The New Orleans Fetish: The Real Reason New Orleans got no help after Katrina

I like it when people list reasons to save New Orleans:

1. It’s morally the right thing to do
2. It’s the government’s obligation to protect it’s cities and citizens
3. Because New Orleans is so special

The third reason, perhaps the most compelling argument to some, is actually what is hurting the systemic relief effort the most.

This is not because New Orleans is not special or not unique; it is because those who don’t give a d@mn about New Orleans have made it seem so special, so unique, so un-ordinary that it’s something that’s “nice to have, but not necessary to keep.” It’s too Black. It’s too French. It’s too “cultural.” That’s all B.S. code for it’s not really American.

On this 2nd anniversay of Hurricane Katrina, I am getting sick of people like G. W. Bush talking about how “special” New Orleans is. When they do relief the right way after hurricanes in Florida and other places, they don’t do it because Florida or Floridians are so special. They do it because the people of Florida are actually considered Americans.

Think next time before you so quickly agree that New Orleans should be saved because it’s special.

One Love. One II.