Agreed... there's just nothing that can be said. Devastating events.
(In a strange way, although it's a long time since I was last in Norway, and I didn't live in Oslo like you, this is probably the first time I've felt personally attached to a place that has been the subject of an attack like this. It looks melodramatic when I type it, but I do feel *personally affected* in a way. How about you?)
I feel very personally affected. I have friends who were within earshot of the explosion, friends who live near Utøya, friends who have friends who knew kids on the island (I was talking to Stian, and one of his friends knew 4 kids who were at the camp, only 2 of which escaped). This hits very close to home.
I'm also affected because the reaction illustrates just how xenophobic a lot of Norwegians are. A Muslim was beaten up hours after the attack, people were calling for all Muslims to be kicked out of the country, and now that we know a Norwegian was responsible it's a tragedy, not a rallying cry for racists.
I believe that none of my friends in Norway would have reacted in such a way with no information, but I only knew them in good times, how well do I really know them?
My only experience of Norway is that Norwegians are utterly polite, very welcoming and generous, and delighted to meet foreigners. But I look white.
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(In a strange way, although it's a long time since I was last in Norway, and I didn't live in Oslo like you, this is probably the first time I've felt personally attached to a place that has been the subject of an attack like this. It looks melodramatic when I type it, but I do feel *personally affected* in a way. How about you?)
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I'm also affected because the reaction illustrates just how xenophobic a lot of Norwegians are. A Muslim was beaten up hours after the attack, people were calling for all Muslims to be kicked out of the country, and now that we know a Norwegian was responsible it's a tragedy, not a rallying cry for racists.
I believe that none of my friends in Norway would have reacted in such a way with no information, but I only knew them in good times, how well do I really know them?
My only experience of Norway is that Norwegians are utterly polite, very welcoming and generous, and delighted to meet foreigners. But I look white.
:(
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::hug::
The reaction sounds like the American reaction to the OK City bombing. Lots of random brown people harassed and beaten.
I lost 2 relatives in that blast but blonde male Christian gun loving nutbags are not getting hassled at airports and government buildings. WTF
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*hugs*
The double standards are pretty appalling, ugh.
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