“Look at me, look at me, look at me” is the rallying crying for protests scheduled for tonight’s game between the Atlanta Falcons and the New Orleans Saints. Hurricane Katrina evacuees plan to protest at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta because New Orleans plans to host Mardi Gras festivities next March. New Orleans officials and the tourism industry are anxious to paint the Big easy in a different light hoping it will spur a re-birth of tourism and revitalize the dormant tourism industry and the city itself, which is now bankrupt has ¾ of the cities residents have been scattered across the country.

Katrina evacuees, however, object, arguing that focusing attention on revelry distracts from the suffering of Katrina victims and planned efforts at reconstruction. Protestors argue that it is “insensitive” to host a party with so many suffering. In reality, these evacuees are upset because the return of Mardi Gras to New Orleans means that the New Orleans poor will no longer be the center of attention. What would these people have the city of New Orleans do? Wallow in self-pity in perpetuity? Tourism is one New Orleans’s largest industries. Hotels, restaurants and other travel destinations in the city depend on tourists. A large number of New Orleans residents work in this industry. The return of Mardi Gras is essential for New Orleans and those interested in returning to work anytime soon. After all, without tourism what else does the Big Easy have going for it? Not much unless you are in the law enforcement or social welfare business.
http://www.ajc.com/news/content/news/stories/1205/12mardigras.html
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2005-12-11-new-orleans-tourism_x.htm