Did anyone see part one last night on HBO?  This is Spike Lee's latest documentary on life in New Orleans after the

storm and a follow up to his previous Katrina-mentary "When the levees broke".

 

The story begins (or picks up) in Miami at the 2010 Superbowl with interviews of various Saints fans, players and

some really great film of the French Qtr after the win.  The images are a wonderfully emotional reminder of what that

season's team meant to the people of New Orleans and how close the fans feel to "their team".  Then, with almost

no pause, the film goes right into the gut-wrenching images we have burned in our minds from the early days

following Katrina.  The floods, the rescues, the thousands of Americans waiting for food and water... The families,

the cries for help, the death, the looting, the fear... An entire social system in utter chaos.  How could this be "21st

century America"??

 

Although Spike Lee can (in my opinion) have a one-sided (and long-winded) approach to telling a story, I thought

the film did a good job of telling the world of how the city/state has progressed and an even better job of showing us

how corruption and greed continue to hamper New Orleans' recovery.  

 

From the demolition of public housing, to the land development deals, to the judgment against the Corps of

Engineers, to the new levee, to the lack of infrastructure, to the politics of Charity Hospital, to the crime rate, suicide

rate, to people who continue to die from lack of medical attention, to the poisoning of FEMA trailer residents - many

factors continue to impeded a "successful recovery" for many residents.  Was the city New Orleans' way of life

sustainable?  Did the Government see an opportunity to eliminate many public programs in one fail swoop?  

 

We get some insight from people who had direct involvement like Kathleen Blanco, Ray Nagin, Michael Brown

(FEMA dir), Mayor Landreau, General Honore, Brad Pitt, local residents, community leaders and those who can not

return to their homes from other cities.  Was Gov. Haley Barber able to use his political ties to acquire more than

double the funds for Mississippi that Louisiana received? Spike Lee paints a chilling portrait of politics and money

vs. race and class.  

 

In particular, this film forces us to make decisions about what we believe to be right and wrong about almost every

facet involved with pre & post Katrina New Orleans.

 

Although the question of "why?" it took so long to bring relief to the stranded people is not infallibly answered, we

are allowed some brief insight into "who" is more to blame from the people directly involved.  Most of us - I know I do

- always wanted to know; "If you can get Tom Brokaw IN, why can't you get people OUT?"

 

In all, this film is not only a gripping story that goes beyond race and social status, it brings to light the issue that

America's people are the most important part of our nation.  And it's those same

people who are caught in a seemingly unending and  unremorseful bureaucratic crossfire.

 

New Orleans has always been a city of strife.  It is a special place that was built by the culture of local people and

it's people's passions for life and their city.  But five years removed from the worst natural disaster in it's history,

New Orleans is still dangerously far from where it could/should be.  The region and it's people are still in dire need

of life's basic elements.  Money is still being withheld and politicians continue to blame the opposing party.

 

If you saw the film, what were your thoughts?

 

 

Tyler,

A fan of New Orleans and it's people since 1976

Is it me or does JayZ just never get old?

Anyway, I wanted to pop in and re-into myself to all the great members at CSC.  I first signed up in February of '09 and really enjoyed the site.  Shortly after I had problems logging in and was relegated to observing from the sidelines...and during our Superbowl run, for pete's sake.  But I did make 6 games last year (all wins) and drove from Atlanta to watch the Superbowl in the French Quarter with all my Black n Gold family.

Congratulations fans! We DID IT!!

So, I'm back and I look forward to contributing positively to an already great site for Saints news and fans.

Tyler

Here's my original post:  http://www.canalstreetchronicles.com/2009/2/12/757729/hello-everyone

Not sure if this has been discussed yet - I searched and didn't see it - so here's a history of Gregg Williams Drafts going back to '97.  Does he just pick 'em right or does he make 'em studs??

Titans DC

1997

Kenny Holmes DE Miami (Fla.)
Denard Walker CB Louisiana State
Pratt Lyons DE Troy State
George McCullough DB Baylor
Dennis Stallings LB Illinois
Armon Williams DB Arizona

1998

46 Samari Rolle CB Florida State
77 Dainon Sidney DB Alabama-Birmingham
107 Joe Salave'a DT Arizona
205 Jimmy Sprotte LB Arizona

1999

1 16 Jevon Kearse DE Florida
2 52 John Thornton DT West Virginia
4 117 Donald Mitchell DB Southern Methodist
7 222 Phil Glover LB Utah

2000

1 30 Keith Bulluck LB Syracuse
3 93 Byron Frisch DE Brigham Young
4 128 Peter Sirmon LB Oregon
6 197 Robaire Smith DE Michigan State


BILLS HC

2001

1 21 Nate Clements CB Ohio State
2 46 Aaron Schobel DE Texas Christian
2 58 Travis Henry HB Tennessee
3 76 Ron Edwards DT Texas A&M
3 95 Jonas Jennings T Georgia
4 110 Brandon Spoon MLB North Carolina
5 144 Marques Sullivan T Illinois
6 178 Tony Driver DB Notre Dame
6 195 Dan O'Leary TE Notre Dame
6 196 Jimmy Williams CB Vanderbilt
7 214 Reggie Germany WR Ohio State
7 238 Tyrone Robertson DT Georgia

2002

1 4 Mike Williams T Texas
2 36 Josh Reed WR Louisiana State
2 61 Ryan Denney DE Brigham Young
3 97 Coy Wire SS Stanford
5 139 Justin Bannan DT Colorado
6 176 Kevin Thomas CB Nevada-Las Vegas
7 215 Mike Pucillo G Auburn
7 249 Rodney Wright -- Fresno State
7 251 Jarrett Ferguson -- Virginia Tech
7 260 Dominique Stevenson LB Tennessee

2003

1 23 Willis McGahee RB Miami (Fla.)
2 48 Chris Kelsay DE Nebraska
3 94 Angelo Crowell LB Virginia
4 111 Terrence McGee DB Northwestern State-Louisiana
4 127 Sam Aiken WR North Carolina
5 151 Ben Sobieski G Iowa
6 187 Lauvale Sape DT Utah
7 228 Mario Haggan LB Mississippi State

REDSKINS - DC

2003

No Defense

2004

1 5 Sean Taylor FS Miami (Fla.)

2005

1 9 Carlos Rogers DB Auburn
5 154 Robert McCune LB Louisville
6 183 Jared Newberry LB Stanford

2006

2 35 Rocky McIntosh LB Miami (Fla.)
5 153 Anthony Montgomery DT Minnesota
6 173 Reed Doughty DB Northern Colorado
6 196 Kedric Golston DT Georgia
7 250 Kevin Simon LB Tennessee

2007

1 6 LaRon Landry SS Louisiana State
5 143 Dallas Sartz LB USC
6 179 H.B. Blades LB Pittsburgh

JAGUARS - DC

2008

1 8 Derrick Harvey DE Florida
2 52 Quentin Groves DE Auburn
5 155 Thomas Williams MLB USC
5 159 Trae Williams CB South Florida

-------------------------------------------------

Boy, what trading back could do for us this year.... :)

I'm new to CSC and I just wanted to say hi to everyone here.  I've been checking in on the site for a few months and I really like the opinions here and the forum as a whole.  I'm a native of MS but I live in Atlanta now and I was born into a family of Saints fans and I've never looked back.  I'm looking forward to talking with y'all and I hope I can contribute positively.