Even Fatter Tuesday
A friend of ours whose son attends Tulane University forwards this message that students received this morning from the president of the university, Scott Cowen:
February 8, 2010Dear Students,
There are certain moments in life that are transcendent and
transformative and are too wonderful for words. Sunday's Super Bowl
victory was such a moment. It was a victory that went far beyond
football, highlights, statistics or trophies. This world championship,
coupled with the election of a new mayor by an overwhelming majority,
is about the progress and future of our beloved city.This was a moment for all New Orleanians. The way this city
and this team, our team, have embraced one another is unique in all
the world. While most professional athletes discuss themselves and
their gifts at post-game press conferences, our Saints invariably talk
about their city and what its recovery has meant to them and to the
nation.This is what I believe we will be celebrating when we welcome
our hometown heroes at tomorrow's parade. In addition, we will be
congratulating our new mayor, Mitch Landrieu, as he leads us into the
future. So in recognition of New Orleans, our recovery, our revival
and the unity we displayed in one incredible weekend at the polls and
on the national stage, I am going to close the university (uptown,
downtown and primate center) tomorrow at 1 p.m.This will allow all New Orleans-area Tulanians time to gather
with family, friends and neighbors (are there any other categories of
people in New Orleans?) and celebrate what is truly a historic moment
in the long life and new life of our city. Enjoy the parade but most
of all enjoy the moment. It truly is our time!Geaux New Orleans,
Geaux Saints,
Geaux Tulane,President Cowen
| Posted at 12:17 PM | Permalink |
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Comments (11)
Ah Jeez, I can't even get sarcastic on this one! Geaux Saints!
Posted by Dean | February 8, 2010 12:28 PM
Beautiful. Just beautiful. Seize the moment, Nawlins! America (for the most part) celebrates with you. I truly believe that the reason this was the most watched television show ever (move over last episode of M.A.S.H.) is because the nation's heart was pulling for the Big Easy.
Posted by BobM | February 8, 2010 1:09 PM
If the primate center is closed, can the lab monkeys attend too?
Posted by Gordon | February 8, 2010 1:32 PM
I don't think a Super Bowl trophy and another Landrieu will propel New Awlins into a bright and shiny future. It's a good excuse for another party, though.
Posted by dg | February 8, 2010 1:34 PM
dg, I don't think bright and shiny is desirable, for a town that was once home to
the greatest American comic writer ever, John Kennedy Toole.
If you have not read "A Confederacy of Dunces", you must.
Posted by gaye harris | February 8, 2010 1:55 PM
This is so typically "American" in terms of its rhetoric its almost unreadable.
What schlock, 90% of the people will believe it though.
Posted by al m | February 8, 2010 7:40 PM
This is so typically "American" in terms of its rhetoric its almost unreadable.
What schlock, 90% of the people will believe it though.
al m: You're being ironic, right? (If not, you're the perfect caricature of yourself. Thank you for proving your own point.)
Posted by pablo | February 8, 2010 9:15 PM
All of the hype and puffery over a game. Somehow a game, an entertainment event, will turn around a town historically based on services and entertainment of the legal and illegal kind. This is total bunk. Is it possible the whole country has become Louisiana writ large? Is it possible an educator (major leauge) would be so pathologically grandiose?
Posted by Jimbo | February 9, 2010 10:31 AM
YES WE CAN, President Cowen. This is CHANGE YOU CAN BELIEVE IN! We just have to KEEP ON KEEPING ON! Remember, WINNERS NEVER QUIT AND QUITTERS NEVER WIN! DO YOU KNOW WHAT IT MEANS TO MISS NEW ORLEANS? THE AMERICAN PUBLIC IS ALWAYS RIGHT!
WE are indeed the world's only superpower!
Posted by Francis | February 9, 2010 11:33 AM
New Orleans is turning the corner and rebuilding without a doubt. And it is doing so to a large degree through the collective will and efforts of its citizens, neighborhood by neighborhood.
The Saints are symbolic for New Orleanians. They did not leave the city after the levees failed. They returned and have become champions of the league.
Many New Orleanians returned as well and are rebuilding their city one brick and one day at a time.
Anybody who believes the excitement about the Saints is puffery or hype does not have the slightest clue as to what that city went through recently and where they are going presently.
And be thankful you were not in Scott C's shoes and forced to make some very difficult and controversial decisions that saved Tulane University. Had you walked a couple of yards in his or any other New Orleanians' shoes post-Katrina, you might think twice about taking cheap shots at his message and the meaning imbedded within it.
And as for the "another Landrieu" comment re Mitch's election, I'd like to point out that I heard that same talk four years ago and it led directly to Nagin's reelection.
For the record, I'm proud that Mitch got elected in a landslide by nearly equal numbers of black and white voters. That is politically unprecedented in that city and bodes very well indeed for the future.
And for the record I am a New Orleanian and a Tulanian!
WHO DAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by frank godfrey | February 9, 2010 2:39 PM
Hey Godfrey, I am very familiar with the town and was born at Touro and attended Newman. Do not tell me that a football team owned by a gentleman who made a fortune selling cars and gambling in San Antonio represents and is symbolic of a town. This guy, though a native, wanted to relocate the team to San Antonio and was pressured by the leauge not to after the storm.
The Landrieus are a political family and are in it for themselves. You are naive in the extreme. Drop the simplistic crap and get a life. A professional hyped up football operation has nothing to do with the hurricane and the city. Get real.
Posted by JCCFDP2869 | February 9, 2010 10:14 PM