"The Magical Misery Tour"

A Du member, fivecats, who isn't able to start posts yet, took a tour of New Orleans' Ninth Ward last week. These are links to his blog, his heart-breaking photos and narrative.

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<http://fivecats.livejournal.com/158155.html>
<http://fivecats.livejournal.com/158667.html>
<http://www.flickr.com/photos/fivecatimages/>

"There's nothing in these images that compares, for me at least, with the scenes from overhead of the neighborhoods sitting in several feet of water, where the gridwork scene was squares of roofs and a flat black liquid filling in all of the spaces in between.

I think for the time being the Ninth Ward will remain as it is if for no other reason than it's economic viability as a tourist destination.

The conference I attended offered a $35 "Misery Tour" for participants. (Our author friend driver smiled and said, "The Magical Misery Tour." I think he's right.

Meanwhile, the people who used to live in those houses, who escaped with whatever they could carry, have to continue a new life elsewhere as others capitolize on their pain and suffering."

Thanks, Aquart.

More entries and images are in the works.

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:hi:

No. I returned home last Sunday.

I was there from Tuesday June 13 through Sunday June 18th. The images of the damage done by Katrina were all taken on Saturday, June 17th, 2006.

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If you don't mind me asking. I am a curious 'native'. :)

I was there for the yearly conference of the Association of American University Publishers as well as for the IT pre-conference sessions.

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Thanks for the link. I am writing a thesis at the moment and I found some useful links. ;)

And thanks for caring about my beautiful Crescent City. :hug:

I'm glad I could lend some assistance.

While September 9/11 will be remembered as "The Defining Moment" of this generation, I think New Orleans is going to be remembered as the Massive Failure of this generation. There's no one, single "Do you remember where you were when __________" moment associated, nationally, with Katrina, the levee breech, the flooding, the lack of evacuation, the slow death of so many people and the crowded, inhumane conditions people had to try to survive through. Those scenes, however, were played out on television for the country to see and they still contain a huge emotional impact.

I think the massive failures in New Orleans just pull the mask off of the overall corruption in all of the various levels of government when it comes to the poorest of our citizens.

In the days following September 9/11 we all felt, for a moment, that we were New Yorkers. In the 10 months after Katrina, I don't necessarily feel that I'm a New Orleanian because I did not and am not suffering through the personal, financial and emotional devastation that the Cresent City residents lived through. I am, however, honored to have been given the opportunity to document the area, learn about the political factors that created the current situation there, and the Cresent City will always hold a special place in my heart as a result.

I don't think of myself as a crusader, but I do have a camera and the ability to write about what I see and what I learn.

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Welcome to DU!! :toast:

Having my blog and photos linked to from here is an honor.

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Those photos are so powerful. How disgraceful for the richest country on the face of the earth to leave the ninth ward in such despicable array, nine months later. I am so ashamed of this country.

It really is a stunning indictment of the failures of the local, state and federal governments.

The simple truth here is that if the wealthy lived in the flooded areas, they would not look like this after 10 months.

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