Re: New Orleans OT

And this has what to do with opera? OTOH, come to think of it, possibly
Zylis Gara could restore some (prissy) order and redemption amidst the
chaos. Don't you think? Now, which current fiasco do you consider
greatest?: Renee in Mozart at Avery Fisher, Katrina at the Superdome,
or the Shiite stampede in Baghdad?

REG wrote:
> This now seems to be a completely tragic situation, one which is not nearly
> over and will not be resolved for weeks, and it may have a much broader
> impact on our society. Although the damage was obviously going to be serious
> in any event, with inevitable loss of life and property, I discounted many
> of the early news stories, prior to the hurricane hitting, because
> newspapers love these "weather stories" almost as if they were ghost
> stories or newspaper-friendly versions of the latest catastrophe film -
> there's a 'thrill' quality for the reader which is often somewhat of an
> exaggeration of the facts. While it looked initially that the hurricane
> would do serious damage, it still seemed that even in the mid-term this was
> another event which, for the most part, people would overcome as one of the
> periodic disruptions in our lives.
>
> However, the breaking of the two levees, the destruction and additional
> death caused by this, and the civil disorder which follows makes me feel as
> if this will not be much less disruptive for this part of the country than
> 9-11 was for New York and to a lesser extent Washington. I think about how
> Detroit was changed by the riots, and never really recovered, and although
> there will be more infrastructure standing after the flood waters finally
> recede (in a few weeks), the extent of the damage done, and the social
> fabric torn -which may be a big part of it - may make a permanent change for
> the city, and perhaps more broadly in terms of our dependence on oil and gas
> as energy sources. The power blackout in New York in the 70s lasted for only
> a day, I believe, but for many years thereafter the rioting and looting and
> needless loss of life gave many people a view of the society as far more
> fragile and stress-ridden (between classes) than they'd thought of before.
> Obviously it was largely the poor and the underclass which couldn't (or
> didn't want to) leave New Orleans, and the looting and disruptions
> otherwise, as well as what looks to be the fiasco of the Superdome, may have
> a serious impact on the consciousness of everyone who thinks about returning
> to New Orleans. No doubt, more people will have to come back and live
> there than was necessary in Detroit - there is an offshore oil and gas
> business to attend to, and it's a tourism city - but I suspect that this is
> going to be more of a turning point - perhaps not in a good way - for people
> than we thought even a few days ago.

.

Relevant Pages

  • New Orleans OT
    ... Although the damage was obviously going to be serious ... newspapers love these "weather stories" almost as if they were ghost ... periodic disruptions in our lives. ... didn't want to) leave New Orleans, ...
    (rec.music.opera)
  • Re: New Orleans OT
    ... PLEASE NOTE that the following did NOT originate with the REAL La Donna Mobile, who does not use a Yahoo address, and possesses considerably more compassion than the idiot troll who impersonates her! ... Although the damage was obviously going to be serious in any event, with inevitable loss of life and property, I discounted many of the early news stories, prior to the hurricane hitting, because newspapers love these "weather stories" almost as if they were ghost stories or newspaper-friendly versions of the latest catastrophe film - there's a 'thrill' quality for the reader which is often somewhat of an exaggeration of the facts. ... While it looked initially that the hurricane would do serious damage, it still seemed that even in the mid-term this was another event which, for the most part, people would overcome as one of the periodic disruptions in our lives. ...
    (rec.music.opera)
  • Re: OT - I cant believe some people!
    ... first attempts at stories by imitating the wizards of Henry Potter. ... has not read them) but tells them they are "evil". ... damage as a child than any wizard's fantasy could today. ...
    (sci.med.transcription)
  • Re: Good Read on aging cigars.
    ... Wade and Ramos (Freedom of ... Speech, PM!!!) ... do far more damage. ... You can tell me all the stories you want about how he was fun & civil & ...
    (alt.smokers.cigars)
  • Re: OT Asshole sighting
    ... Clinton committed Perjury. ... that the vast majority of the stories just weren't true. ... damage at $14,000, which was in line with the amount of damage when ...
    (alt.sports.baseball.bos-redsox)