Last New Orleans Reading

Part two was all about what was going on in New Orleans after the disaster. Piazza walks us through mental images of the physical images he witnessed. I noticed how Piazza used more dramatic comparisons than in the first section of the book. For example, right on the first page of the second part he was talking about how he was afarid to see what the city looked like, he says, "I felt dread, as if I were about to enter a morgue to view the body of my best friend." (113) I knew Tom Piazza would be someone wanting to go back to New Orleans right away but I was surprised by how many other people wanted to as well. Not only were many people willing to go back but people were so generous about giving food and water away to others who need it. Piazza makes me feel for these people and believe that such a horrific disaster happened to so many giving people, "By the time we left, our spiritual gas tank, which had been below empty, had filled just enough to carry us the next leg of the trip, at least. And if that sound and that feeling could be rekindled in the midst of all that chaos, then I knew New Orleans had a chance." (136)

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Why New Orleans Matters Post

I have just finished part one of the book and it is so far very interesting. However, I am finding that Tom Piazza is using so much detail that at times it is hard to follow what he is talking about. At one point he will be talking about the Zulu and at another he will be talking about something semi-related to the Zulu but that could almost be a different topic to discuss rather than just throwing it in there.
I do like how he uses comparisons. On page 87 he says, "Some areas that had been poor as poor gets, yet still had an intact neighborhood culture, have been turned essentially into dunkedoms and baronets controlled by drug dealers, featuring all the burnt-out houses, semi-automatic gunfire, and other elements that populate the movies and video games we all enjoy so much." I just laughed at this part because it is true, this is exactly something we can picture and relate to a video game (for those of us who have seen the violent video games out there.) I also took it as him using his sense of humor.

Talk of the Town idea

For my talk of the town peice I was thinking about writing it on the R.A.D. program they offer here. Most people may not know about it even though it is posted in the student annoncements every semester. R.A.D. stands for rape agression defense. This program is held by the bridgewater state police and they teach you tactics to get out of rape situations and how to defend yourself. I am not sure if this is my definite idea but this is the one that I have been leaning towards for my talk of the town piece.