Winton Marsalis on his home town.

His message to Congress and to the media, distilled from these calls, is that the physical rebuilding of the city is just one part of the self-appraisal that the hurricane should spark.

"We should use the chance to rebuild New Orleans to find our soul as a nation, and to understand that we are responsible for what happened as much as any 'they,' " he said. "Democratic living requires engagement, you can't just sit back and wait for somebody."