Charity wrote:
Is your friend alright? Mum and Dad are fine; they didn't stop off in Oslo at all. Apparently flags were flying at half mast on the ship though. Hope my brother has forgiven me for waking him up at 5am to see if he knew anything.
How the hell did this [censored] manage to shoot so many people?
The friend I've mentioned earlier, well... I do not want to give up hope. But I'm also realistic enough to admit that the chances of him being alive are very, very close to zero.
As for the how? Brilliant planning and a heart as cold as ice, I'd say. Understand that Norway is a country with very, very low crime rates. The need for heavily armed police is almost non-existent, and such police forces are stationed only in the larger cities (of which we have few). Understand also that Norway has a gun culture very different from the United States, and we prefer it that way. Generally, we simply don't see this kind of violence. So, how could this happen like it did?
First of all, the perpetrator was disguised as a police officer, using the Oslo bombing as an excuse to get transport to the island, using his perceived authority to lull everyone into a false sense of security and gathering everyone.
Secondly, the Oslo bombing got any and all police rushing to the situation, keeping the entire district preoccupied. When preliminary reports of the Utøya shooting started pouring in, Oslo police acted quickly. However, the chaotic situation, weather conditions making helicopter unsafe, the relatively long distance between Oslo and Utøya, difficulty procuring a boat when there (the Utøya island has no bridges) and finally a ten-minute engine failure on the boat ensured that the shooter had almost 1.5 hours to his disposal.
Essentially, the teenagers were lambs to the slaughter. It's a tragedy, but I'm not sure this could have been handled better by our authorities, to be honest.
ratgoddess7 wrote:
I'm so sorry, Tsu..That's just so terrible. Could you maybe pm me the link to her blog?
I'll pray for your friend and your town, as well. <.> So sorry.
I will. I still won't post it here, though. It's a heavy read.
Right now, I'm doing better. I came to realize during the weekend that I had two friends missing. One of them has come back to me, and I'll be forever grateful for that blessing.
The national climate is overwhelming, too, one of compassion, love, peace, and faith in the democratic values that are the foundation of our country, and the foundation of what those killed at Utøya rigorously believed in. Monday, there was a large public vigil at Oslo City Hall. Two hundred thousand were crowded around the area, in a city of 660,000. Everyone brought roses, as a symbol of our sympathy and love, as well as doubling as the symbol of the political party attacked by the gunman. It was quite touching, and I'm not too proud to admit I cried openly.
After the vigil, we were urged to leave our flowers all over the city, which we did. Oslo has been carpeted wall-to-wall with roses for days, visual reminders all over about the love and compassion we all share.
Thank you for your sympathy. I love you all.
Quote:
"We must never cease to stand up for our values.
We have to show that our open society can pass this test, too,
And that the answer to violence is even more democracy,
even more humanity, but never naïveté.
That is what we owe to the victims and to those that hold them dear."
- Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg
_________________
Mary Maywell, Ravenclaw, Resident Ray of Sunshine
Also,
some other
dudes I barely play.
My condolences. It must be awful to lose a friend in such a way. Hope you're bearing up alright.
