OSLO MASSACRE 22.07.2011



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 I'm writing this post to talk about a few things.  As everyone knows, today Oslo and Utøya were victims of terrorist attacks.  Not only was this a HUGE surprise to everyone in Norway, but to everyone around the world.  Norway is seen as one of the most peaceful countries in the world and the people in the country even more peaceful. 

I woke up this morning to my mother coming upstairs to wake me up to tell me that there was an explosion outside of the building containing the Prime Minister of Norway's office.  I thought she was joking.  The first words that came out of my mouth were, "Are you serious?!"  The reports were all over the place, as they always are directly following something this huge, so my mother told me she thought it was a pipe leak that somehow exploded inside the building.  She also said she had talked to Mari and Line on my computer and that Didrik was safe. 

I immediately came downstairs onto my computer to look up everything I could on google news and turned on the tv to the different news channels trying to get any information I could about the bombing.  Within the hour after I came downstairs, a newscaster online reported that there had been a shooting on the island called Utøya at a youth Labour party meeting.  We got a call from Didrik saying that he and Cathrine were alright and I spent the next few hours checking everything out on facebook and trying to contact people and talking to various people online regarding the attacks. 

I must have watched the news for three and a half hours today, switching between BBC on my computer to NRK to MSNBC on tv.  Seeing the pictures of the debris all over the city was unreal.  It wasn't calm Oslo anymore, but a scene right out of the middleeast.  I also remember that right after Didrik left USA as an exchange student, 9/11 happened and, now, right after I left Norway, this tragedy happened.  It feels as though a hole has been ripped in my heart.  And it's very scary for my parents because I was just in Norway, in Oslo, eight days ago. 

One thing I have noticed about this is that when I go back to Norway, it will not be the same country as when I left it.  I remember after 9/11 the country was healing as a whole and more and more American flags were popping up around towns and cities.  Now, today, just hours after this massacre in Oslo I noticed something.  Norway has become very patriotic.  I remember talking about how few Norwegian flags I saw out and around Norway throughout my year and how many we have around the states.  But, we have also survived a giant terrorist attack in NYC and Washington D.C. ten years ago.  Our country healed as a more friendly and community-based country.  Now we all talk to each other in public places and are very friendly with one another.  Norway, a country who has NEVER experienced an attack of this kind is bound to have changes in their culture.

The first thing I noticed was that virtually everyone who had ties to Norway or was Norwegian changed their profile pictures on facebook to a picture of them with a flag.  I was also "invited" to three or four different events to light candles and keep the flag at half mass.  This is a huge step for Norway in the healing process, and it has already begun.  This is how I know Norway will be a different country when I come back to visit over the next few years. 



washington post

 After experiencing an attack at this scale, there is no way that the country can heal to the exact same way it was before.  Now Norway will probably take many more measures regarding national and public security, just as we have in USA.  I have also seen many pictures of Norwegians helping each other in the face of this tragedy, which is another big step.  They may not have talked to each other at bus stops a week ago, but today they are helping each other out of burning buildings and cleaning each others' wounds. 

Something that Meg sent me today was really powerful, but also reminded me of how USA healed:  "Nå får mor Norge vise hva hun er laget av. Hold hodet kaldt og hjertet varmt."  This means: "Now mother Norway get so show what she is made of.  Keep a cool head and a warm heart."  As everyone knows, terrorist acts are performed in an attempt of scaring people.  We were told the same things; don't let them get to you, or they have already won. 

Well Norway, this was a horrible day for you, but I know that the healing process will make this country even greater than it was before.  I send out my prayers to all families and friends of those injured and those who have lost lives. 

Hold deg sterk, Norge!  Norge er i mitt hjerte for alltid <3