Posted on 04/15/2019 7:44:50 PM PDT by CondoleezzaProtege
PARIS It took little more than an hour. In that amount of time, the spire had fallen, most of the roof had given way, and that was that. Notre Dame the literal and figurative heart of Paris, the point from which all distances in the city are measured and the seemingly eternal backdrop to life in the French capital was essentially no more.
Granted, the facade was preserved, and the bell towers remain intact. But this is without question a story of loss on an otherwise perfect spring day.
To have lived in Paris in recent years is to be well acquainted with loss and even unspeakable tragedy. The killing of 12 people in the attack at the satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo after a morning meeting in January 2015. The bombings and shootings that claimed 130 people at the national stadium, the Bataclan concert hall and on random cafe terraces near the Canal Saint-Martin. The killings of two elderly Jewish women one hurled from her apartment window. The omnipresence of armed guards at any site where crowds may gather.
But through all of these nightmares, there has been one constant, collective refrain. This was the comforting reality or at least the comforting belief that somehow, through it all, Paris was indestructible. The idea that Paris will always be Paris felt truer nowhere else than in front of Notre Dame.
In his remarks to a grieving nation close to midnight on Monday, President Emmanuel Macron called the cathedral a metaphor for France. Notre Dame is our history, our literature, our imagination, he said. The place of all our great events, our epidemics, our wars, our liberations, the epicenter of our lives.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Maybe the writer of the article ought to study miracles and news wires a little more. All things considered, the place looks miraculously intact. The pulpit and most of the pews survived, to begin with.
https://rorate-caeli.blogspot.com/2019/04/stat-crux-dum-volvitur-orbis.html
Notre Dame symbolizes Europe in that the loss and the destruction of Notre Dame is a representation of the loss and destruction of Europe.
I sincerely hope it will be rebuilt and restored. But whether or not France and all of Europe will ever return to its former glory is in serious doubt.
It will have to be torn down and rebuilt as a mosque to show that the people of Paris are tolerant.
Similar to the sinking of HMS Hood at the Battle of the Denmark Strait in May, 1941.
Praise God! In retrospect, this is true indeed...but McAuley is a long time resident of Paris and goes into detail about what it was like actually being in the city and watching it burn in real-time..The wave of emotions...
We are only just seeing a few interior shots, it is surprising how much seems to have survived, I was expecting total destruction.
The Hood was listed with the Royal Navy after action report as ‘blown up’ and not ‘sunk’. The only ship in WWII to receive such an “honor”.
I was expecting total destruction.
We warned you, Paris. We warned you over and over, but you were too proud to listen. You doubled down on the open door policies. Even when neighborhood cars were burned, wrecked or had tires slashed, you ignored it. Even when the French Jews started to move out of your country, nothing constructive really changed.
You and much of Germany are stuck with all these ‘refugees’ who would love to slit your throats while chanting from their Unholy Book.
I never actually expected to see it however. Now it is possible we all might see it.
It didn’t “fall” any more than the kid in the Mall of America the other day.
What’s their angle here?
Isn't there a mosque at the twin tower site?
Always read that one was planned/built.
Which is exactly why so many people are immediately thinking islamic terrorism.
Wouldn’t it just be a kick in the teeth if this started a revival?
A video is being circulated allegedly showing a Muslim-dressed man inside Notre-Dame around the time of the fire. I’ll post the link here (sorry, I don’t know how to html it). I really don’t know if this is legit or not.
Street vendors selling cigarette lighters is the shape of Notre Dame in 3,2,1....
No. Pamela Geller fought it and some of our own freepers took part in the demonstration. I think the Muslimes managed to get an information center somewhere nearby.
Supposedly the Antichrist will stop them with his peace agreement. It won’t be Jared’s agreement, it seems, but one that both Muslims and Jews will be happy with and the animosity will cease for a few years.
Stupid French, theyll never learn.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.