New Orleans and a Battle in the Perception War

And so Mardi Gras went on. It was hard to have a party when so many died so recently. When so many have been dispersed to maybe never come home. When so many are homeless. When we don't even know -- still -- where over 2000 of our fellow Americans are. They are just gone.

But so it went on. At least for a few days in the perception war, America asked, "Is New Orleans still there?" The answer came back, "We're still here, baby, just like we've always been."

Without Mardi Gras, the perception may have been, "New Orleans really is dead."

Here's a great insight from the Voices of Katrina blog hosted by the Times-Picayune just to pull you away from the regular media template of comparing the Lower 9th with the French Quarter this week.

At my house we are going to have Jambalaya and King Cake while listening to Clifton Chenier and others tonight. We'll remember good times in New Orleans while hoping for the future. I hope you'll do something, too.

Here's a Rhapsody playlist for you. Just click on the link ...

New Orleans Rising:
1. Zydeco La Louisianne - Buckwheat Zydeco
2. Buck's Step Up - Buckwheat Zydeco
3. La Danse De La Vie - BeauSoleil
4. Give Him Cornbread - Beau Jocque & the Zydeco Hi-Rollers
5. La Danse De La Vie - BeauSoleil
6. Big Chief - Bo Dollis & The Wild Magnolias
7. Louisiana Man - Doug Kershaw
8. Home To New Orleans - Queen Ida
9. I'm Still Blinkin' - Chavis, Boozoo
10. Boozoo, That's Who - Boozoo Chavis/The Majic Sounds 11. That's What I Like About The South - The Red Stick Ramblers
12. Boppin' The Rock - Clifton Chenier
13. I'm The Zydeco Man - Clifton Chenier and His Red Hot Louisiana Band
14. Jambalaya (bonus track) - Jo-el Sonnier
15. Church Point Breakdown - Jo-el Sonnier
16. Mardi Gras Mambo - Zachary Richard
17. Louisiana Two-Step - C.J. Chenier & The Red Hot Louisiana Band
18. Two Step Mamou - Wayne Toups & Zydecajun
19. Caravan - Dirty Dozen
20. Save The Last Dance For Me - Geno Delafose & French...
21. Johnny Can't Dance - Wayne Toups & The Zydecajun
22. J'Ai Vu Le Loup, Le Renard Et La Belette - Balfa Brothers
23. Three Keys - James Booker
24. Hometown New Orleans - Champion Jack Dupree
25. Tipitina - Professor Longhair
26. Smoke My Peacepipe - The Wild Magnolias
27. Turn The Page - Chris Ardoin/Double Clutchin'
28. La Danse De Mardi Gras - Steve Riley & The Mamou...
29. Bosco Stomp / Zarico Est Pas Sale - Steve Riley & The Mamou...