Sad real-world news

[cleolinda]

Between a massive explosion and a shooting at a Labour Party youth camp, 92 dead in Norway attacks. The victim count has been rising as recovery efforts continue. At the moment, 85 deaths, mostly kids, have been reported from the island camp alone.

Norway attacks: latest developments being added on CNN.com; Norway attacks: ‘A nightmare,’ PM says;

Comments

[gryster]

I'm Norwegian. I live in Oslo. I got the first news of the bombs on my way home from work. And yet everything and everyone seemed so calm. There were a few more people on their cell phone than normal, but no panic in the streets. I honestly didn't understand the extent of the damage from the bombing until I got home and saw the images on tv.

As a comment on the media coverage: I think that at first, we were all expecting it to be international terrorism, and the Norwegian media were also speculating that Norway's involvement in Afghanistan could be the reason for the attack. It wasn't until the events of Utøya unfolded that reports of a blond Norwegian started to come in.

(I can still remember first hearing about Utøya - the Norwegian prime minister was in his first phone interview since the bombing. He'd been talking to the journalist about a number of things, and the questions were starting to become less interesting. Final question from the reporter was about whether there would be any extra security at the youth meeting at Utøya. Short silence from the prime minister, followed by a reply of "I've just had reports that there is a situation unfolding there, but I'll let the police give that information.".)

Final point: I don't care what this asshole believes in. Frankly - his opinions don't count anymore. I don't care why he believes he could do what he did - no matter what his views are; they are wrong.
I want nothing more than to look back at this in five years and not remember his name - and to know that he got a fair trial and will be locked up for the rest of his life. And although we won't forget this tragedy, I hope his views can be forgotten entirely.

[gryster]

Just re-read this and realized that I just let my feelings explode all over your blog. I'm sorry. It's been an intense couple of days.

-Gry

[sixthbrightest]

I think it was wonderful to hear something from the people "on the ground", so to speak. As an American I got some coverage of it, but not the kind of raw intensity that you displayed here, and I think it's a valuable perspective.

[gryster]

Thank you. Just woke up to these comments. They mean a lot.

Here, of course, there are no other news. All news media have dropped everything else for this. It felt like this huge relief yesterday, when they showed five minutes of Tour de France.

(RAMBLING ALERT: Further descriptions from "on the ground" below. Somehow it helps telling it to someone who isn't Norwegian, and isn't in the middle of 24 hour updates. There's no obligation to read on, obviously.)

I feel really sorry for the defense attorney. It's so obvious that he doesn't want to be there, and that he's dreading having to do his job. I think the rest of the country understands - there's been emphasis on the fact that this was an attack on our political system, on our open society, and how important it is that we stay open and democratic. That he gets a trial and an attorney. My facebook is full results from a poll: "should we bring back the death penalty in order to punish ABB?" 80-90% no. 10% yes, the rest on "maybe". I'm so proud of my nation during all of this.

Watching repeats of the memorial service from this morning. Prime minister has trouble controlling his voice, tells openly about some of those he knew at Utøya. It's heartbreaking.
He quotes one of the survivors: "If this one man can spread so much hate, think how much love we can all show together."

[cleolinda]

I feel really sorry for the defense attorney. It's so obvious that he doesn't want to be there, and that he's dreading having to do his job. I think the rest of the country understands - there's been emphasis on the fact that this was an attack on our political system, on our open society, and how important it is that we stay open and democratic. That he gets a trial and an attorney.

I feel really terrible for the lawyer too. It seems pretty obvious that Guy We All Want to Forget is the one who did it, but he's still got to have a lawyer who defends him in good faith, who doesn't just go, "Eh, whatever, we all know he's guilty." He has to take him seriously, present an insanity defense, whatever has to be done. And what the PM said about having more democracy, more humanity, was so amazing. So I hope people both inside and outside Norway will understand that it's a job the attorney has to do, not an endorsement of what the man did.

[julietvalcouer]

I think most of us get it, especially those of us who remember 9/11 (and the Oklahoma City bombings.) Sometimes you have to share somewhere.

And I'll admit my first thought was it had to be international because who thinks of internal terror in Norway? I can imagine the whole country's probably still in shock.

[gryster]

Thank you. Just woke up to these comments, and they mean a lot.

And thank you for understanding the need to share. Somehow it's easier to share with people who are not in the middle of the 24-hour news cycle on Utøya and the bombing.

And yes, we're still in shock. We're a small nation, so everyone seems to know someone who has lost a friend, or was at the site of the bombing, or.... I mean, the Prime Minister obviously knew many of those at Utøya. And that's partly why his speeches on this has such an impact.

Again, thank you for your comment.

[xturtle]

*random internet hugs* Thank you for sharing your experience so candidly.

[gryster]

Thank you so much.

[evilstorm]

Good fucking god, so Norwegians really ARE that polite. Considering how all of us are chiming in on the situation, I don't think anybody would consider it rude for you to vent a bit here.

[gryster]

Thank you for making me laugh. I needed that. And thank you for the comment.