As I sit at the computer this afternoon, I look back over my lifetime and remember so much what has caused the downfall of this once great city. Through my blood runs that of immigrants back to the 18th century, before the War of Independence and the Civil War. My heritage was not one of wealth nor status but of hard working people with a determination that each generation would do more. More for not themselves but also for others was the basis of my family's beliefs. In my lifetime and that of my dear Rhett we have done so. However, often we have been criticized because of that.
Last weekend there was the celebration of the integration of public schools in New Orleans. How well we both remember those hideous days and those that would follow with the integration of Catholic Schools in this metropolitan area. However, little was said about the many people who were in favor of that integration and would support it. What was the cause of so many not being public about it - fear. That fear was loss of work, fear of retaliation by the worst of people, fear for their very lives. This was true both in the community of those of African ancestry and those of European ancestry and of other ancestries. There were those times when people would move signs so that people of a different ancestry could sit down - for this they were often referred to in the most vulgar of ways. Slowly but surely many moved to the suburban areas to escape that fear. How often people of different ancestries helped those of others - many, many times, dears. However, all of that was overshadowed by the fear that pervaded this area. What subsequent occured was a reverse discrimination in this city, that remains today. What happened also was the decrease of family and moral values that resulted in the destruction of the lives of many and of different social and economic backgrounds.
New Orleans has seen its many mayors over our lifetimes, as Rhett described in his blog.
