IN UNITY WILL COME PEACE

Last night the Velevet Glove Brigade met and had our usual gin and tonics on the verandah.  Some of the gentlemen preferred their Southern Comfort Manhattans.  However, all of our thoughts were on the state of this city.  Six years ago, on the morning of the 27th,  Rhett and I had packed and left for the plantation to the west.  We were worried and not only for ourselves but for some dear friends who we had to meet and escort to the site where we were going also.  Last night we all worried about friends and family members in the line of Irene.  Eventually our talk returned to the status of New Orleans.

We look at New Orleans not simply as recovering from Katrina, which caused the city and its citizens so many problems but we sincerely believe and looked at the city as having deteriorated over a long period time into a cesspool of crime and immorality.  It is a city that has been without leadership for decades.  It is a city that has been filled with the filth of people using the peoples' monies for their own selves - monies meant for improvement of the lives of many.  The substructure alone of the city had deteriorated as a result of the negligence of city leaders and was even more deteriorated by Katrina.  The school system had been destroyed by the lack of parental envolvement and proper oversight by the existing Board and other officials and yes the unions that represented the teachers.  Businesses of importance had long gone.  Canal Street was filled with stores of little importance and those stores that had once been there are now located in suburban areas.  Citizens were being taken advantage of by non-profit organizations of all kinds, whose leaders were using funds for their own purposes instead of for the people for whose lives those funds were given to improve.  However, what we often discussed was the cause of so many problems is the continued issue of racism and the hatred which it caused over the decades.  What we were seeing was a different form of the Civil War.  Katrina brought it to the forefront as was disclosed by Ray Nagin's infamous "Chocolate City" speech.  It is that same war that is being fought today but even beyond that point.  Children are killing children, young men are killing others over foolish issues, young women are bearing children without the hope of a decent life ahead.  The list goes on and on and all of you can add to it.  Yes, the Saints will play, Mardi Gras will come, etc.  Yet, this city cannot rely on those activities alone.  We must unite, as we have said time and time again, in order to achieve what we believe to be a New Nouvelle Orleans.  We must put aside all hatred.  We must show the young people of our city the value of an education.  We must instill moral values in our own lives and the lives of others.  We must elect people of principles and not simply because of their agenda or because of their support by certain groups of people.

Early in our postings online we stated the following:

WE THE PEOPLE OF NEW ORLEANS, in order to establish a more perfect union of all citizens, regardless of race, color, or creed, must unite as one in an orderly and logical manner to provide for the resurrection of our city.

THEREFORE, we propose the following logical propositions and recognize fully that this may affect more people of one kind than the other, but for the good of all this must be done and in order to form a more perfect union of and by all people:

1. The levees of this state must be completely overhauled in order to provide protection from the lowest of parishes, close to the gulf, to all of this state. City, parish, state, and federal officials have the responsibility to adhere to the recommendations of experts in the fields and to hire reputable and proven contractors to fulfill this need.
2. An orderly approach to the return of the citizens to this city is essential in order to provide them protection and to provide them suitable housing. We cannot allow people to rebuild without some provisions for housing that will withstand future storms. The come back all philosophy adhered to by some is foolish and indicative of negligence and continued abuse of the citizens by politicians, who see reelection or election and not what is logical and best. All housing must be adequate and all public housing must and shall adhere to the laws of this state and this nation. Codes must be enforced and indeed strengthened.
3. We must bring back our business, both large and small. We must provide for proper medical care and facilities that are the very best. We must attract the newest of businesses with technology of the present and visions of technology of the future. Businesses must be strictly regulated and must adhere to strict codes that must be put into place. While we admire the architectural beauty of many buildings, these too must be protected and yet updated to provide for the protection of quality businesses of all kinds.
4. We must provide public education (including higher education) for all that will provide students with challenges, provide teachers of ability and strength to accomplish that education. The school boards of this city and state must and shall be overhauled to eliminate the factors that have caused the collapse of education in this city and yes of this state. Boards filled with political cronies are no longer acceptable but quality boards consisting of well qualified persons are required.
5. We can no longer allow the issue of race and color to determine the future of this city. We must come together as one family for the good of all.
6. We must provide for a government of the people and for the people. This means that the government of this city (indeed of this state) must be overhauled in order to assure that it is streamlined, cost efficient, and provide respectful and quality services to all people of this city. This includes all levels of government including assessors, the court system, the police system, etc.
7. We, as citizens, have our duties too. We must elect officials of vision, not simply of promises. That is the very foundation of our constitution and necessary for the future of this city.

We the ordinary citizens of this city and state must be heard and must be followed. We ourselves must overcome our prejudices, our outmoded views, and look to the future of what we know can be and what we will continue to call the city of our dreams, the new Nouvelle Orleans.

Even today, we stand behind that original post.  We ask others to do the same.  Many years ago, even before I married Rhett, I saw Richard Kiley in the Man of La Mancha and I heard him sing those immortal words:

To dream the impossible dream
To fight the unbeatable foe
To bear with unbearable sorrow
To run where the brave dare not go
To right the unrightable wrong
To love pure and chaste from afar
To try when your arms are too weary
To reach the unreachable star

This is my quest
To follow that star
No matter how hopeless
No matter how far

To fight for the right
Without question or pause
To be willing to march into Hell
For a heavenly cause

And I know if I'll only be true
To this glorious quest
That my heart will lie peaceful and calm
When I'm laid to my rest

And the world will be better for this
That one man, scorned and covered with scars
Still strove with his last ounce of courageTo reach the unreachable star

We will not give in - we will continue to strive for what many call the unreachable star, THE NEW NOUVEAU ORLEANS.