When New Orleans was underwater and the whole world was watching as our wretched poor were stuck at the Superdome with the most inefficient city, state and federal government ever seen in a first world country, we all felt a little sick. Not many New Orleans people worry or care about shame, but I’d have to say during and after Katrina more citizens of this beloved city had become acquainted with it. Shame of ourselves, shame of others and most of all world shame. Who are we? The whole world was watching and they thought who are you?
Today, we’re under the microscope again. A friend today in the park said Who Dat to my Who Dat and then said, “I’m nervous because the whole world is watching.” New Orleans has so much riding on this game that it has taken on the powerful gris gris to undo our shame – if we could win this Superbowl then we could show the world just who we are. It’s that feeling of measuring up that most of the time eludes most of the people here in this city that my good friend says is the only place on earth where you could marry a donut and no one would notice (that is unless you are a gay donut).
Dear Lord, give us this game, our first ever, and we will start the slate clean again. One nation, no more shame, under water and underwhelmed with the rest of the world.