Like other Americans, Cajun people were profoundly affected by the September 11 tragedy and its aftermath. For better or worse, our nation will never be the same as it was before this devastating strike against humanity. United States citizens, independent-minded Cajuns included, have realized a very delicate balance must be maintained between freedom and security. We are learning to accept reasonable limitations and sometimes zealous precautions as necessary trade-offs for the desired sense of safety. So now we wait with various degrees of patience in longer lines at local airports as our personal belongings are searched by uniformed strangers. It has become common practice to wash our hands after simply checking the mail at home. There is renewed interest in the Neighborhood Watch movement. Our firefighters and police officers are being regarded with greater admiration. Traveling through the small communities of Acadiana, it is heartening to see patriotism displayed without reticence. Yes, American pride is alive and well in Cajun Country.
The current economic recession has also affected local, national, and world situations. The internet bubble may not have actually burst, but it has shrunk considerably. With the drastic decline of e-commerce, many websites have disappeared from cyberspace. Even Suite 101 has been faced with changes in its operation. Some CE's have chosen not to continue their work without a little monetary compensation, while others have signed on for the ride on a voluntary basis. As the old Cajun saying goes, "losh pah la potat" (the translation of that phrase loses meaning in English; it literally says "don't drop the potato" but implies something like "hang in there" ... don't give up, things may actually get better soon).
Acadiana communities have been gracefully adapting to disruption from highway expansions and other public-works improvement projects for the alleged sake of progress. There are differing viewpoints, however, among politicians who laud these changes as inevitable links to civic growth and concerned citizens who cherish environmental and/or cultural values. With the long-standing tradition of survivorship, the Cajun population continues to hold its unique heritage as intact as possible against the tide of change.
Go To Page: 1 2
