The word patriot is always interesting because it is typically used to refer to a specific group of people. This line reminded me of video that was recently published by The Good Liars.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/SJVrwKKIctM

I've never heard this motto before but it's inline with one value that America claims to uphold.

The melting pot stereotype about America is overused and ironic. Whoever said that America is more like a salad bowl is more accurate. The gag here is that America having this image of "a nation of immigrants" coming together creates two realities. The first is one that appears to advocate for "diversity" by way of immigration (obviously favoring those who do so legally but still supporting those that haven't). The second is one that prioritizes Americans particularly that fit into this convenient new idea of a "legacy American"and at the worst immigration of those that resemble these so-called Americans. Given that America still promotes the American dream as an obtainable goal due to meritocracy. This continues to fuel a pursuit that is engaged in by native and foreigners. Part of the problem though is that many natives rightfully believe that they'll either maintain or surpass the success of their parents. However, this desire is increasingly harder to actualize due to the very system that Americans praise and rarely reform. On the other hand when we do see immigrants they're either successful or the cause of crime. With both of those labels immigrants are casted as the problem because they're either out performing and "taking our jobs" or ruining our communities. While it is true that immigrants are typically shown as regimented and successful, they do engage in resocialization even to the point of erasure for those who don't strike a balance with their native country/culture. At the end of the day the different cultures and groups are very visible and are maintained for various reasons. America should probably work on actual material changes for Americans before continuing to push this "head in the clouds" style of championing diversity or all out forms of different isms.

I like that the mayor created a space between the various Native American groups and everyone that came after them.

I like that the mayor stated that the history has been both good and bad. Although it would be convenient to attempt to label significant historical events as either entirely good or bad, it's better to create a timeline of events, state the resolution, and finally the outcomes of the events.

I'm currently learning about the functions of art. Of the six functions one is commemoration. While I don't think most people would consider lakes or geography in general to be art. The naming of these bodies of water maintains the same purpose and staying power that the creation of a mural or monument does.

I like the use of the parenthesis because it clarifies that the lakes aren't technically lakes at all. In general it's a reminder that ponds, lakes, rivers, oceans, and seas are used interchangeably although it's inaccurate.

https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/oceanorsea.html

It's odd to me that land grants were given in the first place but given who received them it makes sense. What doesn't make sense is that the land was obviously procured somehow. However, during what was apparently a seven year period no one did their due diligence to ensure that the land itself was suitable. In particular, the soil so that settlers would have stable ground to build on and healthy soil that would bear the fruit of their labor. I would have thought that by this point given the definition that was provided for midden that a basic inspection would have deemed the land poor.

*With that being said the land was given away to settlers whom I presume were from Mobile, Alabama. As a result it's likely they had no way of inspecting the land beforehand. Which could explain why the land was given away in the first place and to those specific recipients. To be frank the French settlers should have consulted or "befriended" (as history books would claim) the Native Americans to learn something before they decided to inhabit the land. But I digress.

I appreciate that an editor decided to include the name and spelling that Native Americans used for this Bayou.

I wasn't expecting to read about the literal formation of the geography of the city. I just expected to read about the early history regarding White settlers and Native Americans.

Given that New Orleans is located at the tip of the Mississippi River as evidenced by the map I attached below. It's easy to see how New Orleans was integral to the success of the cash crop during slavery.

https://www.mississippirivercruises.com/mississippi_map.cfm

*Again I couldn't select the photo so I selected the text that describes the events being depicted in the photo.

I love that a piece of commissioned art was chosen to be the first image a reader sees when they begin reading this Wikipedia page. I also like how thorough the description is regarding the name of the artist, where the artwork is currently located, and the location of where the depicted events are taking place. Although the commissioned artist wasn't an American I appreciate that he specialized in war and naval history.

https://www.crt.state.la.us/louisiana-state-museum/collections/visual-art/artists/thure-de-thulstrup

This section is really important because it describes the natural landscape of New Orleans and what makes the city susceptible to natural disasters like Hurricane Katrina. The last sentence in particular is revealing because it addresses how the local and national government has attempted to respond to one of the city's most persistent threats. This is clearly a major issue because it kills citizens, damages the culture and infrastructure, and harms the economy.

This sentence is an interesting one. On one hand it seems like it should provoke joy in the reader because not every "person of color" was subjugated by way of slavery. However, even today it's clear that the term "person of color" is a gloss over term seemingly encompassing everyone who is non-white. As evidenced by the last two paragraphs under the section titled United States territorial era it's clear that even in the late 1700s/early 1800s the distinction was made between Black, Biracial, and White. This contradicts the majority of claims that people continue to make today regarding the so-called one-drop rule.

Additionally, earlier in this wikipedia page the settlement of Filipinos was listed as an event that began to occur in the 1760s. Although we know that Asians immigrants were a part of early America and have experienced many hardships. I unaware of their specific experiences in the general South or New Orleans specifically. Either way I wish the term "people of color" in this context was more defined.

I liked this sentence because it really sums up the lack of seasons that exist in New Orleans. This is cool because the climate of an area affects tourism, culture, and the atmosphere that can be cultivated.

This tidbit of information is nice because you're able to understand where a historical event took place. More so, this information could explain why the federal government protects and preserves the land today.

This information addresses a major part of the city's history because it ultimately made Louisiana a slave state. Additionally, the State of Louisiana was a member of the Confederate States of America. This is really important because the state obviously contributed to certain events in the American Civil War.

https://64parishes.org/entry/confederate-louisiana

*I couldn't select the pictures so I selected the text that identified the subject of the pictures instead.

The selected pictures are great and really showcase the highlights of the city. Although, I see a trolley, Bourbon Street, and a cathedral among other things it would have been nice to see images of dishes associated with New Orleans.

This sentence explains the city's early contribution to America. This is interesting because the American Revolutionary War began in April of 1775. Which was more than a year before the colonies established their independence in July of 1776.

As it relates to the Mississippi River this information allows us to understand the development of trade and transportation by way of a waterway. This is likely key to understanding how New Orleans has maintained its relevance.

https://constitutioncenter.org/interactive-constitution/blog/today-the-name-united-states-of-america-becomes-offici