Should they hold a Mardi Gras festival this year?

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There seems to be a lot of discussion going on about New Orleans having a Mardi Gras festival this year in spite of the fact that there is still an enormous amount of damage to take care of. One of the arguments for having Mardi Gras is that it will generate a lot of revenue that can be used to help repair the city. One of the arguements against it is that the city is just not prepaired. It is still working on getting back its original occupants and the city is talking about bringing in thousands of tourists.

I know there are a lot of factors involved in this issue. What do you think?

[ December 16, 2005, 05:14: Message edited by: Dragonfly ]

 

It's Mardi Gras; Marti Gras is the fat guy down the street.

I'm not really sure is they should, but the morale boost of pulling it off might be beneficial. It's definitely a trade-off either way.

 

Ooops, thank Fel I'm Canadian, does that work for a bad spelling excuse when it comes to American festivals?

 

Actually, it's french; Mardi Gras means Fat Tuesday in french. In truth, it began as a Catholic (maybe even just Christian?) holiday, being as it is the day before Lent starts. Catholics have to give something up for Lent, and it was usually a favorite food, so people would gorge themselves on it the night before Lent. Somehow it became institutionalized, and eventually lost its religious background in the public eye.

Christmas, Easter, and others were on their way before people started speaking up.

 

YES! Drink a hurricane to defy Katrina!

 

If they want some fun, why not let them? Unless a large share of locals is disturbed by the idea. All the widowed and orphaned people, I mean.

@Felinoid: Big outdoors parties are older than Christianity, it's just the date, one day before Ash Wednesday when Lent starts. Flashing and/or French-kissing strangers for beads is in no way Christian.

If people don't want a flashing party, I understand them. (And support them.)

 

@chev:
Believe me, I know. Mardi Gras is no more religious anymore than New Year's still is. (Anyone remember that one? )

 

I absolutely think they should still have it. What better way to prove they weathered the storm than by accomodating a thousand drunk chicks who flash drunk meatheads for plastic beads?

 

The city needs whatever economic benefit it can gain from the celebration. Fortunately, the French Quarter was one of the least damaged areas in the city.

 

Whoa, deja vu all over again...

SP is doing some strange things... I SWEAR there were two HS posts.....

 

There is some suggestion that local merchants should donate a large sum of their profits to hurricane relief fund.

 

I would imagine that the local merchants are struggling to survive. (Although, as usual, I make this assumption without actually doing any troublesome research; and when you assume...) So I wouldn't think there woud be much in the way of profits to donate.

On topic - if New Orleans is insistent on rebuilding (although I'm not really sure why, given the location), then yes, the show (ie. Mardi Gras) must go on.

 

I think they should. For morale reasons. It might not be as fancy as in past years and not as ..... immoral.

 

I'm with Death Rabbit, bring out the beads, breasts, and Hurricanes (the traditional drink of Mardi Gras).

 

This really seems like a no brainer to me. If you put the festival on then that is a show of strength and perseverence which will encourage people to return and rebuild the city. If they decide not to hold the festival then that is pretty much the same as admitting defeat which sends a horrible message to the people.