I was reading through the Daily Kos the other day when i watched a video on the front page.
If you follow me below the fold i'll explain why it reminded me of Katrina.....
Just watch the first forty-five seconds or so.
http://www.youtube.com/...
If you watched the video you will notice the symbol on the wall to the right. It sort of looks like a big "V". As soon as i saw that i was reminded of the many similar symbols i saw on houses when i returned to New Orleans after Katrina.
http://www.flickr.com/... (NSFW)
At one one point i could easily read what they represented. I've forgotten now. But seeing that symbol in Haiti made me wonder..... Was it in French(because of the "V" shape)? Were there people alive in there? Were there people dead in there? Will the people that survive always be haunted by these symbols? Will it fade away until some other disaster strikes and reminds them? Reminds them that someone else is now going through misery, doubt, and anguish about their city, like they once did?
I hope someone makes a bit of fun in the future like this local band in New Orleans did.....
It kind of reclaimed the symbol for us. Made us laugh just a bit. Another symbol here in the city that has received a lot of attention lately is the fleur de lis. You may have noticed it on the helmets of the New Orleans Saints? You know, our local professional football team that has been in the news of late? It looks like this......
But not like this.....
Unfortunately the NFL had a problem recognizing the difference and claimed it owned the fleur de lis and the phrase "Who Dat". It was the talk of the town and conversations in bars for a few days. Most people here were decidedly pissed off at the NFL and their claims. The NFL seemed to have backed off just a few days later. You really shouldn't mess with the Who Dat Nation as we are flying high this week. Here's a link to a video to give you an idea about how we are feeling.
http://www.youtube.com/...
I cry every time i watch that video. Symbols can be very powerful things. They can remind you of death. They can bring you joy. Today while i watch the Superbowl it will bring me joy. Joy that our city has come quite far from such tragedy. If the Saints do win i will be crying tears of joy. WHO DAT!?!