Is the reaction to the Notre Dame fire an example of privilege?

Sure. But is it wrong?

Yes.

I think people saying “but what about….” are the latest paradigm of false dichotomy.

People that say, “but what about Flint?” want to shift responsibility for fixing a different problem to people with no connection to the problem.

^ To some extent, we can always point to something more pressing. But when we have so many urgent matters that affect people, and we can’t get action (or “can’t afford it”) – yet an old cathedral burns and $1 billion suddenly appears, it’s a clear statement of values and priorities. This matters to rich people in a way that the lives of poor people don’t.

@hmmmmmm
There were 3 black churches in the colonies that were burned down by some white supremacist arsonist, that nobody cared about, until notre dame.
Sometimes, people have to be reminded of their hypocrisy.

To some people, maybe. To others, maybe not. It just depends on your own personal point of view.

Now the Moslems are upset that the simultaneous fire at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem received scant coverage in the Western press. Are they right to be upset?

I was very upset about the black churches, and I do think it should have received more attention than it did.

I think the Muslims are justified to be upset about lack of coverage of what happened in Jerusalem.

There is vandalism, bomb threats, shootings, and fires in many houses of worship that don’t get to the national news, or are mentioned in such brief that a lot of people don’t see it, or don’t take it in.

As far as privilege, Notre Dame is iconic around the world. It has fame not only for the Catholics, but for it’s architecture, history, and as part of a city that is visited by tourists daily. The black churches had history also, but are not known around the world.

Were the black churches Catholic? Typically black churches are more likely to not be Catholic, but in Louisiana it is possible, since it was settled by the French and Spanish. Around the world there are more Catholics than Protestants combined if I remember correctly, and the Protestants divide themselves into smaller groups even still.

People can give charity where they want, but that is part of why charity is imperfect. It is not always given to the most needy, or where it will make the most difference, it is given to whomever the giver feels worthy.

Does Notre Dame, the structure, actually help people and better society?

I felt awful watching it burn. I think it is devastating. I felt badly for Catholics around the world who see it as an important religious place; I will call it a sacred place. I’m not going to be upset they want to rebuild it.

An example of “privilege?”

Not sure that’s the word I would choose. But it points out some things that should be drawn attention to.

Possibly religious privilege… but not monetary…

Church fires, vandalism, and desecration are VERY common in France.

Several churches are vandalized or burned every night.

Back in the 1990s, more than half of Norway’s stave churches were burned—no one really cared. Its kind of a European thing.

In the U.S. most church fires are racists, against black churches.

I don’t agree with that at all. Notre Dame, aside from being a church, is a historic landmark and piece of architecture. Studied and visited by millions of people, of all socio-economic backgrounds, for thousands of years.

It’s place in history is a smidge different than a church in the southern US, as beautiful and beloved as that my be.

Most “What-about-isms”, like this one, lack perspective.

Well stated,

It is one of the first Gothic cathedrals, and is over 800 years old. It is one of the finest works of architecture in the world.

Fortunately, because the building has been so thoroughly documented, measured, photographed, and studied, it is possible to rebuild, even duplicating the original methods.

This is not a Roman Catholic owned building, It belongs to the French government, Lets hope they have sense enough to rebuild authentically this treasure for the world.

I would think that the percentage of actual church fires attributable to arson is miniscule regardless of the country.

I don’t remember the number of church fires or extreme desiccation occurred in France last year (a Roman Catholic country) to Roman Catholic churches alone—but it was more than I thought Roman Catholic churches even EXISTED in France. Something like 800. Or 3–4 per week

Most of the thousand-year-old stave churches in Norway were burned in the 1990s by youth and young adults calling themselves Satanists, following the lead of certain Black Metal Goth bands. Some, I think, were rebuilt because the churches were so well ‘documented’ with photographs and drawings.

Most of the arson cases in the southern U.S. are racially motivated, but the desecration, vandalism, of cemeteries and churches are kind of a “thrill” some groups of teenagers engage in in America at least, and also a common hate crime against Christians or society in general,