I have started this thread with a heavy heart and tears in my eyes. As I said, although my family religious tradition is Christian (Orthodox), I am not Catholic, and not even religious myself. I see Notre-Dame, as many other similar artifacts, as a great achievement of the mankind. To imagine that someone was able, 850 years ago, to construct such a building using then-available technology and know-how, is mind boggling. That it was able to survive 850 years is equally miraculous.
From this standpoint, the thread has run its course. It was not meant to give platform for political posturing or cynicism. If someone wants to opine in that direction, be my guest. Just start your own thread, where you can spit on the charred remains all you want. I've already seen thousands upon thousands of laughing smiles, mostly from Muslims, on social media. I do not want to see them here.
As the thread starter, I have the option to lock this thread, and that is what I am going to do.