Norway, We Mourn With You

Our hearts reach out to you in your sorrow. Such a high price for Norway to pay for one man's intolerance and hatred.

To say the event is even more horrific, because it occurred in your beautiful country rather than elsewhere, reflects the degree to which such violence has become far too common in our troubled world. Whether it be Pakistan or Afghanistan, New Zealand or Japan, Argentina or Canada, such acts are beyond human imagination.

My memories from traveling in your Norwegian countryside are of your hospitality, your ingenuity and respect for the environment, and your quiet strength. The world is a better place for your existence among us. Already, I see you drawing on your communal resources to grieve together and to go forward. May we all learn from you in this tragic time.

As for all of the rest of us, the very personal question is "how have we contributed to the climate of intolerance and violence?" American bloggers, who share the same vitriolic hatred of anyone who is different in anyway from themselves. fostered this man's perspective. But even more, how have the little acts of bias committed by each of us fed the polarization that is so prevalent in our culture today?

Perhaps this tragedy in the Norway that has so many connections here will cause us to search our own hearts. Perhaps we will reclaim some of our belief in the importance of the common good that has been forgotten in the current political and economic climate. And perhaps as we grieve with you, we will come to new understanding of what it means to belong to our global community.