It’s hard to believe the timing of Hurricane Gustav, but as easy as it is to dwell on the symbolic timing and muddle of memories and reflections it dredges up, perhaps all it really confirms is that shit happens. We just have to do what we do best–our best.

Hurricanes will always be a factor in Louisiana, just as they will be in Florida. Tornadoes will always hit the midwest and earthquakes will always shake San Fran. Yet we continue to do great things despite it all because we’re resilient and because we can. Obama’s speach to 75,000 people yesterday marks a time when we beleive in the power of people to do great things. Look at how far the New Orleans has come in the past 3 years thanks to the innovation and will of people, and that fact’s hard to ignore.

It’s people doing their best by doing what they do that are keeping America and cities like New Orleans thriving. Designers like Lia Molly who have set up their fashion lines in the New Orleans, and Leah Chase whos food will always comfort the people there. NOLA 180 that is working toward a better New Orleans by educating its children, and Green Coast Enterprises which took the devistation of Katrina as an opportunity to rebuild better than ever before.

If there’s one film you should see this weekend, it should be Trouble the Water as a lesson in what went wrong. But after the history lesson Flavor Paper, eat at Bacchanal Wine, go to Voodoo Music Festival in October and visit The New Orleans 100 list for everything that went oh so right.

The New Orleans has a history and culture strong enough to survive its circumstances and to quote an excerpt from Chris Rose Letter to America:

We’re a fiercely proud and independent people, and we don’t cotton much to outside interference, but we’re not ashamed to accept help when we need it….Just don’t get carried away. For instance, once we get around to fishing again, don’t try to tell us what kind of lures work best in your waters.

We’re not going to listen. We’re stubborn that way.

You probably already know that we talk funny and listen to strange music and eat things you’d probably hire an exterminator to get out of your yard.

We dance even if there’s no radio. We drink at funerals. We talk too much and laugh too loud and live too large and, frankly, we’re suspicious of others who don’t….

Everybody loves their home, we know that. But we love South Louisiana with a ferocity that borders on the pathological. Sometimes we bury our dead in LSU sweatshirts…

The only way you could understand that is if you have been there, and so many of you have. So you realize that when you strip away all the craziness and bars and parades and music and architecture and all that hooey, really, the best thing about where we come from is us.

We are what made this place a national treasure. We’re good people. And don’t be afraid to ask us how to pronounce our names. It happens all the time.

When you meet us now and you look into our eyes, you will see the saddest story ever told. Our hearts are broken into a thousand pieces.

But don’t pity us. We’re gonna make it. We’re resilient. After all, we’ve been rooting for the Saints for 35 years. That’s got to count for something….

So when all this is over and we move back home, we will repay to you the hospitality and generosity of spirit you offer to us in this season of our despair.

That is our promise. That is our faith.