Notre-Dame this morning...

[brooklynite]

Historical comparison:



Interior view:

[jcmaine72]

2. Heartbreaking....

There's really not much more to say. I feel physically sick looking at the damage.

[Rene]

10. They need to get tarps covering everything asap to protect from rain/water damage

[Hortensis]

11. :) Instead look at at that was saved from the fire.

I wanted to use the word "miraculously" given the inferno we watched last night, but I think it's owed to the competent and heroic efforts of France's firefighters.

Just look at that magnificent window alone! The north towers. Even the crown of thorns survived.

[sarge43]

12. Those firefighters earned and deserve a very special recognition.

Heroic beyond and above.

[honest.abe]

22. Thank God they didnt take Idiot's advice and dump tons of water on it from airplanes.

That would have likely demolished the entire structure.

[sarge43]

30. There aren't enough electrons in the Time/Space Continuum to detail what's wrong with that "advice".

The International Counsel of Village Idiots are taking exception for including Moron among their number.

[FakeNoose]

23. I'm happy that the gorgeous historic windows were saved

It's a miracle, because I assumed the heat from the fire would have ruined them. There will surely be smoke damage though, and the precious artworks and artifacts will need to be examined and cleaned for smoke and ash. This will take a long time, as will the rebuilding of the damaged roof and spire.

I'm sure there will be a fund-raising campaign to help the restoration, and we Americans will be generous, as always.

[Hortensis]

27. Yes. Amazingly, most remain. I was afraid that,

with France itself so wobbly as right-wing extremists attempt to take over, this might weaken their national spirit. But far more than enough of this world's treasure remains to rally commitment to restore while rebuilding stronger.

[dalton99a]

26. +1

[calimary]

28. Saved? Oh Thank God!

The priceless art and relics and statues - the historical significance - gifts to civilization. Of civilization. For, and by civilization. Notre Damn is a World Treasure. I’m so glad those heroic firefighters didn’t let the inferno take it from us.

Yesterday as I watched the coverage I kept thinking about the hell we’re already going through and thought - “and now THIS TOO, on top of everything...”

Those firefighters’ struggles basically told the world “NOPE. NOT this, too.”

[Hortensis]

32. Same here. The firefighters must have doubted also as

they fought that holocaust. That poor fire marshall, whatever his actual title is, felt a need in the middle of their battle to prepare the world for losing it.

[DFW]

3. The one time Trump could use the word»sad» in context

And of course he doesn’t, probably because the only Notre Dame he ever heard of is in Indiana.

[FM123]

4. Oh my, there are just not enough words....

I saw the first photo and thought, the exterior looks bad but not as much as I thought it would be - then I saw the interior and my heart just fell.

[redwitch]

5. I feel better seeing these images.

There is much that remains intact. The rebuilding will take years but it will happen and Norte Dame will still be a beautiful, historic and sacred space.

[Pacifist Patriot]

7. I feel the same.

I feared the absolute worst yesterday. I'm relieved to see so much remains.

[Dave Starsky]

8. They can and will rebuild.

And it will be a joyous day when the work is done.

[honest.abe]

25. Remarkably intact.

I was sick to my stomach yesterday thinking we will never see that beautiful building in its glory again. It now sounds like it can be restored to very close to what it was. Thank God.

[madaboutharry]

6. The French and the world can look to the future.

It is heartbreaking to look at the damage today, but the hard work will no doubt begin soon.

There will be a day when Notre Dame is magnificent again.

[BigOleDummy]

9. I am a

Atheist but was heartbroken to see the flames yesterday. Notre Dame is not just a "church" and does not belong to any one sect or religion in my opinion , it belongs to the world.

[NeoGreen]

13. Is this an opportunity for Citizens of the US to show their gratitude for the gift received...

...many years ago?



I think this Atheist will be making a donation to help restore an icon of our fellow French citizens of the world.

Liberté, égalité, fraternité

[FailureToCommunicate]

14. Yes! Any idea yet where we could send contributions?

[Lonestarblue]

15. Yes, I would donate to this cause.

It would be great if someone like the Obamas or the Clintons would make a generous donation and then set up a foundation for donations to help rebuild Notre Dame and show our support for an ally.

[KatyaR]

20. This link was in a Newsweek article.

http://www.notredamedeparis.fr/friends/donate/

Here's the article link:

https://www.newsweek.com/notre-dame-fire-donations-fundraising-damage-repairs-rebuild-billionaires-1397667

They were taking donations for the renovations, but the money will now be used to restore the cathedral.

I plan on donating once I'm back to work.

#risingfromtheashes

[FailureToCommunicate]

24. Thanks. Glad to hear they've already had pledges of nearly 500 million euros.

[melm00se]

18. as of this morning

The next day, French entrepreneur and billionaire François-Henri Pinault pledged €100 million from his family's investment company, Groupe Artémis. Soon afterward, LVMH owner and billionaire Bernard Arnault and his family pledged another €200 million. The Île-de-France region announced it would allocate €10 million, and the City of Paris declared it would make €50 million available. Patrick Pouyanne, the CEO of Total, the French energy major, told Reuters the company would also donate €100 million.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Notre-Dame_de_Paris_fire#Fundraising_effort

that's almost €500 million

[calimary]

29. Yep! Fitting return-of-the-favor.

A transatlantic gift exchange that can now come full circle. I’m gonna contribute.

[FailureToCommunicate]

16. SO many churches, and other historic buildings, catch fire during renovation. Incredible that

there wasn't some plan in place to mitigate that possibility.

Our historic church burned to the ground because the company repainting the steeple used heat guns and torches to soften and scrape the old paint. Old wood has a lower flash point. Once caught, the wooden structure was fully involved in matters of minutes. Gone. Only the bell survived, but cracked as it fell.

Yesterday's tragedy in Paris brought back all those bad memories, and anger.

[pdsimdars]

17. Looks great. I mean, it's a fixer upper, but the main structure held.

[Hulk]

19. Amazing that they were able to save so much

I had a difficult time sleeping, thinking about this tremendous tragedy. Thank God they were able to save so much with no loss of life? (Not certain of those details yet.)

[a kennedy]

21. Did I read or hear that all the wooden structures did burn on the inside??

[jmbar2]

31. Even in devastation, it is still stunningly beautiful

I will donate as well, just to send them some love. Maybe if there is extra, they can handsomely reward the fire crews.