Letters to the Editor
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You have got to be kidding me
People are murdered every day in the Neutral ZOne, and they act like this for the jazz funerals? Oh wait, the people for the funerals can be shaken down this way.
Nagin needs to get off his tail and set out an executive order to end the arrests. Any Council people who try to recind it will get recalled. The funeral procession second line is an honor, and it should not be endangered by overpriced tourists buying New Orleans property for second homes.
I've second lined, and Father LeDoux performed my marriage. He's a family friend. He performed my brother's at St. Aug.
The diocese needs to take some of the money from the rich parishes with their damn "living nativities" and other craziness and support St. Aug.
I am so tired of diocese across the country closing black Catholic schools and churces, and then wasting money on building new shrines, or putting on idiot conferences that argue for stuff that wastes diocese money. Support what we have.
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Katrina or the Yuppies
The good people of New Orleans have gone through Hell and come back! As bad as Katrina was it was not something that could roll in and wipe away decades even centuries long traditions.But one thing the Good People of New Orleans better know and understand is that if they are not ever vigilant--what Katrina could not do--THE YUPPIES DAMN SURE WILL!!!! Tommie27
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San Francisco threw away a party like that once...
San Francisco threw away a party like this one once... It took place on Baker's beach and involved the torching of a wooden man. I wonder what ever happened to those wacky kids...
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to all musicians who've g'won & left a tune behind -- RIP
In a cavern, in a canyon,
Excavating for a mine,
Dewelt a miner, forty-niner
And his daughter, Clementine.
Oh mah darling, oh mah darling,
Oh my darling, Clementine,
Thou are lost and gone forever,
Dredful sorry, Clementine.
Light she was and like a fairy,
And her shoes were No. Nine,
Herring boxes, without topses
Sandals were for Clementine.
Oh mah darling, oh mah darling,
Oh my darling, Clementine,
Thou are lost and gone forever,
Dredful sorry, Clementine.
Drove she ducklings, to the water,
Every morning, just at nine,
Hit her foot against a splinter,
Fell into the foaming brine.
Oh mah darling, oh mah darling,
Oh my darling, Clementine,
Thou are lost and gone forever,
Dredful sorry, Clementine.
Ruby lips above the water,
Blowing bubbles, soft and fine,
But alas, I was no swimmer,
So I lost my Clementine.
Oh mah darling, oh mah darling,
Oh my darling, Clementine,
Thou are lost and gone forever,
Dredful sorry, Clementine.
Then the miner, forty-niner,
Soon began to peak and pine,
Thought he oughter 'jine his daughter
Now he's with his Clementine.
Oh mah darling, oh mah darling,
Oh my darling, Clementine,
Thou are lost and gone forever,
Dredful sorry, Clementine.
In my dre'ams, she still doth haunt me,
Robed in garments, soaked in brine;
Though in life I sued to hug her,
Now she's dead -- I draw the line.
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Oh, come on!
This is just plain wrong. The people of NOLA need to take a stand. I would get any video there is of this event (hopefully someone had a camera) and put it on Youtube and send it to the national media. Then shame the council members with it. Let your voice be heard!
Call the mayor and demand that people congregating for funeral marches NOT be arrested. I think funeral processions are a very endearing thing and it would be a damned shame if they were lost forever because one person complained about the noise.
I sometimes get annoyed with my neighbors but it's not like they were marching in the middle of the night. Get some earplugs! Surely you can do something else for the few minutes it takes for them to pass your house? The person who alleged made the call (AND the police persons) should be damned shamed of themselves!
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A Travesty
I swear the people of this country no longer know what freedom is, if they ever knew. Our humanness must always bow down to the demands of money and power, until we are all nothing more than machines in acceptable clothes and homes. Little cogs that spin on demand, the same way, as every other cog, let no man, no people ever enjoy this gift of life, let no one ever express themselves, unless of course that "expression" can be counted in bank accounts.
Yes in this country money is considered expression- fully covered by the first amendment, beyond the touch of the law. Yet music is an activity that must be "permitted" and state sanctioned. A priviledge that the lower class will be allowed, but only in the hours between 6 and 7 pm, lest they interfere with the Cogs prime time tv show about Americas next Idol.
How fitting that Americas "idols" are mostly talentless hacks singing glorified karaoke, yet Americas most iconic and beautiful form of expression is considered criminal. I guess the processions just don't generate enough revenue.
To hell with this, i'm gonna throw up now.
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Can Anybody Say:
"Police State." Why not just bring out the tasers. It works quite well on students who ask oh so long questions in public places. This country is rapidly circling the drain. We are quitely removing any public expression of anything but quite meek head down walking.
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Bands On the Run
As many have already noted, the New Orleans of post Katrina is a much different place
than before for many reasons. One such difference is the quality of new residents who
are buying up property in historic areas such as Treme, the Marigny, and the French
Quarter. These mostly wealthy people are using their clout with the City Council and
other authorities to change the culture of New Orleans to conform to an image that had
never existed. One does not choose to live in the above mentioned neighborhoods for
goodie-two-shoes peace and quiet. The suburbs were created for that. What is so
outrageous about these new "residents" is their insistance on forcing long-existing
cultures to cease doing the very things that make New Orleans the distinctive and rich
city it is famous for being. I am a vocalist who has enjoyed the friendship and support
of many local musicians. The only true American art form, Jazz, began and florished
here. Particularly the musical life of the Treme has been the life's blood of that time-
honored tradition. As a bonafied, real, and devoted resident of New Orleans, I resent
the treatment of the Treme musicians by the police department.
Some of these so-called "residents" have organized into groups with names like "Citizens
For the Quality of Life in the French Quarter" or "Residents for 'the PRESERVATION' of
Quality of Life" and so on. While the musicians of New Orleans have returned to try to
resume their rich cultural lives, facing daunting financial and emotional odds, and
having lost most or all of their personal possessions continue to CONTRIBUTE to the
city, the "Concerned Citizens" have contributed NOTHING. Countless clubs and venues
for musicians to play and earn a decent living have been prohibited from having live
music by these "concerned residents". They moved to New Orleans because it would be
"fun", but now want to change the culture to fit their own petty needs. Who could be
so stupid to buy a con-do in the 400 block of Bourbon Street and complain about the
"quality of life"? My neighborhood, the Marigny Triangle, has many bars and clubs.
The main area is Frenchman Street. Would I rent or buy property on the 600 block
of Frenchman and begin a campaign to shut down the excellent music venues there?
A rational person moves to a particular place BECAUSE of its ambience, not IN SPITE
of it.
We, the musicians, have become victims because we are not organized and do not have
inside access to the City Council. Until we correct that situation, the "concerned citizens"
will continue to destroy our culture.