Chasing the dots … Gruesome ‘But Necessary?

WHEREVER we come from, whatever our views and however we analyse the world around us we always seem to miss predicting horrific events!

The last place in the world I would have expected a massive bomb targeting government and a subsequent cold blooded execution of politically orientated kids would be Norway. A country of wealth, general equality, a democratic model, a culture of tolerance and of peaceful solutions.Norway, a country of fond memories from my early teens from a boy scouts exchange camp and a memorable family holiday, both in Bergen, and the latter with the added value of developing a love of sea travel before legalities restricted passengers on cargo ships! Equally over the years I have enjoyed working with Norwegians, a reasonable, thoughtful and realistic people who knew their jobs. My heart goes out to all Norwegians.So why? The perpetrator, Anders Breivik (32), seemingly from a respected diplomatic family of substance and despite family marital upheavals, had a reasonable childhood and emerged as a well-educated and stable member of society with no black marks against his name. Indeed he would seem to be someone who was well positioned through his life experience and advantaged position in society to be one to progress into prominence. Well he has certainly has achieved prominence!Let’s look deeper. His comments from his lawyer or the judge following his court appearance are of concern. He admits his actions and that what he did was ‘gruesome but necessary’; that his motivation was to severely punish the Labour Party (in power for ever) for ‘corrupting Norway’s culture by allowing increasing numbers of immigrants, especially those of the Islamic faith, into the country’. He also seemed to have a thing against feminism!He saw this well planned atrocity as the only way to a political platform to present his points of view. He was willing to sacrifice his freedom for the rest of his life in order to achieve this. Evidently he is going to spend at least 21 years in jail if, as seems highly likely, he is found guilty. But his actions and comments do raise serious questions. To me these actions could be warning shots across the bows of Norway’s democratic process and if there is a nation capable of maturely, honestly and self-critically analysing and choosing a new direction it is Norway. What has happened may well be indicative of problems growing elsewhere?Europe, for years absorbed immigrants, usually to the benefit of themselves from the skills, different thinking and, lets be real, people who work for less pay! This was fine while economic growth and high employment existed and in general the tolerant and respectful acceptance of incoming peoples were reciprocated by those arriving. Yes, tensions, cultural backfires and occasional violence existed but work and security usually won over. But now with financial problems, unemployment and troubles in Arab (Islamic) states the goalposts have moved. Immigrants are now refugees escaping poor security, economic or governance situations.It is quite evident that major tensions are arising with increasing numbers of refugees and starving in the world, especially from African / Arabic sources together with a perceived level of increasing intolerance by incoming peoples of national cultures and laws. Mass migrations represent power?Our world is becoming increasingly intolerant. Maybe Breivik, while maybe a loner, represents a larger latent constituency? Maybe the Norwegian Prime Minister should be listened to when he says ‘terrorism and violence will be addressed by more democracy’.But then Nobel did also invent dynamite that paid for Peace Prize benefits!csmith@mweb.com.na