Today the Mayor’s Office released details of the Commemoration Farce of the first anniversary of the arrival of Katrina and the subsequent failure of the Corps’ engineering work that flooded 80% of the city. It’s going to be a high-toned affair over three days and nights. There are basically four venues: Harrahs, the Morial Convention Center, the Arena and the Superdome.
From what I can see on the Events Schedule, there are only a few that the public is invited to attend. Much of it all requires tickets, especially for the Masquerade Gala (Diamond & Platinum tickets only). I guess the Mayor’s Office only wants us locals to be around as extras for the One New Orleans Procession and the fireworks display. Maybe we will be asked to show for the laying of wreaths at the levee breaks.
Outside of the wreaths thing, none of the rest seems to fit with what all of us locals need to be doing that day: hugging friends, sharing food, helping clean the place up, saying prayers for all who were killed by the Corps’ arrogance and follies or just sitting in quiet reflection of what the last year has brought to our lives.
And this B/S fireworks show? Fireworks are for a celebration. Most of us have little to celebrate at Year One Post-Deluge. If there was to be fireworks, I think the proper target should be us shelling City Hall with missiles, and glint of torches reflecting off the pitchforks and axes that the locals are bearing. “Come down from thy tower Chocolate Ray…”
This entire delusional soiree is not what we need the folks around the world to see. The PTB are “dissing” New Orleanians. They show a total disconnect with the realities of what the populace here actually face. The Upper Crust should be ashamed of themselves. Screw you all!
I’m also confused: we still don’t have a Master Plan for the rebuilding, but they managed to put this shit together? Fuck you very much Mr. Groundhog Mayor! Glad to see you have finally come out of your burrow for a party you prick!