Muslims are terrorists, Christians are madmen and Amy Winehouse is dead.

On July 22nd 2011, Norway became a victim of terrorism. At this point 93 77 has been confirmed dead. A bomb went off in the executive government quarter of Oslo. Two hours later, a lone gunman went to Utøya dressed as police officer, where Arbieder Partiet holds a yearly summer camp for their youth party, AUF, members. Walking around the island shooting at people and at boats trying to save those who had fled into the water.

When the bomb went off the Norwegian media were very careful with speculating about what had happened. It was mentioned that it could have been a late reaction to the Mohammed cartoon or Norway’s role in Libia, but they stressed that they could not confirm, at that point, what had really happened.

The relief was huge when they arrested the culprit, Anders Behring Breivik.

The first mention of him said he was a white male. Then upgraded to ethnic Norwegian. Learning more about his motives he was referred to as a conservative Christian fundamentalist and right-wing extremist. He was also called a madman. As far as the Norwegian media was concerned, what Anders Behring Breivik did was nothing other than terrorism and that he is a terrorist.

Due to what has happened the last decade, terrorist has unfortunately become synonymous with dark-skinned middle-eastern Muslim. Because of this, it seems certain news networks avoids using the word ‘terrorist’ when mentioning Anders Behring Breivik. Instead they are more comfortable with calling him a ‘madman’.

I have been following this horrible event unfold through the eyes of the Norwegian media. Not only because I am Norwegian, but also because I don’t want to risk anything being lost in translation. I have been informed that certain news channels are avoiding the T-word when talking about a Christian fundamentalist and a white supremacist. Must be difficult to accept one of their own is the terrorist.

However, the way the Norwegian media put a lot of emphasis that Anders Behring Breivik is white, Christian, far-right and ethnic Norwegian, was very important in the beginning. Because when they finally shifted to using words like terrorist and terrorism, people would not unfortunately think ‘Muslim’ when hearing ‘terrorist’. Instead, when hearing terrorist, they would hopefully think about the Christian, ethnic Norwegian Anders Behring Breivik.

About a day later Amy Winehouse was found dead in her flat in London. Another great artist joined The 27 Club. Unfortunately a few didn’t really understand how greatly the terrorist attacks the day before had affected Norway. Some tit by the name Dan Wootton managed to tweet: “Amy all the way for me. Norway is a day old. Amy is an icon gone.”

Amazing how shallow some people can be. It is sad that Amy Winehouse is dead, but there is a time and place for everything. That kind of discussion was not appropriate in a public forum. I know this is common to discuss behind closed doors before the paper goes to print, but the public is better without these heartless discussions.

Unfortunately it also shows our obsessions with celebrities. A day after 77, majority of them teenagers, killed by a terrorist they are considered old news by someone who gets a hard-on from living vicariously through celebrities.

What is truly fascinating, in bizarre way, is Norway’s PM and government’s response to the terrorist attacks. Instead of demanding more surveillance and less rights for Norwegian citizens, they have decided to rise from this gruesome event by being more democratic and more open. That must be a solid kick to the balls for the US government. The same government that decided, after 9/11, to more or less put USA on indefinite lockdown.

Sometimes attack is the best defence, but that is only sometimes, not always.

Photo: Wikimedia