NOLA: My You Know The Rest.....

[Thee Johnclave]

I posted this a while ago on "the other board" but with all the contradiction on this board; read it, agree, bitch, I don't care. I'm not replying to this thread so take it as you wish.....but give the situation some thought.

This is how I feel; personal opinion.


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If everyone could, take a moment to think about what has transpired in the Gulf Coast. We all face our share of challenges from day to day. I certainly have my own but when I reflect upon what's transpired since this past Monday; any troubles I may have are minuscule in comparison.

There may be many still left in cities such as New Orleans which should have headed warnings, but there are many who also had no choice. And those who possibly could have left but decided to weather the storm and very possibly attempted to save their family history are facing a terrible realization that despite their best efforts, the situation was simply beyond their control. These people need our help. They need everyone's help.

Many of us live our lives day to day and move from one thing to then next without any thought of what will happen tomorrow. We, maybe more so than others, do so as we're in a very fast paced industry where you must move ahead or be left behind. But now is a time of reflection where we should all be thankful that we have a roof over hour heads, running water flows free and we can head to the market to pick something up for supper without the threat of waist deep water and all that comes with it.

For all the pictures being circulated of "cops" carrying dvd's out of Walmart, what of those forcing themselves to push aside the dead to fight their way to innocent people suck upon their roof tops, waiting and hoping for someone to come and save them. Yes, we're witnessing a very disgusting side of humanity in all the looting, but think about the incredibly pure and driven side of humanity who is facing the worst odds imaginable and is putting themselves in harms way to do what they can to minimize damage.

It's easy for me to sit here on the sidelines and give encouraging words and say "We're here for you". Some who are very close to this community have faced very real tragedy of late. And I must say they are the most positive influences around these parts. You know who you are and my hat goes off to you.

I'm not certain why I chose to write this essay and may have even broken Cory's record for words per post, but in all sincerity, NOLA has in many ways felt like a second home to me for many years now. One of the closest relationships I've had in life, let alone business, was with my dear friends from HiRise. I've known them since I was wet behind the ears and they've shown me more courtesy than I'd expect from my own flesh and bone. I believe that deserves recognition.

I'll wrap this up in saying, we hear a lot of those who are still in the city, being bused out, looting, defending and simply trying to survive. Those people need our help. But remember, all those who left the city will, whenever they're allowed to reenter, come back to nothing. There are folks to the east who have felt absolute devastation, who have nothing. This isn't about a few, it's about a many, many, many. We can all project why it happened, why it shouldn't have happened and what will happen, but the present is now.

Homes, families, lives and partners have been literally ripped apart.

Please help.

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