Sunday. A day where I usually wake up earlier than all other days to scurry out the door for the longest run of the week. A run that’s with my friends, teammates, competitors. A run full of laughs and banter. But this Sunday was different. There would be no chit chat about the antics of Saturday night, or the excitement for competitions to come. In fact, I would be running by myself and with my own thoughts for only a few miles. My injury plagued knee was burning in my mind.
That evening I indulged the prescribed physiotherapy exercises in hopes of getting one step closer to full health. I checked my phone out of habit and boredom. Wow, that’s a nice building. She posted a picture too. What’s the deal with this cathedral? A gradual understanding washed over me as I clicked through the rest of the Instagram stories. Notre Dame Cathedral was burning.
Hold on. Where is that sharp pain coming from? Is my knee acting up? My hip? No, it was closer to my stomach. I’ve never been to Paris, never been to the building, hell, I’ve never even seen the Hunchback of Notre Dame. Yet, it hit home. As the French structure crumbled slowly I couldn’t help but empathize with the residents of Paris and tourists eager to see a piece of history. IT band syndrome has taken away my sport for three months. Notre Dame won’t be open for at least another 5 years.
Luckily, the 850 year old landmark remains structurally intact with only part of the roof, the spire and parts of the cathedral below it severely afflicted. Despite the horrific circumstances, French President, Emmanuel Macron rushed to the scene, and as Notre Dame was still burning, pledged to find the best international help to rebuild it.
There have been over 50 GoFundMe pages started in support of rebuilding the cathedral and with the help of some of France’s wealthiest families over a billion dollars has been pledged to the cause. Needless to say the enthusiasm for the project is staggering even if the cathedral is a cultural and architectural treasure. But the monetary contributions have not come without its critics.
“Why are billionaires so quick to throw cash at an inanimate object while a large minority of the world lives in poverty, suffers from famine, and has minimal education?” – A common criticism of the project. There are two important reasons why one should reconsider this question. For one, French people paying for a French landmark is not a crime, and two, humanitarian assistance is not as black and white as it’s perceived.
It’s a fair assertion to ask why this money can’t be put to better use, but it doesn’t use enough analytical thought. A better question might be “what is compelling French patriots to dish out so much money for a French landmark that has stood in the French capital for hundreds of years?” The answer is in the question.
Notre Dame is a pillar of French culture and religion, it’s a place where people unite to share values and build community. It’s much more than stones and stain glass, it’s a continuation of years of heritage that allow people from all over the world to find a deeper meaning in life. It’s an inspirational piece of art, a meeting point for creative minds. The cathedral has been a witness to so many major events in French history, it only makes sense so many have poured millions in support for the building’s reconstruction.
Cultural bearings in place, the conversation shifts to the moral argument of what the money could do for those in need. To be clear, there is nothing I value more than the development of our world, but sometimes you need to be critical of your own values to fully understand others’.
There’s no shortage of support for global humanitarian programs. What’s more is the money promised to the reconstruction of Notre Dame is a fraction of what’s given as humanitarian assistance each year. That’s not to say a billion dollars wouldn’t go a long way funding a hunger program or elementary schools, but it should be understood just how much is contributed to the cause. Let the numbers do the talking: Official Development Assistance totaled 142.6 billion dollar in 2016, and 2017 saw a record high 27 billion dollars allocated to humanitarian assistance worldwide.
Foreign aid is a tricky thing and is often misunderstood. As money is pledged to a construction project, it doesn’t have the same effect when it’s given to a poor community. The foundation of society is in social cohesion and cooperation, it’s difficult to put a price tag on that. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution for the ongoing humanitarian crisis. If there was some magic recipe, as there often is for reconstructing a building, the world would be a much happier place.
I lay in bed that evening, wondering what it would be like to meet the guys for an interval workout on the track the next day. With the proper training regime I know I’ll get there soon enough. Just like rebuilding Notre Dame it’ll be a lengthy process, but it’s worth it because it represents something that has a deeper meaning in many people’s lives. It represents self-preservation, it represents history, and it represents community. That’s priceless.
Although it may make you feel weird or uneasy, it makes sense that so many people are quick to fund Notre Dame Cathedral. Something so pure deserves this much attention, and criticism needs its critics, too.
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This is the first time I've tried putting my own opinion into written words, if you enjoyed the piece leave a comment and we can start a discussion!
Photo credits for the mast go the talented @fannyvella - check her out on instagram. The text bubble translates to "Oh no! Notre Dame is on fire! We have to do something."