Well I liked it. As far as the camera crews, it was explained that they were doing a documentary on the lives of the down & out father/son & the young
couple moving to a new area. I liked it for the experience the rich folk got to have living like poor folks. The son had an epiphany when he realized not all
poor people were uneducated or lazy. That was worth the experience for me. Yeah, the needy people got money but the millionaires got so much more.
As for the Baton Rouge couple not realizing the devastation, yes, we watched on TV 24/7. I had 39 people staying in my cottage here in Marksville from Gulfport & New Orleans. It was hell. Everyone's nerves were fried. My brother watched as 12 feet of water covered his home in New Orleans East. He left his beloved dog with a bag of food & gallons of water. Needless to say, the dog was mush all over the house by the time they were allowed to go check things out. Everything was lost.
But it's one thing to watch on TV & quite another to actually go there & drive down the same streets you knew so well only to see ruin after ruin. The smells, the air is different, & it's certainly doesn't have the impact of seeing it yourself in person. Even today. It's overwhelming to think of where to start with a clean-up. Some folks can't face it to this day.
Oh yeah, the good old FEMA fiasco. That money didn't go to those in need. It went into the deep pockets of bureaucrats. The good old boy system was alive & well back then. But now that we have a competent Governor (Jindel) things are beginning to get done without cronyism.
But my point was to make you understand that watching TV & going there yourself are 2 entirely different things. Especially if you remember the beauty of the area before the storm hit. I used to work for an OB/GYN & we'd go to Buras 2 x a month. We'd work out of 2 trailers set up in the hospital parking lot. I got to know the great people down there. They're proud & hard working. Most work in commercial fishing or shrimp trawling. And most of them came here from Croatia at least a generation back to have a better life. That's why they will fight endlessly to restore their community. It may not look the same but it will be better.
The Rev made me cry.
eta: It DID seem highly edited & that was my only beef about this show. I'm sure the 2 guys just happened to be in line at the grocery store & saw the lady with all the milk. AND I'm doubly sure she gave them a ride with no qualms about if they were legit or not.! Really? Really? That could have been a rape/murder waiting to happen.
As for the Baton Rouge couple not realizing the devastation, yes, we watched on TV 24/7. I had 39 people staying in my cottage here in Marksville from Gulfport & New Orleans. It was hell. Everyone's nerves were fried. My brother watched as 12 feet of water covered his home in New Orleans East. He left his beloved dog with a bag of food & gallons of water. Needless to say, the dog was mush all over the house by the time they were allowed to go check things out. Everything was lost.
But it's one thing to watch on TV & quite another to actually go there & drive down the same streets you knew so well only to see ruin after ruin. The smells, the air is different, & it's certainly doesn't have the impact of seeing it yourself in person. Even today. It's overwhelming to think of where to start with a clean-up. Some folks can't face it to this day.
Oh yeah, the good old FEMA fiasco. That money didn't go to those in need. It went into the deep pockets of bureaucrats. The good old boy system was alive & well back then. But now that we have a competent Governor (Jindel) things are beginning to get done without cronyism.
But my point was to make you understand that watching TV & going there yourself are 2 entirely different things. Especially if you remember the beauty of the area before the storm hit. I used to work for an OB/GYN & we'd go to Buras 2 x a month. We'd work out of 2 trailers set up in the hospital parking lot. I got to know the great people down there. They're proud & hard working. Most work in commercial fishing or shrimp trawling. And most of them came here from Croatia at least a generation back to have a better life. That's why they will fight endlessly to restore their community. It may not look the same but it will be better.
The Rev made me cry.
eta: It DID seem highly edited & that was my only beef about this show. I'm sure the 2 guys just happened to be in line at the grocery store & saw the lady with all the milk. AND I'm doubly sure she gave them a ride with no qualms about if they were legit or not.! Really? Really? That could have been a rape/murder waiting to happen.
