Tuesday, July 26, 2011
United States 2001 and Norway 2011
I want to start with a reference to September 11, 2001.
I had arrived to the United States as a student only a few weeks ago (on August 23 or 24...I don't remember the exact date). On September 11, 2001, I had a class that morning from 7:30 am to 9 am. I do not remember what class it was. But, I had just come back from the class, and had gone to the cafeteria to get some breakfast. I took my breakfast, took a seat in one of the numerous tables in the dining area, and started eating my breakfast while watching CNN along with 50 to 60 other students. Suddenly, CNN started running a ticker: "America Under Attack?" with the question mark at the end. A few minutes later, it started showing live video of one of the twin towers burning. Nobody in our cafeteria, and at CNN, knew what had caused it. A few minutes later, CNN started reporting that a small plane had hit the tower. A minute later, the small plane turned into a Boeing. A minute later, the "accident" turned into a "terror strike".
I, along with other students in the cafeteria, did not return to our classes. We stayed there and watched with horror. People had suddenly started jumping off of the burning tower. I could not watch the live video; I turned my eyes away. Some time had passed, and we saw another plane come and smash into the second tower. Everyone in the cafeteria was shocked. It was true. America was under attack. By whom and Why? Those were the only questions that remained in our minds.
I also remember the speech that George Bush gave, a few days later, standing in the rubble of the fallen towers. He vowed to "hunt" and "bring to justice" the "terrorists" who had dared to attack the United States, the "beacon of democracy" to the world.
Now, ten years later, Norway was under attack. As with 9/11, nobody knew for sometime "by whom" and "why". However, unlike George Bush, who was hasty to guess the attackers, and what would be done with them, the Norwegian Prime Minister showed sanity and calmness in his remarks. Instead of launching into revengeful words like "hunt" and labeling the attackers as "terrorists", he showed restraint, and simply called for Norwegians to be calm, collected, and fight for democracy even more because it was obvious that the attacks had the capacity to undermine Norwegian democracy.
I watched the Norwegian Prime Minister's speech on the day of the attack. And, how I wished George Bush had given a speech like that. And, today, the Prime Minister gave another speech, much longer than the speech on the day of the attack. It has all the qualities you expect from a true democratic leader and a democratic country. Norway, today in this time of crisis, shows how important the idea and ideals of democracy are. At times of this crisis, Norway is showing us how and why we should care for democracy. I only wish we learn something from our Norwegian friends.
Today's speech below (original source: Office of the Prime Minister, Norway website):
I had arrived to the United States as a student only a few weeks ago (on August 23 or 24...I don't remember the exact date). On September 11, 2001, I had a class that morning from 7:30 am to 9 am. I do not remember what class it was. But, I had just come back from the class, and had gone to the cafeteria to get some breakfast. I took my breakfast, took a seat in one of the numerous tables in the dining area, and started eating my breakfast while watching CNN along with 50 to 60 other students. Suddenly, CNN started running a ticker: "America Under Attack?" with the question mark at the end. A few minutes later, it started showing live video of one of the twin towers burning. Nobody in our cafeteria, and at CNN, knew what had caused it. A few minutes later, CNN started reporting that a small plane had hit the tower. A minute later, the small plane turned into a Boeing. A minute later, the "accident" turned into a "terror strike".
I, along with other students in the cafeteria, did not return to our classes. We stayed there and watched with horror. People had suddenly started jumping off of the burning tower. I could not watch the live video; I turned my eyes away. Some time had passed, and we saw another plane come and smash into the second tower. Everyone in the cafeteria was shocked. It was true. America was under attack. By whom and Why? Those were the only questions that remained in our minds.
I also remember the speech that George Bush gave, a few days later, standing in the rubble of the fallen towers. He vowed to "hunt" and "bring to justice" the "terrorists" who had dared to attack the United States, the "beacon of democracy" to the world.
Now, ten years later, Norway was under attack. As with 9/11, nobody knew for sometime "by whom" and "why". However, unlike George Bush, who was hasty to guess the attackers, and what would be done with them, the Norwegian Prime Minister showed sanity and calmness in his remarks. Instead of launching into revengeful words like "hunt" and labeling the attackers as "terrorists", he showed restraint, and simply called for Norwegians to be calm, collected, and fight for democracy even more because it was obvious that the attacks had the capacity to undermine Norwegian democracy.
I watched the Norwegian Prime Minister's speech on the day of the attack. And, how I wished George Bush had given a speech like that. And, today, the Prime Minister gave another speech, much longer than the speech on the day of the attack. It has all the qualities you expect from a true democratic leader and a democratic country. Norway, today in this time of crisis, shows how important the idea and ideals of democracy are. At times of this crisis, Norway is showing us how and why we should care for democracy. I only wish we learn something from our Norwegian friends.
Today's speech below (original source: Office of the Prime Minister, Norway website):
Dear all of you,What a sight! I am standing face to face with the will of the people. You are the will of the people. Thousands and thousands of Norwegians – in Oslo and all over the country – are doing what you are this evening. Taking over the streets, the squares, the public space, with the same defiant message:We are brokenhearted, but we are not broken. With torches and roses we are sending a message out to the world:We will not allow fear to break us. And we will not allow the fear of fear to silence us.
The sea of people I see in front of me today and the warmth I feel from people all over the country convinces me that I am right.Norway will pass the test. Evil can kill individuals, but it can never defeat a whole people. This evening the Norwegian people are writing history. With the strongest weapons in the world – freedom of speech and democracy – we are staking out the course for Norway after 22 July 2011.
There will be a Norway before and Norway after 22 July. But it is we who will decide how that Norway will be.Norway will be recognizable. Our response has grown in strength through the incomprehensible hours, days and nights we have been through, and it is amplified powerfully this evening:More openness, more democracy. Resolve and strength. That is us. That is Norway. We will take back our security!
Since the attacks in Oslo and on Utøya, we have been united in shock, despair and grief. And we will continue to be, but it will not only be like this. Slowly, the first of us will begin to be able to face everyday life again. Others will need more time. It is important that we respect these differences. All forms of grief are equally normal.
Still we must take care of one another.Show that we care. Talk to those who have been hardest hit. Be fellow human beings. We who are gathered here have a message to all of you who have lost one of your loved ones:We are here for you.
We will also look towards Norway after 22 July 2011. We must be careful not to draw too many or too definite conclusions while we are a nation in mourning, but there are certain things we can promise one another this evening.
Firstly,Out of all this pain, we can glimpse something valuable that has taken root. What we see this evening may be the largest and most important march that the Norwegian people have taken part in since the Second World War. A march for democracy, solidarity and tolerance.
People all over the country are standing shoulder to shoulder at this moment. We can learn from this. Do more of this.Each and every one of us can make the fabric of democracy as little stronger. This is what we are seeing here.
Secondly,I want to say this to all the young people here. The massacre on Utøya was an attack against young people’s dream of being able to help to make the world a better place. Your dreams have been brutally crushed. But your dreams can be fulfilled. You can keep the spirit of this evening alive. You can make a difference. Do that! I have a simple request to make of you.Get involved. Care. Join an organisation. Take part in debates.Use your vote. Free elections are the jewel in the crown of democracy.By taking part, you are saying a resounding yes to democracy.
Finally,I am infinitely grateful to be living in a country where, at a critical time, people take to the streets with flowers and candles to protect democracy. To honour and commemorate those we have lost. This shows that Nordahl Grieg was right: “We are so few in this country; each of the fallen is a brother and friend.”
We will carry this with us as we start to shape Norway after 22 July 2011. Our fathers and mothers promised us, “There will never be another 9 April.” We say, “There will never be another 22 July.”
Labels: 22 July 2011, norway, september 11
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