late night blogging

It's 11:45 pm, and despite a long day of walking around New Orleans and painting primer on a halfway-rebuilt house, I can't sleep. Maybe what's keeping me awake is the existential sadness that such a beautiful city can be ignored and forgotten by the men we elected to keep our country safe and strong.

But more likely, it's because the chump in the next bunk won't stop snoring. Compassion be damned...sometimes you just wanna kick someone in the face. So, in the hopes that my neighbor's nasal passages will clear out with time, I'm up and blogging.

Today's expedition around the French Quarter was fun but bittersweet. We all had a great time eating, shopping, walking, and taking goofy pictures, and I definitely did my part to support New Orleans' economy. But it's sad to see the stark difference between the "tourist" neighborhoods and the block where our Hands On base is situated. The "new" New Orleans definitely has two sides -- the strong, positive, optimistic side that is promoted to the outside world as proof that the city will thrive, and the distressed, chaotic, and dangerous side where gang activity runs high and damaged houses & debris stand waiting to be repaired or demolished.

On our first night, we heard from a speaker & activist whose message was "WE WILL NOT BE SILENT". I realize now how vital it is to speak up about the issues facing New Orleans, and to confront the fact that tourism dollars and Saints games are good, but they won't bring the city back to the level of stability needed for real re-development. That stability can only be accomplished by spreading awareness of the "other", unseen side of New Orleans and mobilizing the efforts of local & federal government and volunteer organizations to counteract the negative, destructive, and corrupting influences that are burrowing into the heart of the city. It's good to have Mardi Gras, and it's good for Americans to see that New Orleans is not dead. But it's also important to acknowledge that much work still remains to be done, and the embattled citizens of this proud city can't do it all by themselves.

I've only been here a day and I already want to come back and work with Hands On again.
I urge any of you with a desire to help to look into volunteering. Hands On makes it incredibly easy...they give you a place to stay, food to eat, and well-organized volunteer projects. All you have to do is show up and work. But if you can't come volunteer, at the very least, don't be silent. Tell your friends and family about the situation and spread the word. The more people we reach, the better chance we have of helping this struggling city get back up on its feet.

-- Jason

p.s. - here are some more photos from our trip so far. Sorry if they're a little blurry...my camera-phone is tempermental.