“It makes no sense to spend billions of dollars to rebuild a city that’s seven feet under sea level….It looks like a lot of that place could be bulldozed.” –House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.), Aug. 31, 2005

“What I’m hearing which is sort of scary is that they all want to stay in Texas. Everybody is so overwhelmed by the hospitality. And so many of the people in the arena here, you know, were underprivileged anyway so this (chuckle) – this is working very well for them.” –Former First Lady Barbara Bush, on the hurricane evacuees at the Astrodome in Houston, Sept. 5, 2005

“Now tell me the truth boys, is this kind of fun?” –House Majority Leader Tom Delay (R-TX), to three young hurricane evacuees from New Orleans at the Astrodome in Houston, Sept. 9, 2005

So many negative things were said about the people of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. I live in Houston, and was one of the volunteers who worked at the Astrodome with the evacuees, and also helped distribute school supplies that were donated from bloggers all over the country. I never saw anyone who felt “lucky” to be in Houston and felt like leaving New Orleans was some sort of golden opportunity. Most of the children did not view their new experience in a new city and a new school as “kind of fun.” Most evacuees felt lucky to be alive, mourned the loss of their homes, their friends, and sometimes their relatives. They mourned the destruction of their great city, and were desperate to return home. Many waited months for help and some people are still struggling to rebuild.

The things that remained constant among every resident of New Orleans were hope, determination, and a positive attitude.

Stated very simply: I love New Orleans. The history, culture, and love that resonates from that city is remarkable. No one is a stranger and everyone there takes the term “southern hospitality” to a new level. Every time I visit, I feel like I leave a piece of my heart behind when I leave. We have spent the last three Thanksgiving vacations there, and I’m happy to see that my son loves the city as much as I do. He always comments when we’re there, “The people are just so friendly and nice here.”

New Orleans has always been known for parties, and especially Mardi Gras. After last night, they’re also known for football, and for dedicated, loyal fans who never give up. It was interesting to see the topics on Twitter over the past several weeks during the football playoffs. When New Orleans played Minnesota, the trending topics on Twitter were Brett Favre, Minnesota, Vikings, etc.  New Orleans Saints never trended during the entire game. The Saints were predicted to lose and as we all know, they didn’t. The Saints were predicted to lose the Super Bowl and as we all know, THEY DIDN’T.

This win meant more to the city of New Orleans. The Super Bowl win of the New Orleans Saints is more than a football game victory. It is a representation, once again, to the rest of the country and the world that the people of New Orleans are not defeated, never have been, and never will be. The City of New Orleans is proud, strong, and true to its heritage, its roots and its people.

So, imagine my surprise to see this post retweeted over and over last night on Twitter.

I have never seen any resident of New Orleans claiming their city represented defeat and vulnerability. Anyone who returned to New Orleans after Katrina represents the exact opposite of defeat and vulnerability. Anyone who supports a football team to manic proportions, despite the national media calling them the “Aints” do not represent defeat.

I doubt the original author of that tweet mean anything negative towards the residents of New Orleans. However, it does show the ongoing and underlying attitude that so many people have had towards this city since Katrina. Sure, it’s ok to visit Bourbon Street and party during Mardi Gras or the Jazz Festival, but most people return home, go back to their daily lives, and forget about the inspiration of this magnificent city and its people.

“We finally cleaned up public housing in New Orleans. We couldn’t do it, but God did.” –Rep. Richard Baker (R-LA) to lobbyists, as quoted in the Wall Street Journal

Well, New Orleans is still here. And still standing tall. Still rebuilding, and getting stronger every day. I’m hoping what the author meant, and what most people like me feel, is that we’re all glad that New Orleans is receiving international attention, but this time, it’s all positive. WHO DAT?  NOBODY!