The Cowards Way

Yesterday, July 22nd 2011, is a day which writes itself into Norwegian history in bright red blood. A day we will never forget, and never forgive.
At 15:26 a bomb rocked the government quarter in Oslo. This bomb left seven dead and many injured, and turned central Oslo into a warzone.
A few hours later a person dressed as a police officer opens fire on a crowd of children and youths at the Workers Youth League convention at Utøya outside Oslo. This is the most heinous attack and has left 84 people so far dead, many of them children.

Earlier most people, myself included, assumed that these attacks would fit into the same category as the attacks in London of 2005 or Madrid 2004. Many thought that Norway’s commitment of troops to combat the Taliban in Afghanistan or our participation in the air campaign over Libya, or the Mohammed caricature thing had brought down the wrath of the jihadists upon us. Perhaps it had been better if that was the case…

This attack came from within. The Utøya shooter has been arrested. He is also linked to the bombing of the government quarter. He is a white Norwegian, with extremist right wing views.
In his online activities he speaks out against the social democratic government. He blames them for being too inclusive and open to other cultures, particularly the Norwegian muslim community. He speaks of nationalism, cultural unity and dangerous cultural influences. He clearly paints a picture of himself as a racist, anti immigration, neo Nazi sympathizing bastard (my words, not his).

With more than a hundred people dead or wounded, this is the worst attack on the people of Norway since World War Two. That time Nazis attacked the country with the full might of one of the most powerful military powers of the time. This time they attacked with a cowardly act of terrorism.

This attack will not accomplish what he wanted. This cowardly attack on our nation, on our people and our children will not break us.
He will not divide the people of Norway.
He will not change the way we live our lives.
And he will not change the values our society is built upon.
We are stronger than that. We are braver than that. We are more honorable than that.

Let this man be forever remembered as a coward, a lowly murderer, and a traitor to the ideals of this nation he claims to defend. And let any who share his views be frightened by our resolve and commitment to those ideals.