Dear residents of the Mississippi Gulf Coast,
This is an open letter to you to just say how much I respect you. Your resiliency has lifted me so many times when I was having personal tough times. Life knocked you on your butt and you responded by doing what you always do, you dusted yourself off and kept moving forward.
I know it was hard. I worked with Camp Coast Care in Waveband and Pass Christian after Katrina — and even in December, half the people who sought medical treatment were in shock. I would be, too. How do you recover from something like that? When your whole world is washed away. But ate that elephant one bite at a time. And when BP sent oil your way and the economy ground to a halt, you kept going.
Some people might ask “why?” We know why. The Coast is home.
My thoughts and prayers are with you as we remember a time that you’d like forget.
Signed, a guy who draws cartoons about you from time to time.
Thank you for your kind comments (as well as the time you volunteered after Katrina).
As a life-long Coastian I am proud of the resilience and can-do spirit of the people in my community. I am thankful for the outpouring of volunteers and responders who helped us survive. Katrina knocked us down to our knees which is the best position to thank God we were alive and ask for the strength to carry on – He answered! The Mississippi Gulf Coast has made great strides in10 years to put the beauty back to our home.
Did anyone invite the President?
The pres doesn’t like the Ssip flag.
Thank you Marshall for what you said and drew . It means a lot . As far as the Pres. I don’t have anything good to say so I won’t say anything .
New Orleans got hit by some outer bands of Katrina but their main problem was flooding when their levees broke. I thought they had received money to build them up, improve them , etc. Mississippi was hit by Katrina. The eye of Katrina came through Newton–I lived there then. And yes, Newton is 20 miles from Meridian–east Mississippi. So yes, they can say they got hit–they did. But their biggest hit came because they didn’t take care of the levees when they were supposed to. You are entirely right when you talk of the resiliency of the coast folks. They are strong people and deserve respect and kudos for the work they have done to rebuild. I feel for the people of New Orleans, too but there comes a time when we need to be honest about it. The landmass population has attributes that others lack. They know how to help themselves and get to work. They have integrity, exhibit honest grief and anger but never become the victim. They care about their neighbors. They are wonderful people with an unmatched goodness. Too bad the president won’t have a chance to meet them.
Thank you!