It's been hard for me over the last 48 hours to process what's happened in Norway. On the one hand, I have to admit to being frustrated by the lack of acknowledgment of the tragedy in the non-Scandinavian blogosphere--BUT that said, I also understand that not everyone feels like a blog is the ideal platform for expressing these kinds of sentiments. I guess I just feel weird not talking about it here when it's affected every other part of my life.
I've never been to Norway, but I have strong Swedish and Norwegian ties on my father's side (the marriage of a Thorson and an Almqvist.) I'm also supposed to be in Oslo for a day during the upcoming Øya festival. I'm still incredibly excited to finally be visiting one of the places I've wanted to travel to for as long as I can remember, but now my mind is also heavy thinking of the shock and sadness that this country, this city, and these people have undergone. My ♥ for all of you.
(photo found via Vanilla Scented)
11 comments:
it is terribly sad, & for the most part blogs are my own way of escaping reality, so i can't imagine everyone isn't also troubled, but talking about it in real life instead...well, who knows...
Thank you, Siri. Norway is such a small country that most everyone either knows someone who was at Utøya or knows someone who knows someone. It's a country that's now just trying to grasp the enormity of this disaster, and will eventually have to pick up the pieces. I'm glad to see some support from the international blogworld. Thank you.
Hanne, Norway
My thoughts go to Norway, sincerely.
tara-lynn: I totally agree and I do think you're right. At the same time though, I think part of what got me going was the fact that so many people DID deem it necessary to post about Amy Winehouse. Her life absolutely deserves mourning and reflecting, but at the same time, if her then why not both? But then, when it comes down to it--it's the internet right?? Best to take it all with a grain of salt, of course ;n )
Hanne, what can I say. I wish you you and you country all the strength and courage in the world.
An incomprehensible horror. I read an article earlier today from a lawyer who was fielding calls at police district office -- no doubt getting calls from all over the world saying "What do you mean, the maximum sentence is 21 years?" -- saying that Norway is such a quiet, peaceful country that now they have lost their innocence. Very sad. I hope those left behind can find peace.
I've been reading the live updates all day and I can't imagine how to respond to something this awful on a blog about fashion etc. At the same time I can't imagine not responding. Thanks for giving it a go.
hey! i'm a long time reader but very sporadic commenter, and i wanted to say thank you for taking a moment to share your condolences on your blog. i always get a little disheartened with the fashion blogosphere when something catastrophically tragic happens and it goes unmentioned. i felt that way after the Haitian earthquake when it seemed like no one was acknowledging what had happened, and then again after Japan this year when everyone was talking about it - not that one is more deserving of sympathy than the other, it just seemed strange, if Japan then why not Haiti? i guess people don't feel it's the right forum or maybe don't feel qualified to talk about such sad things. anyway, i do appreciate your saying something, my heart goes out to Norway. - Chloe
It's so sad, I've been reading about it a lot today.
I feel I have nothing to add other than my compassion, clumsily expressed. It feels easier for me to talk about Amy Winehouse but there's room in a compassionate heart for a lot - my feelings aren't an either/or.
Seeing some of the comments here has made me re-think, if it offers comfort perhaps it is worth me recording my thoughts too.
I agree, but I think it is even more worrisome that people think the death of Amy Winehouse is more important than the death of 80+ people in Norway because of some extremist idiot. (Excuse me for my choice of words)
There is a lot of pain in Norway at the moment. However, there are reasons for optimism. People are reacting with love, not hate. Love for each other and love for our ideals. We are strenghening our faith in democracy and our social system. In all the sorrow, it is wonderful to experience how we are dealing with this. We are truly living Martin Luther King's words: Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that. BTW: You can look forward to Øya!!
Vivill
Thank you for posting your compassion & love for Norway in your blog and for the supporting comments. Its good to see that other communication channels other that newspapers take part in our grief after these horrific events that have devastated our little peaceful country.
"Our answer to these atrocities is more democracy, more openness and more togetherness" (Freely translated from J.Stoltenberg, PM)
Kirsti, Oslo, Norway
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