National Geographic article about New Orleans

a typical New Orleans cocktail of denial, faith in the levees, and 100-proof love of home.

Part of the problem with this phrase is not in it meaning so much, when we get right down to it. Two drinking references in one sentence. It fuels a stereotypical belief that New Orleanians are constantly drunk with their own alcoholic non-chalance regarding politics, geography, and culture. We all care. Few hear us.