Should New Orleans be having Mardi Gras this year?

[Up2Late]

Poll question: Should New Orleans be having Mardi Gras this year?

I'm a bit torn on this issue, but as it looks like mostly locals letting off some steam, I think it's probably a good thing.

[redqueen]

1. Of course!

I think they could use the tourism $$$ more than ever before, actually.

[RC]

5. Yes, they sure not getting much $$$ from bu$h's government.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

2. Why shouldn't they?

They need the money and it's a great way to remind people what they're living through.

[Nutmegger]

3. Of course

They need to break loose and forget about funding, rebuilding, Bush Inc, etc, for a bit.

Party on folks! It's Mardi Gras!!:party:

[chelsea0011]

4. Yes, but they should have held it outside the White House

[Wickerman]

6. Do the locals want it?

Then I say more power to them. Glad to see them getting back on track.

[Up2Late]

9. Sure looks like it

Pssst. Web cams at www.nola.com ;)

[DS1]

7. I doubt these are mostly locals

[Up2Late]

12. Well it sure doesn't look like "Girls Gone Wild" to me...

(live web cams at www.nola.com):evilgrin:

[aquart]

17. One crew is living in Houston now. They came back for this.

I believe it is vital that the city's most important tradition continue uninterrupted.

And, if you looked at the floats, it did give them opportunity to vent.

[Up2Late]

20. I think I heard today that 12 members of Zulu died during "the Flood"...

...as the locals like to call it.

[aquart]

31. That's a heavy toll.

[meisje]

29. Oh I like lOOking at the floats

[aquart]

32. Did you see the t-shirts?

And the blue-tarp colored drink called the Katrina-Rita?

[in_cog_ni_to]

8. ABSOLUTELY! n/t

[BeeBee]

10. Absolutely 100% yes!!! n/t

[MidwestTransplant]

11. Ok, who is the Pinko who said no!

;)

[Warpy]

13. Not only are they making a bit of money

They're demonstrating that the city isn't dead yet. A lot of the Krewes put out virulently anti Stupid, anti Brown, anti Chertoff floats, so they're also demonstrating that they know who the big problems really are, something that's pretty amazing for a bunch of wealthy and conservative old farts. Of course, Nagin and Blanco haven't escaped unscathed, but ho hum, so it goes.

I think this was probably a very special Mardi Gras. I don't drink and I hate crowds, but I still wish I could be there.

[LA lady]

14. Of course.

Don't try to take our Mardi Gras away!!!

Tomorrow, sacrifice begins, I have to give up chocolate for Lent. waaahhhhh

[Up2Late]

16. Wouldn't think of it LA Lady, and good to see you are back on line!

Have Fun, I wish I was there too!:party: :evilgrin:

[LA lady]

21. Ooops!

I didn't mean anything by the Chocolate remark! That's a touchy subject here. I just look forward to my Cadbury eggs on Easter.

[JVS]

15. After seeing a news report on the tent hospitals that are barely able..

to deal with normal conditions there, I think that having a large blowout party is poor judgement.

[Up2Late]

18. Oh here we go, Some dude that looks like Charley Manson is holding...

...up a 8 foot tall sign (attached to a Cross) that says:

"e-mail this Street Preacher"

[email protected]

Well He IS asking for E-mail!:evilgrin:

[BringEmOn]

19. Yes! If they don't, the Crime Family wins.

[Raine]

22. No, because people

in this country get the message that everything is just fine as long as Mardi Gras goes on and they can put New Orleans out of their minds. I think people in this country need a wake up call that all is not well, that things are so bad that the party can't go on. x(

[zulchzulu]

23. Should NYC have celebrated New Years Eve on December 31, 2001?

Of course they should.

As for New Orleans, the parade routes were a LOT shorter than other years and it was a great chance for people to unwind, get their skip back in their step and make some money. It also put New Orleans back in the news.

[RB TexLa]

26. I didn't

Didn't really have a commerical type celebration of Christmas that year either, didn't really think it was proper.

[tyedyeto]

24. Not just yes! But Hell Yes!!!!

Mardi Gras is part and parcel of New Orleans culture, it should go on.

[RB TexLa]

25. balls and courts Yes, the parades No

The important stuff should have gone on. The parades should have been scaled back much further then they were.

[tyedyeto]

27. Why not the parades?

They have the right to celebrate their city, even though so many of them are displaced. Will the celebration give those people hope? I tend to think that is what will help rebuild the city.

[RB TexLa]

33. It's just a matter of what is and isn't appropriate

people living in tents while trailers are sitting in Arkansas

people being kicked out of hotel rooms, hopefully they can find tents

3/5ths of the donated money gone through and everyone now thinking "Why should I give a check to CC or the united way, those folks are parting it up down there."

[ignatius 2]

28. I think yes. Maybe a few bucks come into town which

helps the local economy and maybe for a few days some of those worst hit can have a few fond memories,laughs and forget their misery. Reality bites and will be back soon enough but for a moment in time maybe a few will have a chuckle or two.

I heard on NPR that one of the local bakeries was doing a huge number of the "baby" cakes,25,000, and that many of them were from the displaced who wanted a touch of home. Bless those people, they have suffered so much..my heart goes out to them cause Lord knows after his wierd photo-op shortly after Katrina, the Boy King has forgotten all about them.

[XOKCowboy]

30. Hell Yeah!

It's a locals festival in the first place. Secondly it brings people into NO to see what happened and how badly the government let down thos people.

I just wish I could be there.

[stevietheman]

34. Thumbs up! It keeps the Katrina disaster in the news. n/t

n/t

[Swamp Rat]

35. I'm getting sick of this question... it's a BIG FUCKING INSULT to even ask

:mad:

[Up2Late]

37. Sorry Swamp Rat, when I asked the question, I really had no idea...

...how folks here would respond here.

I just seemed like someone should break the uncomfortable silence and find out what folk were thinking on the subject.

No offense intended. :blush: :pals:

[Swamp Rat]

42. ok

It's a sensitive subject.

:hug:

[RB TexLa]

43. Not everyone in the city agrees on that

my cousin could voice his opinion on it, if he had electricity in the tent in his front yard. But I guess he should shut up and enjoy the parades, the 1/3 of restaurant owners who were lucky enough to be in a position to reopen want their fucking money!

[Maddy McCall]

38. It IS an insult.

I'm with you, Rat.

[Catherine Vincent]

36. At first I thought yes, it would be a good thing for the city.

But then after seeing poster Intheflow's photo essay a few hours ago, I was thinking NOLA shouldn't be partying right now. I saw some of it on CNN and it makes it seem like every thing is okey dokey. But Mardi Gras will bring a lot of money back into the city which is much needed. It's too bad the other hard hit areas like southern Mississippi can't have their Mardi Gras. :-(

[Maddy McCall]

39. Southern Mississippi (Biloxi) DID have their Mardi Gras.

You know, you people who think that the people of NOLA shouldn't celebrate WHO THEY ARE--their own cultural traditions--just make me irate.

[Catherine Vincent]

41. Like, I said at first I did want them to celebrate and then changed my

mind. I had changed it back again because I realized the city needed the money. And I didn't realize Mississppi (Biloxi) had their Mardi Gras.

[NMMNG]

40. Absolutely

They can bring in money to help further rebuild their city (because it's not like the government is doing enough), celebrate their ongoing recovery and heritage, and even memorialize those who lost their lives in Katrina. I say go for the gusto! :party: