Where to Now?

I just spent last Thursday and Friday in New Orleans--at least what used to be New Orleans. The New Orleans that once existed when I grew up there and went through to college no longer exists! And , I doubt that it will ever exist again as it once was.

I drove throughout the city to get an overall sense of what the "recovery" looked like. Television and pictures do not even come close to what has happened there. The city was devastated and so was I. At times, I just pulled over to the curb--there was no traffic anyway--and just cried. I will be posting a picture gallery of what I was able to take with my instant Kodak camera.

It's not so much the effort of those there is lacking, it's just that the devastation is so immense. It's hard to believe--without seeing it--that a city with such a rich history and heritage can be reduced to its present state. I fear the Soul of what was once New Orleans is close to dying. The reason is, so much of its soul was its people. All of its people!

In retrospect, that's what was so impactful to me. Many, many neighborhoods are simply abandoned. No one is there to give them life. Large piles of everything are still present, in spite of the magnificent efforts so far. The people there are valiant in their efforts to keep the soul alive. But without massive and immediate help from the media, government, and those with vast resources, I fear their efforts will ultimately be in vain.

Where to now for New Orleans? Nothing short of a Marshall Plan is the only solution for the resurrection of New Orleans!! Preferably led by someone with the skills and talent
of a Marshall. This effort should be supported with federal, state, and private funds paid over centuries by the residents of New Orleans! This proposal could be viewed as symbolic of an effort to create a city in the U.S. where true harmony, integration, and equity of opportunity exist for every citizen of this country--regardless of race, color, ethnicity, culture, background, primary language spoken, religion, sexual orientation, or any other dimension of diversity that presently divides us. This tragedy can become the greatest opportunity in the history of this country to truly show the world what a true democracy is that values its people and their physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being, first and foremost!

New Orleans Visit Pictures

Obviously, I will have more to say in subsequent posts. Buy and read the book Animal Kingdom to get a more in-depth view of what I am proposing here. (See the right hand column for free audio downloads and the bookstore.)