So when I first proposed that the only way New Orleans was going to rebuild properly was by New Orleanians doing it in my Sinn Fein post, I credited Ronnie Virgets from his first book, Say Cap' (out of print at Amazon, available from the publisher...the local publisher). One of the chapters in that book, which was in storage but I remembered from several readings, was entitled Sinn Fein: Ourselves Alone.
In this chapter, Virgets outlined that New Orleans and New Orleanians were the only people that cared about New Orleans...and all that needed to, really.
It clicked.
He's right, and any credit for the phrase goes to Ronnie.
A bunch of NOLA bloggers have picked up on it, and I think we really need to promote this to everyone.
Ray at Minor Wisdom put it well:
The economic rule is this: the more local, the better. Let's use home repair as an example, something that all New Orleanians can relate to now. My resolutions:Don't buy it at Home Depot out in the suburbs if you can buy it in New Orleans at Harry's Ace, a couple of miles away. Don't buy it at Harry's Ace, two miles away, if you can buy it at Clement Hardware, two blocks away.
Sinn Fein.
When you go to the grocery store, go to a local non-chain one if you can. If you can't, look at the things you're buying. Buy New Orleans if you can. If you can't, then buy South Louisiana. If you can't, then buy Louisiana. If you can't, buy...well...Jordanian, I guess.
Spend your money where it can be best used: here. NOLA. Ourselves alone. The whole conflict of new-urbanism vs. whatever else is moot. From the ground up, OK?
What good does it do us if NOLA is rebuilt so that we're within walking distance of stores and restaurants if the stores are Walgreens and the Gap and the restaurants are Chili's and Bennigans?
Support our own, OK? This is the essence, in my opinion, of Sinn Fein.
On Tuesday night, I went to a book signing and reading by Ronnie to promote his new book, Lost Bread. I guess if he called it Pain Perdu, non New Orleanians would think it was an S&M guide or something.
Listen to him talk about The Point in this podcast.
He read from the book, and related his tale of the flood. It's the last chapter in the book, so go ahead and buy the damned thing. When I'm made King of New Orleans (wait, that's my kid), then I'll make Ronnie Virgets poet laureate.
I asked if he still smoked cigars, and he said not so much. Then I pulled out a 6 year old Cohiba Lancero, and he said he'd have to keep that one. When I was talking to him while he signed my book, I mentioned the Sinn Fein chapter in Say Cap, and his eyes lit up (even brighter than normal) as he remembered. He said "yeah, ourselves alone. I need to revisit that topic".
And he signed the book: To Ashley, Ourselves Alone.
Sinn Fein.
AC @ 78: Israel exaggerates the tseorrirt threat posed by Hamas and Hamas's military power is infinitesimal compared to the IDF. Polls have shown that around two-thirds of Palestinians agree that attacks on Israeli targets are a legitimate strategic response to the political situation. If HAMAS is tseorrirt, then so are all these Palestinians, including the people of Gaza who voted them into office. Israel has killed many more Palestinians than the other way around.Even the US army is suggesting that Israel's demonising and dismissal of Hamas as a legitimate elected government which yes sometimes uses (not very successful) resistance tactics has been one of the major obstacles to peace, or even any progress towards peace.
Posted by: Eugenia | 24 May 2012 at 09:10 PM
Dear Mike,I just stumbled acorss your site I really appreciate what you are doing. I am moving to South Philly tomorrow, i just got a job with AmeriCorps. I am a musician, I play experimental music with mandolin with a loop pedal along with a variety of other instruments. I guess, i'm just looking for any insight from you about the philly music scene what are some good venues to check out for both listening, and booking a possible show. and one thing on my mind, is that i'm moving to a new city i don't really know much about so i'm really looking for stuff to do what venue or spot would be real laid back where I could go and not feel awkward just hanging w/ a beer and listening to some good local music?Thanks Mike,Dave Hall
Posted by: Eric | 24 May 2012 at 11:17 PM
Would you consider awloling me to crosspost this piece on my blog? I rarely reproduce a post in its entirety, but this is an incredibly important piece, I think. What it describes is crucial for people of the U.S. to recognize and consider, as we move in the direction of having this sort of thing be the solution to all sorts of problems. Living close to New Orleans, as I do, this piece is all the more poignant. But it would be disturbing to me no matter where it had occurred.
Posted by: Richardson | 25 May 2012 at 01:20 AM
Does anyone know of any coepiehmnsrve articles on the reconstruction of New Orleans from a relatively non partisan perspective?Anyway, I'm having a red wine right now. So as I've got something to give up for Lent.
Posted by: Ursula | 26 May 2012 at 11:04 PM