Mardi Gras to the Rescue? Doubts Grow.

NYT ^ | nov 26, 2006 | JERE LONGMAN

[don-o]

NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 24 - After Hurricane Katrina floored this city, there was widespread hope that Mardi Gras would yank New Orleans back to its feet, helping to reclaim its spirit, its tourists and its economy.

The two weeks of Mardi Gras parades and parties have for decades been the city's binding cord, bringing together all segments of society and thousands of outsiders for a mix of the sacred and the profane. But with planning for the February Carnival season now under way, Mardi Gras has been plagued by harsh financial realities, indecision, lowered expectations and the possibility that this year's parade lineup could be absent some of its most popular krewes, or social clubs.

[don-o]

"Some said they worried that outsiders might receive conflicting signals from scenes of partying and drinking in a disaster area at a time when New Orleans has its hand out for billions in federal money."

YA THINK!!???

[don-o]

self bump ... I know I know

[sgtbono2002]

It sure would be awful to miss that two weeks drunken orgy wouldnt it?

[don-o]

Well..I never went as far as some, who called Kartina God's wrath. I believe the debauchery there has ramped in proportion to the level of society.

Not a good thing. Maybe the best thing would be if there is any indecent exposure on the street - no tolerance. If anyone is obviously intoxicated - no tolerance. Off to jail,

Larger question: Who pays? As I understand, NO is living off the federal tit. Whtever expense is incurred must be covered by private donations.

[KateatRFM]

Heck, we feel that way about Washington DC every day!

[don-o]

LOL!!!

[American in Singapore]

"If African-American participation is severely curtailed, Mardi Gras may run the risk of further delineating the class and racial divide exposed after the hurricane."

Well, we all know who is great at delineating, and Eleanor the Witch just did a good job of it there. We could also ask Wolf "they are soooo black" Blitzer what he thinks.

[ThanhPhero]

Who pays?<)>Hey, this is New Orleans we're talking about. It is highly likely that some of that Federal money will get siphoned off to pay for whatever parades and festivities they manage to put on the street.

[don-o]

I had considered also snipping that race bait.

Typical.

[zzen01]

If we are lucky then the next Cat 5 hurricane will hit New Orleans in the middle of Mardis Gras and take 100% of the reprobates with it.Mardis Gras has NO redeeming value so why have it?

[TexasCajun]

Most asked question at Mardi Gras.

Is it raining or is someone peeing on my leg? Again.

With the smell of beer, vomit and urine running through the streets, it's one party I don't mind missing out on.

[battlegearboat]

I'm going to Mardi Gras at Galveston, Texas.

I've always preferred it to the New Orleans gaunlet.

Galveston is vibrant and friendly and I like spending my money there.

[Klatuu]

Let's see:
Mountains of uncollected garbage and debris.
Erratic, and in many places non-existent, electrical service.
A shortage of hotel rooms.
A significant number of bars and restaurants that have not re-opened.
A police force of questionable quality and ability.
Hospitals and medical services with limited capacity.
An overall physical environment that poses some potentially serious health risks.

Why would anyone want to come into that?

[WasDougsLamb]

"Some said they worried that outsiders might receive conflicting signals from scenes of partying and drinking in a disaster area at a time when New Orleans has its hand out for billions in federal money."

****YA THINK!!???


---I agree. That's what I would think.I don't think Mardi Gras would be on my to-do list if I was homeless and jobless. PRIORITIES people!

[caryatid]

Historically, the movers and shakers in Mardi Gras festivities had the wisdom and grace to cancel Mardi Gras "during the dark years of 1918 and 1919 when the United States was involved in the bloody fighting of the First World War. The celebration struggled through the 19203 and early 30s which saw Prohibition and The Great Depression" ... and was cancelled again during the years of World War II.

Mardi Gras is not a panacea and should not be considered, even symbolically, the saviour of New Orleans at a time when the police department is severely reduced in numbers and capacity and the streets are already littered with mountains of uncollected trash and debris.

The potential for serious criminal activity, much less mischief in such an environment, should give those in charge pause to consider potential legal liability they might incur from their insistence upon this party.

IMHO the only possible justification for parading this year is the hope of luring tourist dollars to the beleaguered city. It is noted that the most vocal proponents of "The Show Must Go On" are the float builders who stand to lose a year's work if it does not.

Those who have bemoaned the money they have already spent [as planning begins the day after Mardi Gras for the following season] should step back and consider the possibililty that, perhaps, the stuff already purchased might be used the following year. Privately held balls should be held if those social organizations choose to hold them this year.

Mardi Gras has become a blatant celebration of debauchery. Wise crewes should assess whether or not such an orgy of self-aggrandizement and self-gratification is appropriate in light of the hurricane tragedy. They should further attempt to guage whether or not such a frivolous celebration might further sour the opinion of the nation against all things and people of New Orleans.

[caryatid]

It is not unheard of to cancel Mardi Gras:

Throughout the history of the Mardi Gras, over 150 years of parties and parades, it has been cancelled only 6 times, including a period of 13 years where Mardi Gras was completely cancelled.

Cancelled Mardi Gras
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1862-1865 Civil War
1875 Political Unrest
1918-1919 World War I
1942-1945 World War II
1951 Korean War
1979 New Orleans Police strike