Party time?
I was watching CNN this weekend where they reported the progress (or lack thereof) made in Louisiana, six months after Hurricane Katrina struck. The numbers are alarming:
- Only an estimated 189,000 out of 500,000 New Orleans residents have returned to the city.
- There were more than 215,000 homes destroyed by Katrina. Total housing units lost in the state, including apartments, was close to 1.8 million. Yep. 1.8 million.
- Katrina left 60.3 million cubic yards of debris in Louisiana. Only about half of that has been removed as of this month.
- Of the 81,000 businesses that were impacted, only 42,000 have fully reopened. 18,700 businesses were completely destroyed altogether.
- More than 835 schools were damaged statewide. Only 20 out of 128 public schools have reopened since Katrina.
- Of the 245,000 college students statewide, over 83,000 were displaced. Of those students, only about 16,500 have re-enrolled in state.
- More than 220,000 jobs were lost.
- Over 100 square miles of wetland was destroyed by Katrina.
- Eight of 16 hospitals in the New Orleans area have been closed.
Yet, they're celebrating Mardi Gras this year.
Amazing.
- ACL
6 "Insiders" spoke their mind. Join in...:
I don't think its fair for you to criticize New Orleans for having the Mardi Gras. This city has just experienced the most disasterous time in the nation's history. If anybody deserves to have a good time, its them.
Well put KC.
These people need something...anything...to help them recover from the Katrina. We spend so much time talking about the sad and moot points behind this disaster. What's wrong with finding some positivity with the situation?
Thank you both for your comments.
I don't have a problem with drawing out some good in the midst of a whole lot of bad. But, to me, this is the wrong kind of good.
The whole purpose of my post was to point out that New Orleans if FAR FROM being in a position to have a Mardi Gras celebration. Now is not the time to start partying!
Well, why not?
If now isn't a good time, when is?!
These people have gone through enough!
I don't know what the big uproar is about. Having Mardi Gras now is slapping Katrina in the face. Its showing that no matter what happens, tradition will live on.
I think that Mardi Gras and Fat Tuesday is just the thing this city needs.
A "slap in the face" to Katrina?!
The real slap in face comes to the citizens of New Orleans.
How can a city/country completely neglect the basic human needs of that city while still entertaining a parade?! Where are the priorities of this city?! Who cares about a parade when all of your worldly possessions have been brisked away?!
I guess that suffering people being forced to take a backseat to partying has something to do with that "tradition" you're taking about, huh?
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