Who Dat?
I am watching the coverage of the New Orleans Saints coming home.
I always knew that the people of New Orleans were proud of where they come from. The aftermath of the storm proved that to me.
I was in NOLA both before and after the storm, and I always found it really moving that these people were so proud to come home and make their city as great as it ever was and not abandon it and leave it to be claimed by the storm.
Then The Princess and the Frog happened.
Disney celebrated New Orleans in their return to hand drawn animation. Indulge me for a moment while I quote my interview with Disney Chief Creative Office, John Lasseter, from movies.ie
It could be said that the public perception of New Orleans is very rooted in images of the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, what impact do you hope that this film will have on the perception of New Orleans?
JL: My dream is that audiences around the world will look at this film and fall in love with New Orleans the way I love New Orleans and want to hop on a plane and go visit there because New Orleans is still there. I was just down there last week and I met the mayor, Ray Nagin, and he was saying as he travels around the world, people ask ‘is there still water in the streets?’ There are still many devastated parts where the houses are gone and people are slow to come back to those areas but when you come back, the French Quarter wasn’t really damaged, the Garden District wasn’t really damaged and that is still there and still strong. The food is still as good… The gumbo, the beignets… [laughs] And the music is still in the streets, it’s just spectacular. I am hoping that people will look at this and discover New Orleans.
I think John Lasseter hits the nail on the head with regard to the movie.
Then the Saints won the Superbowl and the people of New Orleans had another reason to celebrate their city.
The crowd out on the streets tonight are amazing and they are exactly the reason that New Orleans is as strong as it is.
I am with you in spirit tonight people, stand up, get crunk and celebrate your bad selves.
