Preserving the New Orleans Musical Heritage

[Antigen]

When I saw the pictures of New Orleans, my first thought was that this is the home of American music.  Dixieland, ragtime, jazz, rhythm and blues, funk, even rock and roll, all started there.  The music community in N'awlins is organic, delicate, and precious.  It can't be rebuilt; if the people who make it up scatter, it will be gone.  
 
Since Wednesday, I've been looking for a fund to help New Orleans musicians, who are the heart and soul of that great city.  I've looked through the Musicians Unions (no help), the House of Blues, and numerous other music-oriented charities.
 
Finally, I found that the Preservation Hall (the organization that best knows every 80-year old jazz and bluesman in the city) has started a fund to help support the New Orleans musicians and entertainers.  
 
http://www.preservationhall.com/2.0/donate.php
 
I'd mentioned to some of you that this was my constructive way of dealing with this crisis.  Several of you indicated your support.  
 
I'm a crappy fundraiser.  But I am going to ask you to dig deep and give big to help preserve the New Orleans music community - because without that being preserved, NOLA can never be rebuilt.
 
http://www.preservationhall.com/2.0/donate.php
 
I'm a criminal defense lawyer.  Criminal defense lawyers know where the turning point issues are: the often forgotten little corners of reality that can change the whole picture.  This is such an issue; without its music community, there is no difference between New Orleans and anyplace else.  I've never been a good fundraiser, and I'm not going to continually spam all of you: this is my one and only begging letter for this cause to any of you.  Look at this as an opportunity; this community will be ignored by every major disaster relief group.  But it is absolutely vital to rebuilding N'awlins.
 
http://www.preservationhall.com/2.0/donate.php
 
These people will need new homes, new instruments, and some help while they work odd jobs waiting for their community to be able to re-unite.  Please give what you can.  These folks deserve it.
 
Clay S. Conrad

Men had better be without education than be educated by their rulers.
--Thomas Hodgskin, 1823

[001010]

Very nice. I had some of those same thoughts. I almost called you today because I know what a great brainstormer you are.

I'm glad this part of the forum is here.  

Instead of giving money to fund colleges to promote learning, why don't they pass a Constitutional Amendment prohibiting anybody from learning anything? If it works as good as the Prohibition one did, why, in five years we would have the smartest race of people on earth.
--Will Rogers