Grateful there is no loss of life, but my mind did go there.

and the people. It's horrible.

Kinda a "triggering" image.

I'll never quite get past 9/11, so this and other events hit harder

would be to link Muslim blame as the RW is promoting right now.

And Jews.

They can't decide whether to blame Muslims or Jews, so both.

So, no. I am deeply saddened by the Notre Dame fire, but grateful for no loss of life. I hope they can restore it. It won't be the same, I know.

This hurts so much. My ex, who spent a year in Paris as a student, is devastated.

This is a sad day for the French, but the cathedral will be rebuilt I have no doubt. I'm also certain that Americans and Europeans will donate large amounts of money to help rebuild it.

About 15 years ago I was in Dresden, Germany and I saw the project to rebuild the Dresden Cathedral which was finally being restored after the WWII firebombing. When the Russians came in and took over in 1945 they had no interest in building a cathedral so the project sat for almost 50 years. Then the Russians left and the Germans raised donations from America and Europe and rebuilt it themselves with most of the same stonework that remained. It's a remarkable story and it can be found by Googling.

Here's the photos of then and now : Cathedral in Dresden, Germany


The French will rebuild their Cathedral of Notre-Dame, I'm sure of it.

People will look up and it will seem that something is missing.
That is what made me think of 9/11. We in New York look up and the Twin Towers are no longer there.

The shock and paralyzing horror of watching the fire destroy something so monumental and dear and knowing there was nothing the firemen could do to stop it. Watching the spire collapse felt like a kick to the stomach. I had to turn it off because they kept replaying that part.

The only "good" thing is the building was empty of people. Thank goodness.

It's so completely different.

For one thing, probably no one has died. For another, it's probably not terrorism.

It is a dreadful loss, but not remotely the same.

managed to shock us the same way.

Both were things that were not supposed to happen. Could not happen.

But they did happen and we watched it happen.

the non-stop tv coverage.
a skyline forever changed.

i wonder how long it will smolder.

Small unconnected things can spawn intense memories and feelings so it isn't surprising that two events so visually similar would spark such an emotional response.

Nothing similar here.

Sorry, have you seen two airplanes full of human beings crash? Seen anyone jumping? Just stop.

Just sad that the workers were not prepared to extinguish as soon as a fire started..