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Notre Dame Is Burning
We need to invest in what we claim to love
The world is watching in helpless horror as Notre Dame burns. The spire just collapsed.
Being an informed citizen is a value that many people hold dear. But with the ubiquity of 24-hour news access it can also break your heart. And there is something to be said for acknowledging our feelings of helplessness. I’m not advocating for blissful ignorance. But I want to acknowledge that not being able to stop the flooding in the midwest or keep Cyclone Idai from devastating more of Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Malawi or put out the fire in Notre Dame is heartbreaking.
Today that helplessness feels physical and I am trying not to feel hopeless. Seeing one of the world’s most famous gothic cathedrals glowing from within as the fire rages on is devastating.
Notre Dame is cherished not just by Catholics. It reportedly attracts more tourists than any other monument in Europe, approximately 13 million every year. That is around 30,000 people per day.
Maintenance and protection of this universally treasured cultural heritage is not just the responsibility of the French government or…
