Tears of sadness for Norway.
We often feel so far removed from many of the world’s tragedies here in Richmond, where family fun, education, socializing, and enjoying every day is all a part of living.
But we cannot hide from the fact that tragedy can strike anywhere, anytime.
The recent bombing and attacks on helpless, innocent people in Norway leaves us stunned and anxious. How could such a thing happen? The suspect (who I have decided does not deserve to have his name in print on this site) says he acted alone but who knows if that’s true. He says he was angry and the acts were “necessary although atrocious”.
Necessary?
I’m sorry……but what could possibly compel someone to think it is necessary to kill innocent people – mostly teens at a summer youth camp — and others at Oslo’s government offices. Young people were joined together on a forested holiday island when their world was suddenly shattered and riddled with shrapnel and death.
I am personally outraged as I read that this heartless, mindless, pathetic terrorist faces a maximum of 21 years in jail.
TWENTY ONE YEARS!
He’ll be out when he’s 53 and who knows what he will do at that point – or what he will be able to orchestrate from within the confines of a jail cell.
21 years for killing at least 85 young teens and at least 8 others in Oslo.
I look at this young man and like the Virginia Tech massacre and 911, I can find no sense in any of it. It is so hard to explain to our children and grandchildren why these things happen. We want to keep them protected, safe, and shielded.
But life happens, and we have to expose them to the knowledge that not everyone in the world is “good”.
Moms everywhere mourn the loss of those in Norway to such tragedy. Our hearts break as we think about the tremendous loss to the world of so many young lives. We cannot imagine how a father felt to hear the news of his son’s involvement through a newspaper article where he lives in France. His father has not seen him since 1995 and now to bear the burden of knowing what his son has done must be unbearable beyond words.
Amy Winehouse’s recent death made national headlines as she died from a suspected drug overdose. While that is very sad, she created this path for her life. The young people at the youth camp in Norway were simply enjoying time together when their lives were taken and had done nothing to bring this on themselves. Those in Oslo were simply doing their jobs.
Can the manner of their deaths be compared? No way.
Do our hearts break for the loss of both Amy and these young people and others in Norway? Yes, because all life is precious.
We know that neither of these events had to happen — if two people had just stopped to think about the value of life and how precious it is, lives would have been spared. And now we are left to cope with the loss and the tragedy in the best way we know how as we strive to teach our children about living a meaningful, caring, and loving life.
To all of the families who lost loved ones in Norway, you will remain in our prayers for many days to come. And your children and family members will not be forgotten.
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