"[One] year after [Hurricane]] Katrina, New Orleans straddles the devastation with one foot in the land of opportunity and one in the swamp of inertia. By habit, residents view change in their city warily. The past is forever present in the old river town, and embedded in its history â€" of which its food, music, diverse culture and way of life are all a part â€" is a quality that many people see as New Orleans' most valuable. It's called soul, and residents would argue that it is the city's richest resource."
