The Thurst for Love

xan · 09-26-2006, 09:26 AM

I watched over 11 hours of coverage yesterday from the comfort of my home in New Jersey. For the past year, I've kept vigilant attention on the stories the major and sub-major news reporting services have aired on television and radio. I've also returned many times to New Orleans to provide what little support and encouragement I can to my family and friends who still live and work hard to maintain their desperate grasp on the life they love and the culture that nourishes their souls.

While so much has and will be written about special and dedicated individuals who appear to be going above and beyond to ensure the recovery, the overwhelming collective demonstration of joy, pride and respect was a transcendant moment. The trite comparisons to "Super Bowl" or "Olympics" only served to highlight the inadequacies of our current cultural reference points for such an experience. Part defiance, part orgasmic release, part long held embrace, the visible transmuted into a longing for a deep connection like what those at the Dome experienced last night.

The announcers and commentators vainly tried to capture with words what the camera simply streamed into those at home's consciousness.

However, what everyone missed last night is that New Orleanians are rebuilding the culture that can allow this kind of cross connection among seemingly disparate enclaves of people. Music, food, literature, art, architecture and the soul to live an enriched life are the building blocks of New Orleans, not cinderblock and stucco. The process HAS to be organic, not "intelligent design." Recovery eminates from the inside.

Jazz, Blues, Creole cuisine, revival style architecture and the joy of shared expriences all sprung
from the seemingly desolate. What we who truly know is that the best is yet to come.

TallySaint · 09-26-2006, 09:44 AM

11 hours of coverage and 2 bags of weed.

saintfan · 09-26-2006, 09:45 AM

Originally Posted by TallySaint

11 hours of coverage and 2 bags of weed.

Ahhh, those were the days... 8)

LKelley67 · 09-26-2006, 09:51 AM

amen bruddah. I'm loving the players identification with the city too. Brees living down the street from Archie, walking his dog, stopping in for beignets. Reggie's stand that he won't do any promo for anyone unless they contribute to Katrina rebuilding funds.

I've been around. I always tell people that NOLA is the most distinctive major metro in the US. Culture, food, music, and partying like no other. Le bon ton roulet!

09-26-2006, 09:26 AM	#1
xan Professor Crab and Site Donor 2014 Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Princeton Posts: 3,371 Blog Entries: 34	The Thurst for Love I watched over 11 hours of coverage yesterday from the comfort of my home in New Jersey. For the past year, I've kept vigilant attention on the stories the major and sub-major news reporting services have aired on television and radio. I've also returned many times to New Orleans to provide what little support and encouragement I can to my family and friends who still live and work hard to maintain their desperate grasp on the life they love and the culture that nourishes their souls. While so much has and will be written about special and dedicated individuals who appear to be going above and beyond to ensure the recovery, the overwhelming collective demonstration of joy, pride and respect was a transcendant moment. The trite comparisons to "Super Bowl" or "Olympics" only served to highlight the inadequacies of our current cultural reference points for such an experience. Part defiance, part orgasmic release, part long held embrace, the visible transmuted into a longing for a deep connection like what those at the Dome experienced last night. The announcers and commentators vainly tried to capture with words what the camera simply streamed into those at home's consciousness. However, what everyone missed last night is that New Orleanians are rebuilding the culture that can allow this kind of cross connection among seemingly disparate enclaves of people. Music, food, literature, art, architecture and the soul to live an enriched life are the building blocks of New Orleans, not cinderblock and stucco. The process HAS to be organic, not "intelligent design." Recovery eminates from the inside. Jazz, Blues, Creole cuisine, revival style architecture and the joy of shared expriences all sprung from the seemingly desolate. What we who truly know is that the best is yet to come.
	Calvin: "I wish I was a Tiger." Hobbes: "Common lament."

09-26-2006, 09:45 AM	#3
saintfan Donated Plasma Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 18,556 Blog Entries: 5	Originally Posted by TallySaint 11 hours of coverage and 2 bags of weed. Ahhh, those were the days... 8)

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09-26-2006, 09:44 AM	#2
TallySaint 1000 Posts + Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Tallahassee Posts: 1,367	11 hours of coverage and 2 bags of weed.

09-26-2006, 09:51 AM	#4
LKelley67 1000 Posts + Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: baton rouge Posts: 2,540	amen bruddah. I'm loving the players identification with the city too. Brees living down the street from Archie, walking his dog, stopping in for beignets. Reggie's stand that he won't do any promo for anyone unless they contribute to Katrina rebuilding funds. I've been around. I always tell people that NOLA is the most distinctive major metro in the US. Culture, food, music, and partying like no other. Le bon ton roulet!