Over and Over

Once again, New Orleans is mourning.

Another person was killed after he was hit by a float. He was in the crowd at the Krewe of Endymion’s parade, when he was accidentally pushed under a tandem float by an aggressive bead seeking crowd. Robert Sampson was 58 years old. He was a member of the Nine times 9 Social Aid and Benefit Association.

The city immediately suspended all tandem floats for the duration of Mardi Gras. This created some havoc among most the the krewes who are rolling today. They agreed with the mayor, and started hunting everywhere for more tractors and certified drivers. As I know it, everyone is rolling. I’ll tell you more about the cause and effect issues that were originally created by the city in another post.

Once again, I feel terrible. I feel bad for everybody except from people from out of state who thought it was a good idea to attack the victim on social media.

I have no idea how to fix the problem.

There have been all kinds of suggestions, from setting up fencing along all of the parade routes, to having police walk along side of the floats, to having some kind of netting over the the gap between two connected floats.

None of those will work.

There isn’t enough fencing in the state to cover all of the parades which run on different routes throughout the city. The NOPD, although supplemented by the Louisiana State Troopers and sheriffs from throughout the state, is stretched to the breaking point. And, netting? Too much work to get the links covered properly for each parade.

The real issue, it seems to me, comes from today’s modern world.

People have gotten more aggressive, less forgiving, and greedy.

Who really cares about a ten cent string of beads made in China? For a long time we had huge boxes of beads in our attic. They just stayed there alone and forgotten. Eventually we gave them to a group who recycles them and gives some learning disabled folks a job.

Anyway.

The pictures. This is a very sad day. Again. I thought that I wouldn’t post anything. But, a friend of mine tweeted that even though he wasn’t feeling this Mardi Gras and was deeply saddened by the two deaths, he would do his best to show the positive and fun part of the season.

I agree.

Please have a look and enjoy the moments for what they are. If you live nearby, please be safe. Beads aren’t worth your life. If you are not coming to New Orleans, happy Mardi Gras wherever you are.