Norway is Passing the Test of Terror

[Lars77]

Source: HuffPo

Of course the atrocious terrorist attack shocked Norway. But the biggest shock to the world may be that it isn't changing Norway.

If there was really ever such a thing as a hard rain falling, it fits the description of the rain that has pounded down on Oslo ever since the terror attack last Friday. Every now and then the sound of thunder morbidly replicates the bomb explosion heard all over Oslo and beyond two days ago. It's as if nature is telling us to stay inside, remain glued to our computers and tv sets. Demanding that we continue connecting the dots, in what seems as an endless pursuit of a valid explanation.

It reminds me of the aftermath of September 11. I worked at the Norwegian Embassy in Washington, D.C. and even as a foreigner felt haunted by the horror of the events and the question marks they left. The quest for answers led me to the same numbing media consumption I am experiencing these days. Watching the same sound bytes and images over and over. The somewhat desperate attempt at reading all the relevant hash tagged Tweets, searching for an angle that would give extra information, extra perspective, extra comfort.

The typical step a society takes after a terrorist attack is towards stricter security measures. It happened after 9/11 and has continued to happen in the US in the decade that is soon to have passed. Obviously, as a symbol of Western civilisation the US is a more prominent terrorist target, and concise parallels are difficult to draw. However, Norway has surprised foreign observers I have spoken to, and maybe even ourselves, in that we instead have managed to take a step back. Through careful reflection proving that there are other ways of maintaining order than merely through more rules and regulations. That increasing the social trust, in a society that already enjoys amongst the highest levels of social trust in the world, is a more rewarding option.

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/eirik-bergesen/norway-is-passing-the-tes_b_908008.html?ref=fb&src=sp

[Exultant Democracy]

1. This huffpost boycott is killing me today :-( Seems like it would be interesting.

[Lars77]

3. What boycott?

[Exultant Democracy]

6. Since the sale to AOL.

[Lars77]

20. Ah didnt know about that. :)

[jwirr]

24. This poster walked many of us here through the Norway event while

it was happening and I for one am thankful he was here. Whatever he posts is worth a read.

[11 Bravo]

2. What a bunch of candy-asses! Bush would have invaded Lichtenstein by now.

[malaise]

4. Al Jazeera has a great article as well

http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/opinion/2011/07/201172412744740495.html?utm_content=automateplus&utm_campaign=Trial5&utm_source=SocialFlow&utm_term=tweets&utm_medium=MasterAccount

[woo me with science]

5. I LOVE Norway! Look at this!

"Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg has stated clearly that the terror will be met with more democracy and more openness. Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre has made clear that tomorrow's Norway will be fully recognisable. Not only have these phrases been repeated. They have been implemented. The city centre was quickly reopened. Norwegian politicians and the Royal Family have spent the last days meeting with large crowds of people, with limited security, always at a discreet distance."

[malaise]

8. BBC showed the Norwegian royals crying in the cathedral this morning

The country's leaders aren't hiding like Bush

[woo me with science]

9. +10000 I want a government like that so badly right now.

Oh my god, what has happened to us?!!!!!

[MadMaddie]

12. Junior and paranoid Right Wingers happened to us

[woo me with science]

13. Yes, and it is being perpetuated by this Democratic administration. nt

[MadMaddie]

21. I would agree to some extent

however; if this were the only issue this President faced and he was ignoring it then I would say you are 100% correct.

There are so many things that have been intentially broken and fucked up by the Republicans that many feel that 3 years is long enough to fix all of them. The DHS is a poorly organized organization, it was cobbled together recklessly and there were profit motives in place..airport x-ray machines. 2 illegal wars....DADT, DOMA, foreign policy, debt-ceiling....The demise of OBL, Pirates etc...

The Republicans have insured that every non-issue has become an issue.....

Whether one accepts it or not President Obama has been able to adjust to all of the bullshit thrown his way. No other president has had to deal with all of the shit that he is dealing with...

No one on this board could stand up to the shit he is dealing with......I am not just talking the political attacks but the personal attacks....

Look at the 30 Republicans running for President and ask yourself, "Would you want one of them dealing with the financial, economic, job, social crisis we have in America today"?

I will submit that President Obama is not perfect, no man is but the alternative is a pure Facist state where people like me Gay, Black and a women would be put behind fences, working as slave labor to enrich the 2%. I don't think it is far fetched to say, I think Naomi Klein summed it up in her book.

These dangerous times!

[Blue_In_AK]

7. They passed, we failed. n/t

[oldlib]

10. Norwegians are Historically Passive People

and, it is shocking that this terrorist act happened to Norway. I am deeply sympathetic to the families suffering, at this time. Right wing terrorists are difficult for law enforcement, to track and eliminate, and hopefully, that will change.

[woo me with science]

11. Kicked and strongly recommended. nt

[GliderGuider]

14. Another strong K&R

[Nye Bevan]

15. And the guy will be out of prison in his 50s! Such compassion! (nt)

[GliderGuider]

16. I expect that he will be under very close supervision for the rest of his life.

I don't know what the criminal insanity laws are like in Norway, but it's quite probable they will find a way to keep him permanently confined.

Vengeance buys us nothing, it just makes us more like them.

[oldlib]

17. Not if my Recommendations

in the earlier post by Malaise are followed.

[malaise]

27. My first real laugh since this happened

:D

[Lars77]

18. Not bloodly likely.

21 years might be the maximum penalty, however people can be held indefintely if they are deemed a threat to society.

This is reserved for very special cases. The only that springs to mind was a guy who raped and murdered two girls, aged something like 9 and 11 a few years ago. He was a teenager at the time, and he will probably never see the light of day.

[GliderGuider]

19. +1. I figured the "21-years and out" meme was anti-liberal propaganda.

Thanks for clarifying it.

[jwirr]

25. If they have to they may just take that 21 times 93. That ought to be

enough years.

[Lars77]

28. I don't know if it's legal to give multiple life terms like that over here. Interesting idea. nt

[jwirr]

29. I think we used to do that here.

[JanMichael]

26. Well? Your attempt at whatever has holes in it.

He probably will not be out in his 50's.

[Diclotican]

30. Nye Bevan

Nye Bevan

He wil NEVER get out of prison... Even if the law stipulate "just" 21 year maximum, he could, and chould be keept in protective custody, for the rest of his life.. If he ever got out, the uproar against him wil be larger than everyone could imagine.. Hi is the worst murder in the modern history of Norway. Not since 1716 have more peopole been killed in Norway at one time as now.. This have been a horrible act of murder and violence.. To be honest, I doubt that our legal system ever was made for this type of killings...

93 persons in all are murdered by this henious act of violence.. He wil NEVER been given a pass, by the norwigian pepole even tho we are known to be a peacefully peopole who seldom use violence.. He wil never be able to go true the streets again, without risk serious injury to his life..

Norway is a small country, but we rembember wel.. And mr Breivik have really got on our collective memory..

Diclotican

[suffragette]

22. It is a courageous stance to follow convictions even at the hardest time

and it is an example to be emulated.

K&R

[sudopod]

23. Great people in an evil time. nt

[Bluenorthwest]

31. Of course, this attack is more like OKC than 9-11, so that is the

comparison to make. How did the US move toward stricter measures three days after that? It didn't.

[cyberpj]

32. Can we outsource our government to Norway? Apparently they still actually believe in Democracy! nt