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Not Afraid
09-03-2005, 03:30 PM
September 4, 2005- New York Times
Do You Know What It Means to Lose New Orleans?
By ANNE RICE

WHAT do people really know about New Orleans?

Do they take away with them an awareness that it has always been not only a great white metropolis but also a great black city, a city where African-Americans have come together again and again to form the strongest African-American culture in the land?

The first literary magazine ever published in Louisiana was the work of black men, French-speaking poets and writers who brought together their work in three issues of a little book called L'Album Littéraire. That was in the 1840's, and by that time the city had a prosperous class of free black artisans, sculptors, businessmen, property owners, skilled laborers in all fields. Thousands of slaves lived on their own in the city, too, making a living at various jobs, and sending home a few dollars to their owners in the country at the end of the month.

This is not to diminish the horror of the slave market in the middle of the famous St. Louis Hotel, or the injustice of the slave labor on plantations from one end of the state to the other. It is merely to say that it was never all "have or have not" in this strange and beautiful city.

Later in the 19th century, as the Irish immigrants poured in by the thousands, filling the holds of ships that had emptied their cargoes of cotton in Liverpool, and as the German and Italian immigrants soon followed, a vital and complex culture emerged. Huge churches went up to serve the great faith of the city's European-born Catholics; convents and schools and orphanages were built for the newly arrived and the struggling; the city expanded in all directions with new neighborhoods of large, graceful houses, or areas of more humble cottages, even the smallest of which, with their floor-length shutters and deep-pitched roofs, possessed an undeniable Caribbean charm.

Through this all, black culture never declined in Louisiana. In fact, New Orleans became home to blacks in a way, perhaps, that few other American cities have ever been. Dillard University and Xavier University became two of the most outstanding black colleges in America; and once the battles of desegregation had been won, black New Orleanians entered all levels of life, building a visible middle class that is absent in far too many Western and Northern American cities to this day.

The influence of blacks on the music of the city and the nation is too immense and too well known to be described. It was black musicians coming down to New Orleans for work who nicknamed the city "the Big Easy" because it was a place where they could always find a job. But it's not fair to the nature of New Orleans to think of jazz and the blues as the poor man's music, or the music of the oppressed.

Something else was going on in New Orleans. The living was good there. The clock ticked more slowly; people laughed more easily; people kissed; people loved; there was joy.

Which is why so many New Orleanians, black and white, never went north. They didn't want to leave a place where they felt at home in neighborhoods that dated back centuries; they didn't want to leave families whose rounds of weddings, births and funerals had become the fabric of their lives. They didn't want to leave a city where tolerance had always been able to outweigh prejudice, where patience had always been able to outweigh rage. They didn't want to leave a place that was theirs.

And so New Orleans prospered, slowly, unevenly, but surely - home to Protestants and Catholics, including the Irish parading through the old neighborhood on St. Patrick's Day as they hand out cabbages and potatoes and onions to the eager crowds; including the Italians, with their lavish St. Joseph's altars spread out with cakes and cookies in homes and restaurants and churches every March; including the uptown traditionalists who seek to preserve the peace and beauty of the Garden District; including the Germans with their clubs and traditions; including the black population playing an ever increasing role in the city's civic affairs.

Now nature has done what the Civil War couldn't do. Nature has done what the labor riots of the 1920's couldn't do. Nature had done what "modern life" with its relentless pursuit of efficiency couldn't do. It has done what racism couldn't do, and what segregation couldn't do either. Nature has laid the city waste - with a scope that brings to mind the end of Pompeii.



I share this history for a reason - and to answer questions that have arisen these last few days. Almost as soon as the cameras began panning over the rooftops, and the helicopters began chopping free those trapped in their attics, a chorus of voices rose. "Why didn't they leave?" people asked both on and off camera. "Why did they stay there when they knew a storm was coming?" One reporter even asked me, "Why do people live in such a place?"

Then as conditions became unbearable, the looters took to the streets. Windows were smashed, jewelry snatched, stores broken open, water and food and televisions carried out by fierce and uninhibited crowds.

Now the voices grew even louder. How could these thieves loot and pillage in a time of such crisis? How could people shoot one another? Because the faces of those drowning and the faces of those looting were largely black faces, race came into the picture. What kind of people are these, the people of New Orleans, who stay in a city about to be flooded, and then turn on one another?

Well, here's an answer. Thousands didn't leave New Orleans because they couldn't leave. They didn't have the money. They didn't have the vehicles. They didn't have any place to go. They are the poor, black and white, who dwell in any city in great numbers; and they did what they felt they could do - they huddled together in the strongest houses they could find. There was no way to up and leave and check into the nearest Ramada Inn.

What's more, thousands more who could have left stayed behind to help others. They went out in the helicopters and pulled the survivors off rooftops; they went through the flooded streets in their boats trying to gather those they could find. Meanwhile, city officials tried desperately to alleviate the worsening conditions in the Superdome, while makeshift shelters and hotels and hospitals struggled.

And where was everyone else during all this? Oh, help is coming, New Orleans was told. We are a rich country. Congress is acting. Someone will come to stop the looting and care for the refugees.

And it's true: eventually, help did come. But how many times did Gov. Kathleen Blanco have to say that the situation was desperate? How many times did Mayor Ray Nagin have to call for aid? Why did America ask a city cherished by millions and excoriated by some, but ignored by no one, to fight for its own life for so long? That's my question.

I know that New Orleans will win its fight in the end. I was born in the city and lived there for many years. It shaped who and what I am. Never have I experienced a place where people knew more about love, about family, about loyalty and about getting along than the people of New Orleans. It is perhaps their very gentleness that gives them their endurance.

They will rebuild as they have after storms of the past; and they will stay in New Orleans because it is where they have always lived, where their mothers and their fathers lived, where their churches were built by their ancestors, where their family graves carry names that go back 200 years. They will stay in New Orleans where they can enjoy a sweetness of family life that other communities lost long ago.

But to my country I want to say this: During this crisis you failed us. You looked down on us; you dismissed our victims; you dismissed us. You want our Jazz Fest, you want our Mardi Gras, you want our cooking and our music. Then when you saw us in real trouble, when you saw a tiny minority preying on the weak among us, you called us "Sin City," and turned your backs.

Well, we are a lot more than all that. And though we may seem the most exotic, the most atmospheric and, at times, the most downtrodden part of this land, we are still part of it. We are Americans. We are you.

Anne Rice is the author of the forthcoming novel "Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt."

Motorboat Cruiser
09-03-2005, 04:28 PM
Thanks for sharing that, NA.

Scrooge McSam
09-03-2005, 09:45 PM
But to my country I want to say this: During this crisis you failed us. You looked down on us; you dismissed our victims; you dismissed us. You want our Jazz Fest, you want our Mardi Gras, you want our cooking and our music. Then when you saw us in real trouble, when you saw a tiny minority preying on the weak among us, you called us "Sin City," and turned your backs.

Anne, take heart. Our country hasn't failed us. Ordinary citizens, stunned by the inaction and downright incompetence of our leaders, are stepping in to fill the gaps. Late? Certainly! We ALL, even those who have historically opposed this administration, wanted to believe that our leadership simply could not be this inadequate. Our trust in them, no matter how grudgingly given, was misplaced and valuable time was lost. For days, people, ordinary working joes, doctors, fishermen, air boat drivers, engineers and on and on and on have been begging to get into the city to help, while FEMA lays the blame for the crisis on the very victims it's there to assist.

Our country is not the swaggering grinning psuedo cowboy in the White House. It's not the network of political whores on K street. It's not the profit driven media, who until this week were willing to play the game in exchange for cocktail party invitations and private audiences with this week's designated liar.

Our country hasn't failed us.

Our government has failed us.

Our elected leadership has failed us.

It's up to us to change it.

PanTheMan
09-13-2005, 11:42 PM
Glad this made it over here... A truly great piece from a great person.

Jazzman
09-14-2005, 10:34 PM
But to my country I want to say this: During this crisis you failed us. You looked down on us; you dismissed our victims; you dismissed us. You want our Jazz Fest, you want our Mardi Gras, you want our cooking and our music. Then when you saw us in real trouble, when you saw a tiny minority preying on the weak among us, you called us "Sin City," and turned your backs.
Oh please. :rolleyes:

The outpouring of support and aid from everyone in this country has been tremendous. Within a week just one news channel here in Portland raised $500,000 in contributions. That's one channel in one town raising one donation at a time; a hundred bucks here, two hundred there, thousand there. Countless semi trailers around the country have been packed full and sent on their way to the area to distribute supplies, all given freely with love and caring by everyday citizens, regular people, Americans. Businesses have opened their checkbooks and donated millions in cash. Families nationwide have opened the doors to their homes, offering shelter to those left homeless. Texas public schools have also opened their doors and hearts to thousands of displaced children, giving them a chance at some semblance of normalcy and hope. Thousands of volunteers have left their own lives on hold to take up the Bourbon Street call of "Let's drive down! Or fly down. To New Orleans!!" and do what they can to help, whether it be handing out water and medicine or caring for lost animals or pulling people from the waters. And for months, maybe even years, they'll all be there. We'll all be there, in body and in spirit, rebuilding our beloved New Orleans until we can once again parade down Bourbon street, seeing all the hot spots and meeting all the big shots.

Sorry Anne, but you just lost all credibility with your whiny, "woe is us, you all abandoned poor old us" crap. If there is any place in the world right now that is in the center of American hearts, prayers and thoughts, it's New Orleans. Throw your pity party somewhere else, we’ve all got better things to do right now.

wendybeth
09-15-2005, 12:13 AM
The outpouring began after the horrendous failure of FEMA and state and local government. Anne has a right and a reason to be bitter, and I am too. I'm not even a resident of NO, but I recognise it's importance and place in our history books and culture. As I stated before, NO will be fine, but only because the citizens of this country will make it so. No offense, Jazz, but had this happened to Portland or Vantucky, I never would have responded to a local citizens editorial with an "Oh, please". You're not there, you're not from there, and this isn't personal for you.

sleepyjeff
09-15-2005, 12:32 AM
The outpouring began after the horrendous failure of FEMA and state and local government. Anne has a right and a reason to be bitter, and I am too. I'm not even a resident of NO, but I recognise it's importance and place in our history books and culture. As I stated before, NO will be fine, but only because the citizens of this country will make it so. No offense, Jazz, but had this happened to Portland or Vantucky, I never would have responded to a local citizens editorial with an "Oh, please". You're not there, you're not from there, and this isn't personal for you.

I totally disagree. The outpouring started before the storm even came ashore. We all were glued to our TVs hoping and praying the worse would not happen. We all breathed a collective sigh of relief when it looked like the storm was losing power and it was downgraded to a cat 4.

We all were horrified when the levy broke and I believe not even hours later donations, volunteers, soldiars, and more prayers were sent that way.

Anne has her oppinions and I won't judge her but I do strongly disagree with her take on it all.

Ghoulish Delight
09-15-2005, 08:10 AM
Yeah, I'm kinda with Jazzman there. She's mixing her targets. "You want our Jazz Fest, you want our Mardi Gras, you want our cooking and our music." That would be the populace of the country that wants and appreciates those. "Then when you saw us in real trouble, when you saw a tiny minority preying on the weak among us, you called us "Sin City," and turned your backs." That would be the government failing to uphold its promises.

Don't blame ME for those mistakes. Don't call ME a hypocrite just because I had no way to help.

wendybeth
09-15-2005, 08:48 AM
Yeah, upon reflection I agree, but I get where she is coming from. Her city was destroyed, and when something or someone you love is going through a crisis of this proportion, who's to say what any of us would do in her place. The appearance of neglect is there, but it is largely due to beaurocratic ****-ups and not the fault of the general public. I think when she has more time and perspective she'll amend this statement, but I certainly will cut her some slack.

Motorboat Cruiser
09-15-2005, 08:59 AM
I think it is important to note the date of the article. It was only day five after the hurricane. Much of what you refer to, Jazzman, has occurred after the article was written.

wendybeth
09-15-2005, 09:06 AM
Good point, MBC. When someone is drowning, they don't care who throws the lifeline, they just want help and fast. I'm sure once she realises how much people were trying to help but were being held back, she'll come to a much different conclusion. I don't think it's one that will be too favorable toward the government, though.

Jazzman
09-15-2005, 10:24 AM
I do humbly disagree Wendy. As GD pointed out, her issues are more in line with the response from the government, both state and local. And as sleepyjeff stated, it wasn't after the fact that Americans nationwide sprang into action. Medical teams started to gear up as the storm was making landfall. Supplies were being pulled together before there was any indication of how severe the situation was. It was apparent from the night before, when I first saw any news about Katrina, that this was going to be a disaster. The weather service plainly stated that ahead of time, and around the country groups began getting ready. I’m sure that if the local government hadn’t drug their feet the Red Cross would have been in New Orleans before the winds even fully died. So no, I do not agree that the outpouring of support came after the fact. And that is why I take personal offense to Ms. Rice’s statement. If she were complaining about the governmental response to the situation I would stand right beside her, but she specifically addressed her comments to “her country” and accused us all of turning a blind eye and dismissing the victims there. That simply did not happen, and it’s disrespectful to every American who has sent checks to the Red Cross or Salvation Army, collected clothing and supplies, or put their lives on hold to run down and rescue people they’ve never met to say that. This has been a national tragedy, regardless of where it was located, and from the first moments it has seen a national response. I do sympathize with her and what she must be feeling right now, but I hope that you’re right and that she does amend her comments, because Ms. Rice needs to get some perspective on who she’s talking about.

Nephythys
09-15-2005, 10:30 AM
Though it seems clear that she does not place as much blame on the local authorities (Blanco and Nagin) as she does all the rest of us.....

That's ridiculous-and misinformed at best.....

Not Afraid
09-15-2005, 10:40 AM
Anne Rice was in the midst of the distruction, shortly after Katrina hit, when she wrote this. I'm sure her feeling and perceptions were valid then. I know she is not the only one who felt that the collective "we" had failed her fair city. This is a strongly emotional piece written from a position and anger and frustration. Take it for what it is at the time and place it was written. We have hindsight, she had nothing.

Nephythys
09-15-2005, 01:02 PM
I do take that into consideration- and then I realize that means that her first reaction was to accuse people of turning their backs on N'awlins. I still have to question her motivation, emotional or not.

wendybeth
09-15-2005, 08:44 PM
I do take that into consideration- and then I realize that means that her first reaction was to accuse people of turning their backs on N'awlins. I still have to question her motivation, emotional or not.

I'm quite certain her intent was to slight the American public so they would stop buying her darned books!

Again, most of us weren't there and have no idea what these people went through and are continuing to go through. We do have a few members who live in the area, so as far as I'm concerned their comments hold a lot more weight than yours, mine or anyone elses who have not been directly affected. I'm not going to knee jerk react to Ms. Rice's comments because I'm feeling a little touchy about Mr. Bush being under fire, either.;)

Jazzman
09-15-2005, 11:19 PM
I'm not going to knee jerk react to Ms. Rice's comments because I'm feeling a little touchy about Mr. Bush being under fire, either.;)
I know that you winked, but I really do hope that nobody has actually done that here. I can't believe that, in the face of all that's going on down there, anyone would form opinions and react to this disaster according to political affiliations. I know that many are elsewhere, but I reaaallllyy hope that we're all above that here.

Nephythys
09-16-2005, 07:42 AM
I'm quite certain her intent was to slight the American public so they would stop buying her darned books!

Again, most of us weren't there and have no idea what these people went through and are continuing to go through. We do have a few members who live in the area, so as far as I'm concerned their comments hold a lot more weight than yours, mine or anyone elses who have not been directly affected. I'm not going to knee jerk react to Ms. Rice's comments because I'm feeling a little touchy about Mr. Bush being under fire, either.;)

I am going to try to ignore the mocking tone of this post- really.

I don't have a "knee jerk" reaction- and my comment about Rice has nothing whatsoever to do with anyone's comments regarding Bush.

Cadaverous Pallor
09-16-2005, 12:00 PM
I am going to try to ignore the mocking tone of this post- really.I'm curious - How does one ignore something by pointing it out?

Morrigoon
09-16-2005, 12:11 PM
You can't ignore something you're not aware of... you can only "be ignorant" of it. So in order to purposely "ignore" it, she must first be aware of it.

PanTheMan
09-16-2005, 12:47 PM
Though it seems clear that she does not place as much blame on the local authorities (Blanco and Nagin) as she does all the rest of us.....

That's ridiculous-and misinformed at best.....


US?.... are you working in the White House? Who is "US"???

No one is blaming YOU.

Nephythys
09-16-2005, 01:07 PM
US?.... are you working in the White House? Who is "US"???

No one is blaming YOU.

Read the article P-

But to my country I want to say this: During this crisis you failed us. You looked down on us; you dismissed our victims; you dismissed us. You want our Jazz Fest, you want our Mardi Gras, you want our cooking and our music. Then when you saw us in real trouble, when you saw a tiny minority preying on the weak among us, you called us "Sin City," and turned your backs.

Cadaverous Pallor
09-16-2005, 03:04 PM
I really don't like being lumped in with all the people that fvcked up the efforts on the Gulf Coast. I know Rice was angry, but it's uncalled for to blame every single American for that.

If only she could have kept her essay pointed in the right direction, I'd be happy to support it.

PanTheMan
09-16-2005, 06:57 PM
I think she is using 'You' as a metaphore for America. Not people in particular. Kinda like when we refer to America as 'She'....Hmmmm, But then it might be a 'She' Ever been to the Jersey Shore?...kinda smells like..uhh... I always pictured America to be more of an old man. Look at a map. Florida does look like it needs a shot of Viagra....

wendybeth
09-16-2005, 09:33 PM
I am going to try to ignore the mocking tone of this post- really.

I don't have a "knee jerk" reaction- and my comment about Rice has nothing whatsoever to do with anyone's comments regarding Bush.

I'm questioning your questioning of her motives. What, pray tell, did you mean by that statement? The conclusions I draw are not very nice- that perhaps she is using this crisis to further her own ambitions? Truly, I am curious.