New Orleans should officially be called, "The Forgotten City." I had a conversation with a clinical psychologist who is world-renowned for her work with victims of trauma, specifically major, national disasters, mass shootings and more. One of her statements resonated with me. With a heavy heart and somber affect, she stated: "I am ashamed to be an American." She referred to how little America has thought about the rebuilding and rebirth of one of the richest cities in the U.S. WOW! Now, that's saying something...
New Orleans is a city unlike any other. The culture is more than just unique. The people that comprise its population resemble those iconic figures from some bygone era. Yet, there are several sides to the Forgotten City. Adjacent to its rich culture and hometown pride, lies a hidden mystery lurking to destroy all that for which New Orleans is known. What exists is a subculture of drugs and violence that eats the hearts of the city's children. The heroin that is injected into the veins of dark eyes leaves empty, hollow shells of little boys riding bicycles up and down the street.
Old tales of Jelly Roll Morton's lost soul and his return from the grave as a zombie do not seem so far-fetched, as blank stares look back from children left to wander through abandoned houses and parking lots filled with overgrown weeds. New Orleans has become the Forgotten City ruled by its forgotten children...
Another season of Mardi Gras came and went. Revelers from Dallas, New York, Los Angeles, Houston, Ann Arbor, St. Louis, and Chicago joined in the rebirth of New Orleans. For a time, the streets were washed clean, and the purple, green, and gold glistened on banners, beads, and dabloons. The pain and misery of the city yearning to heal was forgotten for a time. Those who were shot, stabbed, and robbed reminded us of the costs of forgetting.
Time is supposed to heal all wounds. How much time does the Forgotten City have?
February 25, 2007
February 23, 2007
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