have left the area. And at times, even those people remaining in the area, presuming they can find work, have nowhere to live. Meanwhile, landlords have jacked up rents in the places still livable. Yet, I have faith that the people of New Orleans will ultimately prevail. It is in our nature to endure.
Five years later there is still a hole in the ground of NYC. A year later, entire neighborhoods are still destroyed here. How can the two compare? Yes, polls show people remember and care. But do they understand? Go to Sarah's blog, she's posted a video of images put to song. It shows destroyed homes, people swimming through major streets. It reminds us that this wasn't just a natural disaster, it was the greatest tragedy in American history. Never has an American city been subject to such widespread destruction. It is why we need to do more to make sure this never happens again.
||
posted by mW @ 9:49 AM
Why? Is it a brutal truth? Yes. But is it truth? Yes. NYC lost not just two towers, but several surrounding buildings. True. But I have been there. August 2003. Did a set of important buildings get lost? Yes. Was the loss of life tragic? Of course. But was 99% of the city doing just fine? Yes. That horrible night, did most people go home? Yes. Business was bustling, and once the shock of the initial attack was over, most people could go back to their normal, every day lives.
The destruction wraught by Hurricane Katrina on New Orleans is not even comparable. Entire neighborhoods were destroyed. Even the buildings still standing, most of their first floors had to be completely gutted. To this day, people are still gutting everything. Businesses have left the area. And at times, even those people remaining in the area, presuming they can find work, have nowhere to live. Meanwhile, landlords have jacked up rents in the places still livable. Yet, I have faith that the people of New Orleans will ultimately prevail. It is in our nature to endure.
Five years later there is still a hole in the ground of NYC. A year later, entire neighborhoods are still destroyed here. How can the two compare? Yes, polls show people remember and care. But do they understand? Go to Sarah's blog, she's posted a video of images put to song. It shows destroyed homes, people swimming through major streets. It reminds us that this wasn't just a natural disaster, it was the greatest tragedy in American history. Never has an American city been subject to such widespread destruction. It is why we need to do more to make sure this never happens again.
<$BlogItemCommentCount$> Comments:
<$BlogCommentBody$>
<$BlogCommentDeleteIcon$><$BlogItemCreate$>
<< Home