What struck me was how, as a whole, the suggestions form a microcosm of local society. Three main local personality types are discernible: there are the preservationists, the cynics and the idealists. And most of the conversation we've been having about the character of this place, particularly since Katrina, falls into these same three groups: appreciating our historical, cultural and ecological heritage; grappling bluntly with our socio-economic, governmental and geo-physical problems, and contemplating the willpower that lifted this city out of its darkest moments and shined light on its future.
Euphony and marketability will weigh as heavily as content and meaning in the eventual decision. For now, I offer that the public discussion over renaming the Hornets has revealed something about New Orleanians and how they perceive New Orleans, and that, once selected, the final name will help influence how the rest of the world perceives New Orleans to be.
Maybe. But I can't help but notice that the one common thread running through all of the suggested names, whatever else they may say about us, is that they are all terrible. Perhaps this reveals something about us as well.
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