Mall Resurrects Display of Hurricane Town

[RamboLiberal]

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20051203/D8E8EVD82.html

The outcry was so intense after a suburban New Orleans mall removed a Christmas display of a miniature hurricane-ravaged town that the exhibit is going back up this weekend.

Frank Evans, who designed the tiny blue-tarped roofs and little toppled fences, said he was reinstalling them at the mall's request starting Friday night.

The miniature town, a full 60 feet long with pumping stations and tiny piles of hurricane debris, is circled by a miniature train that children ride after sitting in Santa's lap. It was installed in mid-November but ordered removed Tuesday after some people complained it was in poor taste.

Evans said the removal prompted hundreds of e-mails of support for the display, compared to just 10 complaints about the display. The mall's marketing manager Tricia Thriffiley said she personally received more than 500 e-mails.

Thriffiley confirmed the mall is allowing Evans to put up the display, and it will include a bulletin board with comments from both sides, so people can judge the arguments for themselves.


A model train runs past homes models with blue tarps, debris and repair work in progress in a Christmas display at Lakeside Mall in Metairie, La., Monday Nov. 28, 2005. The display mirrors the lives of residents in the New Orleans area.(AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

[bammertheblue]

1. Bizarre.

But if people at that mall like it, that's cool. Still weird though.

[uppityperson]

2. If you can't laugh at tragedy...

you aren't a cynic. Picture reality and here it is. I think it's fine. Forget the sugarcoated everything is fine things are getting back to normal bs. Show it like it is.

[DBoon]

3. I can imagnie a display like this in CA

showing buildings collpased and under repair from earthquakes.

Making light of natural catastrpohies helps us surive them

[musette_sf]

4. Noo Awlinians are quite resilient

and, if you haven't noticed by now, have a great sense of humor. This display is right in character and I'm sure it lifts people's spirits much more, with a good laugh, than some phoney baloney happy holiday Christmas town setup. I'll also prophesy that at least several Mardi Gras floats will also pick up the theme, if my Yat-Detector is still working correctly.