Hello all! Before I delve into the details, I would like to thank all of you for your messages of sympathy, as well as for the interesting questions that you have raised
Evocative of the televised fall of the Twin Towers for many Americans of my generation, though of course no loss of human life at all in this case, only injuries incurred by a few of the brave first responders.
To be honest, I wouldn't even dare to compare the two tragedies. One was a deliberate terrorist attack which caused the death of thousands of innocent people. What has afflicted Notre Dame, tragic as it has been, is not as much an attack against the nation, and more a "disaster" of sorts. Although I absolutely do not believe the official version and find suspicious the insistence of the authorities that this was an "accident" even before the investigation has
started. I see what you mean, and I also felt very bad when I saw the Twin Towers falling, but the sadness, grief and rage that I am feeling at the moment is not of the same nature as the one every American must have felt on that fateful September morning.
As an
enfant de la Patrie, how do you feel about Édouard Philippe's
statement that the new spire should be "adapted [to reflect] the techniques and challenges of our era," or that an exorbitant amount of money has already been (privately) pledged for the cathedral's rebuilding
in light of the "economic justice"-based unrest that's been roiling the country?
As an
enfant de la Patrie, I feel extremely underwhelmed, if not downward angry at the government's response so far.
A) This kind of things should not happen in the first place. A work of renovation of this magnitude should include a state-of-the-art fire detection system, a 24/7 watch, and competent workers. Plus, the lead architect (who happens to be in China at the moment) has said publicly that such an old woodwork is very hardly flammable, if not noninflammable, without the use of a powerful accelerant.
B) I find the idea to "adapt" the "new" spire to the "challenges of our times" and all the talk about "leaving our mark on Notre-Dame" outrageous, to use a polite term. Typical of the hybris of our times. This idea of an international contest (
concours) of architects is the worst idea of the century. Why not a Starbucks at the entrance and a helipad on the top?!
This is no time for showing off one's "personality" or "style", this is a time to be humble and acknowledge our own insignificance in front of what our ancestors have bequeathed to us.
I understand of course we might use machines this time around, which said ancestors did not have. Also, no need to necessarily find 1000+ years old wood to rebuild the woodwork. What's gone is gone and won't be back. But that does not mean that we can't pay homage to the past, in a humble and respectful way. That's what I hope the reconstruction is going to be about.
C) I feel very happy that money has poured in from all over the world to help us rebuild. I do not understand the ridiculous polemic that surrounds this beautiful moment of solidarity and generosity. Of course there are poor people in France (and around the world), but we are talking about our heritage here. I support the Gilets Jaunes, just like them I believe that the French middle and working classes are paying too many taxes, to a State that too often proves to be inefficient (as evidenced by the fire at Notre-Dame). But I don't think diverting the money of the reconstruction towards them is going to solve anything. I am even willing to bet that the Gilets Jaunes mostly support the reconstruction of this national symbol.
Finally, I would like to reiterate that it is very heartwarming to see that so many people care. Even here of all places. Thank you all, really!