New Orleans

One time people built a beautiful city at the mouth of a mighty river. It had amazing architecture, unique music and food, and a great culture. It also happened to be below sea level and frequently in the path of major hurricanes. Whoops.

So what do we do about it?

We don’t tear it down or move out and abandon the place, trying again somewhere else. We build levees, store emergency supplies, and train residents in disaster response. We harden our defenses, prepare for the potential problems as best we can, and enjoy life in the meantime. When the storm comes we weather it, learn from mistakes, and get ready to try again.

Sometimes in life you might build New Orleans. Celebrate that—New Orleans is a treasure. Put on some jazz and enjoy a po’ boy while you figure out how to protect and improve your city. Don’t burn the place down.