New Orleans

I am at the Southern Political Science Meeting In New Orleans.  I have been to N.O. more than 10 times but this is the first time since Katrina.  For most of the people visiting the differences before and after Katrina will have no effect on their visit.  From my view, entering into New Orleans from Mississippi I could see much of the damage and it was really bad.  What broke my heart was to leave the expressway to turn onto Canal and see the miles of tent cities that have appeared under those expressways.  It is very weird to see all this in the USA.  New Orleans was always a dirty city on the brink but this is one step beyond.  Good luck to all those people and all of us have to remember that the people down in New Orleans and on the Gulf Coast still need our help.  I will visit N.O. in the future but it will be hard to have fun because it no longer is just a fun town.