Welcome to Part 7 of Lagniappe: To Give More! I have promised to diary once a week on the subject of Katrina recovery on the Gulf Coast, with special emphasis on New Orleans. To read previous diaries in this series, here's Part 6, which links to all of them.
Before I get to the important part of this diary, which is a roundup of all Katrina-related diaries posted at Daily Kos this week, I'd like to talk a little bit about humility as it relates to communicating to others what has happened in the Gulf Coast region since Hurricane Katrina.
And I will use local NOLA blogs to illustrate my thinking on this.
I am not an expert on the Gulf Coast region, nor am I particularly well versed when it comes to the details and issues on recovery. I am doing this series solely to keep the spotlight on this issue because I feel it is a national issue that has not been covered by traditional media in a way which is relevant to what is actually happening. And I'm learning as I go along, with the help of some great bloggers both here at Daily Kos as well as local bloggers in the affected areas both in Louisiana and Mississippi.
I am particularly saddened by the coverage of this issue in the New York Times. They've wrote a good editorial on how the federal government should repeal the Stafford Act (requiring matching funds from states in disaster recovery) (and please note I am linking to the local blog moldy city as after a couple of weeks the NYT editorials are not easy to link).
But they've recently had two front page stories on New Orleans, one of them in today's issue. This story talks about folks from New Orleans who have decided to move out, for many and various reasons.
It's a true enough story, the quotes are no doubt accurate as well as the statistics themselves. But there is no humility in this kind of reportage, and to have it on the front page of one of our most important newspapers is a sad thing, in my opinion. A local blogger expresses this far better than I.
From da po' blog:
"In Setback for New Orleans, Fed-Up Residents Give Up
***
A year ago, Ms. Larsen, 36, and Mr. Langlois, 37, were hopeful New Orleanians eager to rebuild and improve the city they adored. But now they have joined hundreds of the city’s best and brightest who, as if finally acknowledging a lover’s destructive impulses, have made the wrenching decision to leave at a time when the population is supposed to be rebounding."
People are going to leave. Some of them will be of the "best and brightest" bunch. Let them leave in peace.
They will be replaced.
We fault our leaders for not making tough decisions. I will not fault residents who do make tough decisions, like leaving. It is far better for them to leave than to stay with one foot in and one foot out. That’s only good when you’re doing the hokey pokey.
Rebuilding the area will take two feet in.
And the NY Times article is the second time I saw leaving referred to as treason:
"In battered but proud New Orleans, abandonment is a highly emotional subject, in part because many have made sacrifices to stay and rebuild. To some, leaving now is tantamount to treason."
...
As the t-shirt says, "It's not beautiful being easy." And things won't be easy in the Big Easy for a while. Everyone must bear that burden. Even the "best and brightest."
In fact, I expect more out of the best and brightest. They are equipped to bear the biggest and heaviest burden, or at least pick up the slack.
Or pick up and go. Do whatcha wanna. Hang on the corner...
Well I've probably copied more of this than I should have, but I think it's important. And it's not about the issue itself, whether folks who leave the area are traitors. It's about how this is reported. There's an arrogance in the traditional media that blocks any real understanding of what is happening in New Orleans. And the local bloggers provide that understanding. They are amazing in their pragmatism, able to bash local, state and federal, democratic and republican officials and representatives with a clarity entirely missing from news reports on the front page of the New York Times.
There's a humility there. An acknowledgement and recognition of the reality of the scene. And really, I'm not trying so much to indict the New York Times here, but am trying more to praise the local citizen journalists who provide the real and appropriate view of what has happened, who communicate in such a way that one feels empowered rather than depressed and fatalistic.
Ah, I'm expressing this poorly, I know, it's been a long week and I'm kinda scattered. I hope to illustrate examples of this better view in future diaries in this series. But humility is key, I think, to truly communicating the story of what has happened here in America insofar as Katrina recovery is concerned.
And now onward! To the Roundup!
There were 11 diaries this week by Kossaks on this subject, as follows:
HUD Plans to Raze Low-Income Housing in New Orleans: Barney Frank Hearing by Fiona West -- Diarist urges us to send Barney Frank some love for his good work in oversight when it comes to HUD's egregious record of condemning and urging destruction of public housing that has been proven to be reparable. This is an important diary and illustrates how good government and good oversight is essential to recovery of the Gulf Coast.
I Still Cry When I Watch This ... by onetwostep -- Diarist compiles a heartbreaking video, bringing to our attention all the work that still needs to be done for Gulf Coast recovery. Read the comments in this one, they fine tune the message in a wonderful way.
Why I am running for an at-large seat on my city council. by Annie Spell -- Great news in this diary, true people powered commitment by the diarist, who is the lone Democrat (and a progressive!) running for city council in Covington, Louisiana.
Top Gear has had it with US by northsylvania -- Diarist reports how a popular BBC2 show in Great Britain, broadcasting a road trip from Miami to New Orleans slams the region and discourages folks from visiting adding thoughts on why this is so.
The Most Unusual Story by nolalily -- Diarist paints a beautifully sensual and lyrical picture of her experiences in New Orleans while describing a new documentary on the city that aired recently ... in the comments there is a link to see this online (which I'm gonna do tonight!).
Barack Obama: Lukewarm on New Orleans by Transplanted Texan -- The diarist, who has a separate blog which concentrates on Katrina recovery and is evaluating all the 2008 Democratic presidential candidates, offers this insightful analysis of Barack Obama's plans for the region, and ably defends this analysis in the comments. This is political blogging with a local view at its best.
John Arthur Eaves, Jr. To Run Against Hayley Barbour in Mississippi by Rob -- Diarist reports on efforts of Dem John Arthur Eaves, Jr. to challenge incumbent Repub Governor Hayley Barbour -- imagine, a Democratic governor in Mississippi! Commenters discuss the odds of this happening.
From NYC To New Orleans - With Love by Nightprowlkitty -- After hearing of the tornado that sped through New Orleans earlier this week, a Valentine to New Orleans seemed in order.
State Farm to Mississippi Homeowners: You're On Your Own by Alegre -- After losing their battle in court, State Farm Insurance decides to shaft homeowners in Mississippi by refusing to insure them any longer. Good discussion in the comments, including by folks who work for the insurance industry.
Insurance Industry Issues Veiled Threat to the Gulf Coast by PolitiCalypso -- Another take on the State Farm story, with more excellent analysis on how State Farm has created many of its own problems but is now blaming those problems on their policyholders.
New Congressional Push for Katrina Recovery by Transplanted Texan -- Another diary from our indefatigable Katrina Recovery blogger, this one some good news. There is beginning to be some movement in Congress on the issue of recovery as House Democrats push a bill to waive the cumbersome Stafford Act requirement of states having to provide matching funds for disaster relief.