And now an alternate take on Katrina
Hurricane Katrina is probably a blessing in disguise. For those who are in the swath of destruction or have family in the area, it might be difficult to see how it could be a blessing. But this cloud does have a silver lining.
First, the devastation of New Orleans will force the city to rebuild itself. Having never been to New Orleans, I can only relay the descriptions of it that I've gotten from other people, but it seemed to be a literal crime ridden cesspool. Rebuilding it will allow for modern principles of building (if you are going to build in a hurricane zone, take that into account) and urban planning to take effect. New Orleans may lose some of its color, but the area will likely benefit from the change. Tourists will be anxious to see the new New Orleans where they don't have to be afraid of getting mugged.
Second, the disruption in fuel refining capacity will cause sticker shock at the pumps. For those of us who look down upon the commuting SUVs and cars of conspicuous consumption, we get to watch as their monstrosity quickly becomes the dinosaur it ought to be. Car manufacturers will have to work harder at producing more fuel-efficient vehicles. Gas prices will eventually settle down, but folks they are generally going to be expensive from here on out.
First, the devastation of New Orleans will force the city to rebuild itself. Having never been to New Orleans, I can only relay the descriptions of it that I've gotten from other people, but it seemed to be a literal crime ridden cesspool. Rebuilding it will allow for modern principles of building (if you are going to build in a hurricane zone, take that into account) and urban planning to take effect. New Orleans may lose some of its color, but the area will likely benefit from the change. Tourists will be anxious to see the new New Orleans where they don't have to be afraid of getting mugged.
Second, the disruption in fuel refining capacity will cause sticker shock at the pumps. For those of us who look down upon the commuting SUVs and cars of conspicuous consumption, we get to watch as their monstrosity quickly becomes the dinosaur it ought to be. Car manufacturers will have to work harder at producing more fuel-efficient vehicles. Gas prices will eventually settle down, but folks they are generally going to be expensive from here on out.
posted by mypetrock at 1:26 PM
5 Comments:
Me and my guilt-ridden mid-size SUV will agree with you the second point... but I think that maybe your first paragraph was a bit harsh. Our trip to New Orleans earlier this year wasn't fear-ridden in the least. Even walking around the French Quarter at night with a baby didn't give me any worry. And all the historic architecture that was destroyed in the hurricane may not have been the most modern, but it has survived for decades, and only worst of our century's storms was able to destroy it.
To toss in my political jab -- let's not forget that Bush's administration is responsible for dramatically cutting back Army Corps of Engineer projects that would have strengthened levees and possibly prevented much of the devastation in New Orleans.
Ah, Paul is feeling more charitable than I.
Regarding the "commuting SUVs," well, keep your high standards in mind next time you want to haul dry-wall or a toilet from Home Depot.
Regarding New Orleans and mugging, your post makes you sound like the middle-class white suburbanite that you are. New Orleans is a city of many colors. And like in any city, there is crime. But it's a beautiful and unique place. I have visited New Orleans many, many times, and I have walked - alone - all over the city's historic discticts. The last thing we need is yet another "colorless" modern city. What makes New Orleans so special is its history and its local flavor. It's like nowhere else in the world. And let's not forget that a hurricaine didn't didn't damage the city. It was a failure in the levy system at the lake, which could just as easily have happened with "modern principles of building" skyscrapers, or even in a city like Chicago.
Finally, about the silver lining. Ill-considered wording at best. Assuming that the hundreds or thousands of dead bodies don't move you, assuming that the women being assaulted and raped in the convention center and the SuperDome don't bother you, then consider all of the animals who have died while locked in the amazing New Orleans zoo and the incredible aquarium.
So there might be taller skyscrapers, more gentrification, and more uniformity to the "new" New Orleans. That's supposed to offset this tragedy? Not in my world.
Let me clarify my comments on SUVs quickly. SUVs have their purpose - they are an efficient way to haul a consumer sized (as opposed to industrial) amount of goods and people about. They are in their element in off-road situations. The line that is too often crossed with respect to SUVs is when they become more of a status symbol than a conveyance. Let's pretend that SUVs were no sexier a car to have than a sedan. How many fewer SUVs would be on the road? Would you have one? In that case, you generally fall into the group that uses it as a tool rather than being the tool in the driver seat.
Let me admit that I have paid less than full attention to what is happening in New Orleans. I have not paid any attention to the details of the destruction. But for all what you've described, I certainly hope there is a silver-lining - if not the one that I've proposed. Otherwise it's just rain.
In explaining that that I've mischaracterized pre-Katrina New Orleans, you've described your experiences in the French Quarter and the historical districts. But what happens when you wander off of the beaten path? How safe would you feel in the much less-touristy areas?
Seriously? Consider the animals?
Yes, seriously: consider the animals. Especially since the people didn't seem to move you much. The pictures of dead zoo animals were incredibly depressing. And there weren't as many pictures of raped and murdered women in the news.
It's difficult to explain New Orleans to someone who has never been there. The city *is* historic districts. Newer suburban areas and parts of the Central Business Disrtict (including some very modern office towers and hotels) were flooded, while much of the French Quarter escaped the destruction unscathed.
The "historic districts" of New Orleans aren't well-preserved tourist areas. Areas of The French Quarter are supposed to be some of the roughest places in the city. (It's difficult to find crime maps by neighborhood just now, since many of the local web sites are down.) But the worst of the destruction surrounded residential neighborhoods. Hundreds of blocks of urban and suburban houses, flooded.
Silver lining? The president finally admitted that he made a mistake. But that hardly balances the terror that's been going on in Lousiana and Mississippi. Regardless of whether or not there was crime in the effected areas, suggesting that hundreds of people being assaulted, thousands of people being killed, and many more being displaced from their homes while losing all of their belongings (bye bye baby pictures) is "a blessing in disguise," well, that's beyond callous.
Regarding SUVs, well, of course I agree with you about the Lincoln Navigators and H2s that will never be going off-roading or even hauling muddy gear. But I am dog-tired of hearing liberals use "SUV drivers" as a catchall phrase to signify the wrongs of our society. It's too broad of a brush - after all, how can you possibly know what that particular driver is planning to do with her H2 - and it overlooks Americans' consumerism on so many other levels.
> and it overlooks Americans' consumerism
> on so many other levels.
And you needn't look further than the previous post for an example. I bet the author could build a two ton SUV out of magic cards. :) My point is to just be careful where you throw stones. Almost all of us waste our money on something basically frivulous, it's the American way.
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