Just Leave

manasecret · 06-01-2006, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KillerGremlin

what if you were born there, have deeply rooted family, and have lived there your entire life.

That's it right there. Not to mention, New Orleans isn't just some other generic city, especially to those that live here. It's not like you can just pack up your stuff and move and expect to find New Orleans in some other city. This isn't just another Best Buy city. It's got history. It's like asking to give up Boston, or D.C., or Paris, or Rome. It's an easy answer to say, to tell everyone, "just get up and leave." But I think we all know leaving the things we love is tough to do.

People have left, though. If another Katrina comes through, more will. The broken levees have only been shored up; there's a good chance a hurricane of much less power than Katrina could knock them out again.

I live in New Orleans. I'm not from here, and as soon as I graduate I'm abandoning the city -- and all I can ride on is hope that the next Katrina doesn't come through before I graduate. I feel selfish, but it was never in my plan to stay in New Orleans after I graduated.

Jonbo298 · 06-01-2006, 10:25 PM

I know people have thier "roots" with the city but if you want to keep risking your life to stay, then by all means do so. Just don't complain when the government isn't saving you right away for the decision to stay behind

manasecret · 06-01-2006, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jonbo298

I know people have thier "roots" with the city but if you want to keep risking your life to stay, then by all means do so. Just don't complain when the government isn't saving you right away for the decision to stay behind

I assume because you say "risking your life" and staying behind you mean people trying to ride the next storm out. But the next storm hasn't come yet, and I'm pretty sure most New Orleanians have plenty evidence all around them to know not to try to ride it out again without you giving them advice. Thanks, though.

Jonbo298 · 06-02-2006, 12:39 AM

I'd hope they do.

kthxbye

KillerGremlin · 06-02-2006, 01:59 AM

I haven't heard too many complaints. A lot of the complaining is coming from the anti-Bush people, complaining about how poorly the administration handled the whole situation. I have yet to see a news report where a long time resident has gone, “awwww f*ck, a hurricane.” Areas in California, Florida and Kansas are always being rebuilt despite mother mature’s constant attempts at crushing. The big difference here is, a tornado might rip a home up, but hurricanes can devastate an entire city. If we, humanity, don’t blow ourselves up, maybe one day we’ll have the technology to really control mother nature or defend ourselves.

fingersman · 06-02-2006, 07:15 PM

Did anyone even stop to think that moving out of someone's home town and starting a life some place else cost money? And that maybe just maybe some of those people that live there can't afford to move? Please don't forget that after the hurricane alot of people might have been out of jobs and the city might still not be fully functioning the way it's suppose to. So economics may be a factor in this.

People say things like "why don't they just move?", but until you're in the situation there is no way you could fully understand it. So to make a comment like that is harsh and IMO shows a lack of understanding and compassion.

Teuthida · 06-02-2006, 07:34 PM

^ concur

Professor S · 06-03-2006, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fingersman

Did anyone even stop to think that moving out of someone's home town and starting a life some place else cost money? And that maybe just maybe some of those people that live there can't afford to move? Please don't forget that after the hurricane alot of people might have been out of jobs and the city might still not be fully functioning the way it's suppose to. So economics may be a factor in this.

People say things like "why don't they just move?", but until you're in the situation there is no way you could fully understand it. So to make a comment like that is harsh and IMO shows a lack of understanding and compassion.

Actually a good amount of the people have already taken the money, the large amount of it, that the government has already allocated to the hurricane victims and have moved out and aren't returning. In my area alone (Philly) there have been numerous news reports of people who have left and started new businesses in the tri-state with that money. Even the demographics of the city have changed, as most of the people who have moved there are those that are REBUILDING IT. Thats why the latino population has skyrocketed in NO.

You can have all the understanding and compassion you want, but the ******* fact is that city is doomed. You can either cry and whine about "how am I going to do this" and blame everyone for what happened, or actually do something to get out and make a life for yourslef instead of waiting for the next disaster. Our decision has been to rebuold levees on a city that cannot sustain them because its sinking. BRILLIANT. But I guess if we all just have a good cry with the residents and then blame the big-bad government it'll make everything better. And NO, its not out responsibility to SAVE them. Its their responsibility to save themselves. Moving may be frightening, especially if your not wealthy, but its better than the alternative. The need to take responsibility for their own lives.

Calls for compassion and understanding are a cop-out and excuse for ignorance. I'd rather be pragmatic than compassionate any day. Its just not politically correct to do so.

But what do I know? I'm a monster for even suggesting any of this.