The Norwegian shootings decimated many future leaders of the Left (Labour Party) in Norway

[stockholmer]

The shooter killed over 87 on the island of Utoya (using the bomb in downtown as a diversion, IMHO), where the Labour party was holding their summer youth camp. Who knows how many of these young adults would have grown up to be the voices of moderation and democratic socialist fair play in Norway? As a right-winger, Anders Breivik truly did damage to his perceived enemy, both in a temporal sense, but also in policy impact. A secondary aspect - these attacks will further encourage more police state measures and a loss of tolerance. A tragedy all-around, not just for Norway with her dead and grieving, but for the greater theatre that is the world's civil society as a whole.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


One bright light:


https://twitter.com/#!/Dr_Ulrichsen/status/94659245794000896

Oslo Mayor Stang asked whether Oslo needs greater security - "I don't think security can solve problems. We need to teach greater respect"


------------------------------------------------

http://abcnews.go.com/International/norway-shooting-explosion-suspect-admits-firing-weapons-youth/story?id=14141571

Breivik had one post on his Twitter account, which was set up a few days ago: "One person with a belief is equal to the force of 100, 000 who have only interests."

[myrna minx]

1. My friend and I we're discussing this very subject.

He not only slaughtered Labour's children, but possibly the future generation of progressive values. :cry:

[geckosfeet]

2. Decimated many, will inspire others to fight against the right.

Norway Shooting and Explosion Suspect Admits Firing Weapons on Youth Camp Island

Breivik, who was dressed in a police uniform during the shooting rampage, is described as a Christian fundamentalist and a member of "right-wing extremist groups in eastern Norway," and a farmer.

"We have searched his flat and also the farm that he has been buying, but we've not concluded our investigation there," Acting Oslo Police Chief Rodger Andresen said.

An agricultural material supplier told police that Breivik purchased at least six tons of fertilizer several weeks before the twin attacks. Fertilizer could be used to make bombs.

This guy had a plan.

[loudsue]

3. Religious fundamentalists are really dangerous, no matter what religion they

follow. By their very nature, they are out of touch with reality, living in myths in their minds that control their actions, and make them extremely maleable to extremist rhetoric. They are mentally ill in every respect. I wish governments were strong enough to stand firm on rooting out this type of mental illness, and offering professional services to these people.

[geckosfeet]

10. Norways leftist society probably has one of the best mental health programs

in the industrialised world - (IMO) no data to prove that out but I would suspect it is heads and shoulders above ours in the US.

I suspect that this fellow would have lined the psychologists, doctors and therapists up and shot them rather than go through treatment for his delusions.

[Arrowhead2k1]

4. I don't know, I think Antifa is about to get a whole lot of new members... nt

[Cool Logic]

5. How is Norway a socialist country?

Socialism:
No currency--Norway has currency.
No taxes--Norway has taxes.
No private property--Norway has private property.
No private business--Norway has private business.
No production beyond needs--Norway produces more than just needs.
All land and production are shared--Norway does not share all land and production.

[stockholmer]

Nordic 3rd way mixed socialism has worked here in Sweden,& the rest of the Nordic for over 80 years

I hope we do not lose this way of political governance. It has been amazingly successful, by almost all truly indicative measures.

[loudsue]

15. Where did you get that definition of "socialism"???

You sound more like you're talking communism than socialism. Plus, there's never been either one in actual practice that didn't have taxes, and there's never been a country that didn't have currency of some type.

[Octafish]

6. ''We meet terror and violence with more democracy and will continue to fight against intolerance,''

Youth camp leader Eskil Pedersen said there was "no doubt" in his mind that the Labour party was the political target of the attack on Utøya. He said there would be no surrender of ideals and vowed the summer camp would return to Utøya in the future.

"We meet terror and violence with more democracy and will continue to fight against intolerance," he said.

SOURCE: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jul/23/utoya-mass-murder-anders-behring-breivik

[stockholmer]

7. I would so LOVE to see that attitude in the US, not an overall cowering and submission

to a loss of civil liberties. Land of the free and home of the brave, anyone?

[Octafish]

8. I will never forget those words.

That is the attitude -- the Spirit of Democracy.

[marions ghost]

16. People have tried, & are trying

but the forces against us are nearly impossible to overcome by the usual means of voting and writing messages to representatives. Corporatocracy Rules. Maybe all we can do is bear witness to what happens in unrestrained capitalism. The country is so divided. Liberals are disenfranchised.

Wisconsin. They are giving it a good try. Remains to be seen if they can turn it around. I hope it's not merely the People's Last Stand. Americans don't have much time for movements, and among Liberals there's a lot of weariness with fighting for every little crumb...we don't have much political power no matter what we do.

What would you suggest?

[MadMaddie]

9. I think this act will wake up some of the folks that were following

this guys ideology....many great leaders may have been killed but there were many more there that will never forget what happened.

[Name removed]

11. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[bluestate10]

12. I doubt it. The shooting will cause more progressive activism, not less. nt

[treestar]

13. I'd hate to think any country's leaders were pre-determined that early

The event itself will have an effect.

[moondust]

14. Diversion theory.

A "terrorist attack" in downtown Oslo would tend to cause people to welcome uniformed "police" showing up with guns rather than to view it as suspicious.

You may be right.