The July massacre of 91 mainly young people in Utoya and Oslo in Norway left many families, relatives and members of the public grieving the lose of and injuries to loved ones. This major tragedy was caused by the hands of one man, Anders Breivik, who it is thought had links with groups such as the US Tea Party and the English Defence League but was a loaner acting independently. In an instant he caused major havoc and mayhem as he turned scenes of students enjoying summer camps in idyllic settings into those of security nightmares and memorial flags and flowers to commemorate the dead.
Immediately questions where asked and fingers pointed. Was it an internal political attack on Norway's Labour Movement or was it Islam's Al Quada terrorist group? Others put their own particular spin on events as they appeared to choose Islamaphobia over straight a political statement.Others still pointed to Breivik's links to the US Tea Party and the English Defence League or fingered German author Thilo Sarrazin, claiming he had blood on his hands because his book had poisoned Breivik's mind, particularly in the area of racism and Islamaphobia. As the dust settles on these events it seems that many of these options contain an element of truth contributing to Breivik's actions.
In any tragedy like this it is right to ask these questions and investigate what has gone wrong and why. I can't help thinking however, that some of the questions have the potential of being more of a 'which hunt' or 'blame game' to suit and strengthen other agendas.
And yet all the time the real questions, the hard ones of honestly asking why this has really happened appear to go unasked and unanswered.
Questions that go to the root of what is behind atrocities such as this - after all Breivik is not the first to commit this kind of mas murder, even if it is the worst of its kind.
Questions that left unaddressed will mean that inevitably, and sooner rather than later, someone else will do something similar somewhere else.
Questions that ask why a man can be so at odds with himself, other humans and society that he would think, plan and carry out such callous acts.
As I read articles such as these with all their finger pointing and yet failure to ask and address the real hard questions I can't help but think that they leave no room for love and hope. Where in this necessary but limited search for answers is the love and hope for these families, the Norwegian people and mankind in general.
Love and Hope? For the families and those effected by this tragedy? It is for those of us who look on to offer this to the best of our ability.
ReplyDeleteLove and hope for the world in general? Are we not called to be ambassadors for these virtues?
I am not so sure there are answers as such though. I wonder if it is too late now for some of the question and all that remains is love and hope.
Couldn't agree with you more Paulette!
ReplyDeleteThese kind of tragedies do put in perspective how fallen humanity is and raises questions of can this Earth be redeemed and restored to it's former glory. However, it is encouraging to see that the Norwegian Prime Minister has not been trigger happy and hasn't started a 'Crusade' against a particular religious or ethnic group or started up a political agenda regarding stricter sentencing or harsher policing of these groups, although these concepts aren't negative in themselves. It would be terrible to see a loss of liberty similar to what occurred in the United States after 9/11 and the long line of legislation (such as the Patriot Act) that was passed which curtailed so many freedoms which the country was established on. So perhaps the helmsman of the Norwegian state might show a positive example of unity and leadership in this time. Perhaps he will follow the position of neutrality that has been seen through Norway's history especially in the World Wars and in the Palestinian conflict.