Louisiana put in a poor light
Sunday, May 16, 2004
http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/index.ssf?/base/news-3/1084686932221790.xmlOn Thursday Jon Stewart's "Daily Show" on Comedy Central did a segment on the Louisiana Legislature's debate about droopy pants. The show interviewed the bill's sponsors and some of New Orleans' finest moralists. Their grammar alone got more laughs than Stewart's writers could have ever imagined.
Meanwhile, the Legislature has saved a Louisiana tradition, cockfighting, from being outlawed. Agriculture Commissioner Bob Odom insists it is part of our state's culture and it brings in money. Yes, it brings in money, drugs and illegal gambling, as well as thugs with guns to enforce it all. Can Bob Odom bring nothing more intelligent into the state?
What's most unfortunate about this Legislature's nationally embarrassing actions is that intelligent leaders like former Gov. Foster, our new Gov. Blanco and New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin are diligently trying to change our state's image. But with anti-droopy-pants laws and cockfighting making the national news, our image remains "ignorant and proud of it."
Michael R. Smith
New Orleans