I find this question to be an “ice-breaker”…. It is often the question asked when one arrives and encounters a ground service provider, cab drivers, shuttle drivers, car rental agency, waiters/waitresses, doorman, etc. I have always felt this was a “friendly” question and have used it as a reciprocal opportunity to find out some of the best tidbits about an area – great restaurant, place to see, something to do – locals can tell you so very much.
Yesterday, Paul and I arrived in New Orleans for a pleasure/business trip. We have been so fortunate to have traveled all over the United States and a few international locations in our 40 plus years of marriage. Most of this travel has been business related and yet we learned some time ago, the value to adding just a few personal days to these places/trips to enjoy and experience some great places in our world. It is truly a blessing to catch a view of how folks live and gain a perspective, other than our own view from North Carolina, Wake County, Raleigh or wherever you call homebase….. This same statement can be said about exposing ourselves to variety and differences of opinions on all fronts – it is not all about “me”.
Now, when one puts themselves out there and the question comes up, you sure do have to be ready to answer….and that was just what happened to us yesterday. After the first question and answer to “what brings you to our town” came the next question….What were your government leaders thinking with the HB2 legislation? Well, that felt like it was out of “left field” but not so much…..isn’t this what lots of us have asked?
As we continued our drive to our destination, it was shared by the driver about how New Orleans has North Carolina to thank for the cancellation of a major sports event and what a boost it was for NOLA to get the opportunity to step in and take this economic boost at the loss to NC. Not to throw New Orleans, under the proverbial “bus”; but, as we have seen the commercials on local TV, walked the streets of the French Quarter, etc., I am heightened again about consequences of the actions of our legislators and their on-going avoidance of addressing this matter. Why does New Orleans deserve this opportunity or anyplace else? They were just at the right place at the right time!
I can honestly say that I have never been “embarrassed” by my homeland, state, local community. I have taken great pride in sharing from where I come…. As I listened to this service provider yesterday, I was impressed with his knowledge of North Carolina politics – he knows more than most of our citizens. He knew about our sports teams, it appears he may have been a college player who encountered athletic events at some of our university schools…, he has experienced a variety of North Carolina locations ….so this man was not just offering some “chatter”, he has good reason to offer an opinion.
North Carolina’s legislative actions on HB2 are New Orleans “economic” boost – literally. This driver of the car service said he, unexpectedly, will have the benefit of a huge workload that begins on Wednesday and go until Sunday. Five days of income that has a tremendous trickle affect from the airport that is going to be slammed with an infusion of visitors to the city to spend, experience the hospitality of locals, spend, spend, spend. No, it is not all about the almighty dollar; but, I heard, first hand, what this one event means to this area AND it could have been and actually was scheduled to be IN North Carolina. How many more of these events are we going to sacrifice or are losing because of the short-sightedness of government officials who don’t comprehend the consequences of their actions?
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