Norway: Faced with Inhumanity we must be more human

[ellenrr]

The attacker, the terrorist - the person wanting to spread fear by violence - was a Norwegian. He apparently defined himself as a nationalist, and as being against internationalism. I've read he was deeply opposed to multiculturalism and that he was furiously anti-Islamic. He had written a manuscript about how Marxism and Islam would ruin Europe. And much more. For me he represents violence, sickness and hate.

However, one thing is sure: he wanted to attack Norwegian society, Norwegian politics, and what it is that is Norway.

This brings up the question of what is Norwegian, what is Norway today? The prime minister, the king and many others have mentioned concepts such as democracy, openness, equality, community and freedom. These are loaded concepts, shared by many nations, but which are also viewed differently by many. The sum of how we, as Norwegians, fill these concepts with meaning - by our actions as individuals and a society - perhaps best defines what Norway is.

Today, two days after the attack, there is an opportunity for us to fill those concepts with meaning. An attack completely without meaning, but which we have to turn into meaning. The youths gathered at the island were discussing the way forward for our country and the world. To take up that discussion, and fill their meaningless, tragic deaths with an attempt to make a better tomorrow, is something I think we should do in their spirit.

http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/opinion/2011/07/201172463425438291.html