This past week Louisiana was devastated. 6.9 trillion gallons of rain water have filled the Baton Rouge area. 13 people have died. 30,000 people were rescued. 40,000 homes were destroyed. The amount of rainfall in the area during a 4 day period equated to more rainfall than L.A. received in the past 4 years. The Media has failed to do their job in reporting the tragedy. They are too busy reporting about drunken swimmers and the horrifying presidential election. The President has failed his people and turned his back on us while he is off playing golf. The country is sitting by while we struggle to stay above the rising waters. As we our drowning they walk by striking us with their off hand remarks about living in a state underwater, about building a sinking metropolis, about our stupidity in staying. They question why we are always flooding and why we need so much help.
While we are left here alone, abandoned by our own country we realize the true strength that flows through our veins. We feel the unity that keeps us all together. For far too long we have been forgotten. For far too long we have been neglected. In the past decade there have been 10 "500 year storms" half of which have hit our great state. Our people are drowning, our homes are being washed away, our memories sinking in the murky waters, yet we survive. We wake up the next morning and rebuild again. We lay down the same bricks that were destroyed before. We don't stay here because we're too stupid too leave, we stay because we know this is our home. Louisiana isn't a sinking swamp. Louisiana isn't a dry river bed waiting to be filled with next weeks forecast. Louisiana is the greatest state in the Union.
We rebuild because this is where we belong. We stay because this place, this breathtaking beauty, this is the promise land that God made for us. This place is where our memories are forged. This place is where our parents first learned to swim, where our grandparents fell in love, where we had our first kiss, where we learned the true meaning of life, this is the place where our children will bury us, this place is our home.
No amount of rainfall can wash away our love for this place. No amount of flood waters can drown out our cheers when Calling Baton Rouge comes on. There is nothing in this world that can take away our love for the place that we call home. Louisiana isn't just another state full of people who have pride. Louisiana is a place where everyone, every outcast, every sinner, every saint, every single person can find their home.
