The day we'll never forget.
I haven't been on LJ for years, in fact I haven't even really blogged for ages either. I don't have any other blog, but I have a need to ramble, to pour my soul out.
My chest is heavy, my eyes are teared up and I feel like breaking down, but I don't. Because there is this tiny voice in my head asking me how this affects me. I'm lucky, so extremely lucky. As far as I know, no one of my friends or relatives, or even acquaintances were harmed in the tragedy that hit us on Friday. But it's still so much to take in.
First there was the bomb. I usually check news and so on pretty frequently but not this day. My husband and my daughter had gone to my in-law's cabin and I was home alone. A friend came over so we ate some food, watched a film until she left around 6 pm. Another friend was due to come by at 6.30 pm so while waiting for her I sat down on my computer and logged on to facebook. A bomb? What? Where? Oslo? A BOMB? I checked the news, they confirmed it. A bomb had gone off in the political area, causing major damage.
Seconds later updates came in about someone shooting at an island hosting the youth camp for our running Labour Party. I remember thinking it was sad two tragedies should happen at one day, but that maybe someone had just gone crazy out there.
The main focus was still on the bomb. All kinds of thoughts went through my head, why was this happening? They had said it would, could've happened for ages, so it wasn't a surprise. It was still a shock.
There were photos of the area where the bomb went off, it looked like a war zone. It didn't look like little safe Norway. It became clear that this was a terrorist attack and people all over social networks made assumptions. I waited.
Norwegians all over Facebook reported of the attack, there were wounded, there were dead and while we sat there trying to understand several hundred youths, children, teenagers were caught in a nightmare. The bomb, still a political stand, was just a diversion from something far more sinister.
It felt like it took all night, but it didn't take long at all until the country started realising what was going on at the island Utøya. Someone was shooting, teenagers were calling their parents reporting of a man dressed as a policeman, telling them they were safe only to shoot them down when they approached him. The media reported of medical help being on the way, then reported again saying the help couldn't reach the kids as the shooting was still going on. It started to hit everybody how serious this was. People living around the islands helped the kids who chose to swim away from the island, some of them made it, some were shot in the water. The police caught the man, but couldn't say anything about the death toll. The man was Norwegian, from the best part of Oslo. To most people that was a shock, I have to admit I expected everything.
My friend had come and we watched the news, talked, and drank wine. I don't think it had even really hit us how tragic the events that had just happened was.
A man who had helped kids get on a boat said he had seen about 20-30 dead bodies, but it was unconfirmed by the police. We all hoped he was wrong, we hoped it wasn't that many.
The norwegian channels only showed news, and we waited to hear more. Later they confirmed at least 10 dead and feeling weird, sad and scared I went to bed, only after having talked to Carine on msn.
It was horrible waking up the day after. The headlines said 85 killed at Utøya. 7 Killed in the bomb attack. This isn't just a tragedy for Norway, it's a tragedy for humanity. Anders Behring Breivik is worst rampage killer in history.
I'm a mother, I can't help crying for all the kids at that camp, the injured and hurt from the bombing, the parents, daughters, sons, wives, husbands uncles, aunts, nephews and other loved ones of the dead and injured. And also for the mother whos son has just committed one of the most horrible crimes of all times.
My nations brothers and sisters are hurt, the survivors will forever be traumatised and our country will never be the same. But I am proud of my country and the way we stand united. I'm proud of how the strangers on the main land helped the kids coming from the island. I'm proud of our Prime Minister.
My deepest thoughts go out to everyone affected by this and especially to the young people who went through hell at Utøya. It's sunday, but I'm still in shock and I am still crying for all of you.
Til Ungdommen (By Nordahl Grieg)
Kringsatt av fiender,
gå inn i din tid!
Under en blodig storm -
vi deg til strid!
Kanskje du spør i angst,
udekket, åpen:
hva skal jeg kjempe med
hva er mitt våpen?
Her er ditt vern mot vold,
her er ditt sverd:
troen på livet vårt,
menneskets verd.
For all vår fremtids skyld,
søk det og dyrk det,
dø om du må - men:
øk det og styrk det!
Stilt går granatenes
glidende bånd
Stans deres drift mot død
stans dem med ånd!
Krig er forakt for liv.
Fred er å skape.
Kast dine krefter inn:
døden skal tape!
Elsk og berik med drøm
alt stort som var!
Gå mot det ukjente
fravrist det svar.
Ubygde kraftverker,
ukjente stjerner.
Skap dem, med skånet livs
dristige hjerner!
Edelt er mennesket,
jorden er rik!
Finnes her nød og sult
skyldes det svik.
Knus det! I livets navn
skal urett falle.
Solskinn av brød og muld
eies av alle.
Da synker våpnene
maktesløs ned!
Skaper vi menneskeverd
skaper vi fred.
Den som med høyre arm
bærer en byrde,
dyr og umistelig,
kan ikke myrde.
Dette er løftet vårt
fra bror til bror:
vi vil bli gode mot
menskenes jord.
Vi vil ta vare på
skjønnheten, varmen
som om vi bar et barn
varsomt på armen
*Translation - Rob Sinclair*
Face the Foe (directly translation of original title = to the youths)
Faced by your enemies
On every hand
Battle is menacing,
Now make your stand
Fearful your question,
Defenceless, open
What shall I fight with?
Where is my weapon?
Here is your battle plan,
Here is your shield
Faith in this life of ours,
The common weal
For all our children’s sake,
Save it, defend it,
Pay any price you must,
They shall not end it
Neat stacks of cannon shells,
Row upon row
Death to the life you love,
All that you know
War is contempt for life,
Peace is creation
Death’s march is halted
By determination
We all deserve the world,
Harvest and seed
Hunger and poverty
Are born of greed
Don’t turn your face away
From needs of others
Reach out a helping hand
To all your brothers
Here is our solemn vow,
From land to land
We will protect our world
From tyrants’ hand
Defend the beautiful,
Gentle and innocent
Like any mother would
Care for her infant.
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