Condolences to Norwegian Labour

44 comments on “Condolences to Norwegian Labour ”

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1. Colonial Viper 1

   23 July 2011 at 11:35 pm

   May your souls rest in peace, and may you remind those of us who remain why we must fight fight fight for our values and our vision every day.

   NZ Labour stands with Norway in solidarity. Unus pro omnibus, omnes pro uno is.
2. Pete George 2

   24 July 2011 at 7:06 am

   A terrible, terribly sad day for families and associates of all those who died, were injured, and were traumatised. Very sad also for Norwegian Labour, Norwegian politics and politics in general.
3. Carol 3

   24 July 2011 at 7:20 am

   My condolences for Norway, Norwegians and the Norwegian Labour Party. It is very sad to see the loss of so many young lives, but even sadder when they are ones who are committed to make a difference for the betterment of their world.
4. Bill 4

   24 July 2011 at 10:22 am

   Chris Hedges has written a number of pieces on the potential for violent blow back against liberals and their organisations.

   I don’t know anything about the motivation in this case, but from an initial pass, part of me wonders if this is an expression of that.
5. Peter Bains 5

   24 July 2011 at 10:44 am

   I feel sorry for the families left behind.
6. clandestino 6

   24 July 2011 at 11:36 am

   Unbelievable tragedy for Norway. This calculating killer has left 98 families in misery.

   Tell me again why we allow access to guns in this country when there’s the chance of something like this happening? There is no justification in my mind.
7. uke 7

   24 July 2011 at 12:59 pm

   What a waste of youthful potential. Condolences to all the families.
8. DavidW 8

   24 July 2011 at 1:20 pm

   Condolences to Norwegians of all political stripes.
   • joe bloggs 8.1

     24 July 2011 at 1:24 pm

     Agree completely – now is not the time to single out one particular political faction within Norway as being more worthy of sympathy than any other.

     Now is a time to show compassion and sympathy – for all those who have died and for all those who have lost loved ones – regardless of race, colour or creed.
     
     [the attack was on the Norwegian Labour Party. Not on Norway, per se. The attacker is a Norwegian ultra-nationalist. His attacks seem designed to wipe out two generations of the Labour Party’s leadership, leading to, in his view, a better Norway. I’m sorry if it offends you that we have acknowledged the fact that this was an attack on a specific part of Norwegian society but it’s the reality. Eddie]
     • gobsmacked 8.1.1

       24 July 2011 at 2:27 pm

       In the words of the spokeswoman for Norway’s conservative party, speaking on the BBC World Service … “We are all Norwegian Labour today.” That was a classy and moving tribute, not a political statement.

       When so many members of a family die, we extend sympathy to the family. That’s not “singling out a political faction”, it’s just basic human decency.
     • Colonial Viper 8.1.2

       24 July 2011 at 2:41 pm

       now is not the time to single out one particular political faction within Norway as being more worthy of sympathy than any other.

       You’re saying that we can do that afterwards eh?
       • joe bloggs 8.1.2.1

         24 July 2011 at 7:57 pm

         …You’re saying that we can do that afterwards eh?

         No. That’s your conclusion – not mine. And a pretty bloody callous and tawdry response from you under the circumstances.

         The attacks may have been aimed at members of Norways Labour Party but they have a profound impact on the families of the slain, irrespective of the various political affiliations of family members – 98 families in mourning – affecting all Norwegians.

         Do you understand?
         • Colonial Viper 8.1.2.1.1

           24 July 2011 at 8:31 pm

           Today, members of the Labour Party in NZ stand as one with members of the Labour Party in Norway, the Left in NZ stands strong with the Left in Norway.

           And the likes of you will not stop us from voicing that solidarity in no uncertain terms.

           Do you understand?
           • mickysavage 8.1.2.1.1.1

             25 July 2011 at 5:19 pm

             I’m with ya CV.
9. prism 9

   24 July 2011 at 3:12 pm

   Sad that the corrosive destructive force of hate and festering resentment has exploded in Norway.. It is so sad for them and for us to see so many dead and injured from this awful happening. We send our sympathy.
10. Treetop 10

    24 July 2011 at 3:22 pm

    Standing together in unity and condemning such an inconceviable act is congruent with the tragic loss of life. Extending compassion and empathy to those personally affected by the situation is an expression of the shock, unfairness and feeling for those whose life has been altered in an unexpected way.
11. gobsmacked 11

    24 July 2011 at 3:41 pm

    I thought this was a tribute/sympathy thread?

    Can’t people take the gun debate somewhere else, like the Open Mike thread? Or at least have the decency to offer their condolences before jumping on their hobby horse?
    
    [gun debate moved to open mike. Eddie]
    • Anne 11.1

      24 July 2011 at 3:59 pm

      Thank-you gobsmacked.

      Could the moderator move the gun debate to Open Mike please?
      I find it almost offensive to have these comments here.
    • Max 11.2

      24 July 2011 at 4:06 pm

      I agree. Apolgies for my posts & could they please be removed.
      • Puddleglum 11.2.1

        24 July 2011 at 9:16 pm

        An honourable response Max. Well said.

        As they say, ‘To err is human …’
12. Animal rights activist 12

    24 July 2011 at 3:55 pm

    I am a Green supporter but today I am ashamed to be a reader of The Standard. Your choice of headline and photo was poor and obviously a weak attempt at scoring a political point, even if you try to subtly argue that you are just stating the facts.
    
    [I don’t see how it is political points scoring in the least. The people who were killed and injured were attacked because they were members of an organisation. It appears to have been nothing less than an attempt to kill the current leadership of that organisation and the next one. – Eddie]
    • gobsmacked 12.1

      24 July 2011 at 5:52 pm

      “Activist”, what is it that you object to? Are we supposed to pretend that what happened, didn’t?

      Suppose a deranged white supremacist went to a Marae and killed 80 Maori. Or to a synagogue and killed 80 Jews. Should we pretend that those people were not targeted, because of who they were. Should we take pains not to specify “Maori” or “Jewish”? Why?

      This was not a random killing (though of course that would be horrific too). They were killed precisely and ONLY because they were members of a political party. Not acknowledging that fundamental fact is an insult to the dead. It is not a “political point”, and if you doubt that, I suggest you take some time to read the reaction of the people in Norway.

      “We are all Norwegian Labour today” – the words of the leader of Norway’s right-wing party. Enough said.
    • Zetetic 12.2

      24 July 2011 at 6:16 pm

      Anders was a member of Norway’s ‘Progress’ Party, which has an odd meld of libertarian and xenophobic policies, a bit like our ACT except their ‘other’ is Muslim immigrants, in place of Maori.

      He led their youth wing, then left and hatched his own plan to eliminate his political enemies. His attacks targeted the Labour government and the Labour Youth wing.

      Those are simple facts.

      I can’t even imagine how you think any of this is ‘points scoring’? Do you think that this post is intended to somehow win more votes for the NZ Left?
      • Animal Rights Activist 12.2.1

        24 July 2011 at 6:35 pm

        I just think it would have been more appropriate for the headline to be “condolences to Norwegians” or something similar, and perhaps a photo of say the Norwegian flag rather than the political party’s flag. Saying “condolences to Norwegian Labour” almost makes it sound like the grief is exclusively the Norwegian Labour party’s. If it was Norway’s conservative party that was attacked then would you have made the headline: “Condolences to Norwegian Conservatives” or would you have simply written: “Condolences to Norwegians”?
        • Colonial Viper 12.2.1.1

          24 July 2011 at 6:50 pm

          Ignoring why all those young people were on that island, what they stood for, their values and vision, all encapsulated in the term Labour makes no sense to me.

          The Left shows its solidarity openly and I’ll stand against anyone who thinks that it should not.

          Just because you honour fallen soldiers on Anzac day doesn’t mean that you don’t also understand that many others suffered too.
        • bbfloyd 12.2.1.2

          24 July 2011 at 9:11 pm

          beasty boy..it actually makes me feel queasy to read this drivel… how dare you even consider attempting such blatant policking over such a horrendous, barbaric act…

          forcing people to justify their grief, and their empathy for their fellow travellers is sick.
          • Animal Rights Activist 12.2.1.2.1

            25 July 2011 at 12:04 pm

            No, you are the sick one if you find it appropriate to imply that I am into bestiality because I stand up for the rights of animals. My three closest friends are Norwegians and I take great care to look at the event in the most considerate manner. I am as far left as one can get, but what I do have issue with is when claiming that it is about solidarity, as if their mourning is greater than anyone else’s, when it is a whole nation that is grieving.

            This is not the time to be bringing political stances into it, as you have. If 9/11 hit the White House while the Republicans were in power, you would not make a post saying condolences to the Republican Party. You would say condolences to the USA. That is all I am saying. This is a national tragedy and to give condolences to one particular party and posting its red flag rather than acknowledging the national one is insulting.
            • Colonial Viper 12.2.1.2.1.1

              25 July 2011 at 12:17 pm

              Members of NZ Labour stand strong together in solidarity with members of Norwegian Labour.

              Please don’t presume to tell us how to grieve, you are not our mum or our father confessor.
            • prism 12.2.1.2.1.2

              25 July 2011 at 4:43 pm

              Animal Rights Activist – Why don’t you put your energies into thinking about how animals can be helped instead of getting your feathers fluffed over something that has nothing to do with the safety of animals. You need to think straight or you will get as confused about your principles as Anders Behring Breivik.

              I looked up google under nowegian creep and got an item on creeping sharia. The Norwegian Labour Party tried to introduce laws controlling discussion and criticism of religion and a ‘blasphemy’ law that people felt was interfering with freedom of speech and information. I noted there was opposition to this and it was rejected. There also was concern that sharia law might get a foothold, which seemed to be greatly feared.
        • Blighty 12.2.1.3

          25 July 2011 at 12:12 pm

          -If it was Norway’s conservative party that was attacked then would you have made the headline: “Condolences to Norwegian Conservatives” or would you have simply written: “Condolences to Norwegians”? –

          well, let’s hope we never find out.
    • rosy 12.3

      25 July 2011 at 12:33 am

      The fact is the gunman was scoring the political point against the left. He said so himself. As quoted in the Guardian from his website

      “We, the free indigenous peoples of Europe, hereby declare a pre-emptive war on all cultural Marxist/multiculturalist elites of Western Europe. … We know who you are, where you live and we are coming for you,” the document said. “We are in the process of flagging every single multculturalist traitor in Western Europe. You will be punished for your treasonous acts against Europe and Europeans.”

      He considered this action “gruesome but necessary” he aimed to take out not Norwegians but those who were, in his mind, betrayers of Norway and of Europeans. This is beyond my comprehension. My heart goes out to those who are the loved ones of these young people and to the people of Norway who now have to pick-up the pieces of shattered lives and shattered political ignorance of far-right violence.
13. Puddleglum 13

    24 July 2011 at 9:29 pm

    There is so much sadness in this, layer upon layer.

    To think that these were young people who had sufficient vitality and commitment to their values that they became politically active and for this they were terrorised and died.

    They join a very long list. 

    Then there are those poor families left to deal with this in their life. Yet more unbearable pain that people will, nevertheless, still have to bear.

    Anders is a warning to anyone who becomes too caught up in their own ideas and allows the human response to wither.

     
14. gobsmacked 14

    24 July 2011 at 11:24 pm

    Let’s hear from the murderer’s lawyer, speaking to media today about the motivation for the massacre:

    He’s stated that he went to Utøya [where 700 youths in the age of 15-25 were gathered] to give the Labour party a warning that ‘doomsday would be imminent’ unless the party changed its policies,.

    He wanted to hurt the Labour party and halt its recruitment in the worst possible way, referring to party members as marxists.

    And that is why those kids are now dead.

    But on a blog in New Zealand we mustn’t say so, because that would be … political? Seriously?
15. Redbaron77 15

    24 July 2011 at 11:41 pm

    The news of the horrible attack on 700 young Norweigian Labour people could not have been any worse. This should have been been one of the “halcyon days” of their youth. Instead they went through a hellish, terrible experience that defies words to describe. May strength be granted to the survivors so that they can in due course successfully strive bring about something better for everyone in society; thereby giving full honour and justice to so many belonging to the next generation of Norweigian Labour leadership. Solidarity.
16. Vicky32 16

    25 July 2011 at 12:19 am

    This was just sent me by an Italian friend (I don’t know what site he got it from)
    “Jens Stoltenberg, Norway’s prime minister, has given a moving speech at an Oslo memoral service attended by King Harald IV.

    “Amid the tragedy I am proud to live in a country that has managed to stand firm. I am impressed over how much dignity, care and strength we have. We are a small country, but we are a proud people. We are still shaken, but we will never give up our values. Our answer is more democracy and openness, never naivety,” he said.
    Cites a girl from the AUF camp (the youth Labour party): “If one man can show so much hatred, imagine how much love we can all show together.

    What the girl is quoted as saying shows, I think, exceptional grace…
    • Colonial Viper 16.1

      25 July 2011 at 12:20 pm

      Its especially moving as their PM will personally know many of the young people killed, and will also know their parents.

      I would not be surprised if sitting Norwegian Labour MPs have relatives amongst the dead.
17. seeker 17

    25 July 2011 at 1:24 am

    @Vicky 12.19 am.
    Agreed Vicky, truly exceptional and wondrous. This says so much about the calibre of the young people in the Norwegian youth labour party. Such grace will help the survivors of this unspeakable tragedy soar even higher for the betterment of mankind; and may the dear ones who were slain rest in peace perhaps knowing that their caring, open spirit marches on and will never be extinguished by madness and violence.
18. Locus 18

    25 July 2011 at 2:12 am

    Families, friends, people of Norway. If only the care of others on the other side of the world could help in the slightest way. If only we could turn the clock back for you. If only we could give you back a thousandth of what you have lost. Our thoughts and hopes are with you, your sons, daughters, grandsons, granddaughters, nephews, nieces, best friends – the heart of your nation’s youth. Kia kaha in the darkness.
    • Southboy 18.1

      25 July 2011 at 7:07 am

      Locus, your comment has been the most apt so far. The political drivel and crap has no place in this situation. Stand with the Norwegians as NEW ZEALANDERS not some mindless brainwashed bunch of ningnongs.
      • Colonial Viper 18.1.1

        25 July 2011 at 12:24 pm

        A blow to the Labour movement will not go unrecognised, it will not go unheeded, we will make it clear that we stand as one with Norwegian Labour in solidarity.

        The political drivel and crap has no place in this situation.

        Political assassinations have been carried out. Recognise that.
19. Southboy 19

    25 July 2011 at 12:57 pm

    Colonial Viper, My comment would be the same whether the kids were Labour, Tories or purple with pink spots. No kid deserves to die in such horrendous circumstances, and we as New Zealanders should recognise the fact that they were kids minding their own business doing their thing when they were gunned down.
    A question for you Viper. If you are brave enough to answer.
    Would your teeth nashing and shield bashing be the same if the kids were of a different political persuasion?
    • Colonial Viper 19.1

      25 July 2011 at 1:07 pm

      Seriously?

      The Norwegian Labour Party suffers a mass political assassination and this is what you have to go on?

      And now you’re asking me hypotheticals about other political parties suffering the same kind of mass political assassination or massacre?

      Go away, that’s just twisted.

      we as New Zealanders should recognise the fact that they were kids minding their own business doing their thing

      Let me clarify. Those “kids” as you call them were aspiring political activists, politicians and the national leaders of Norways next generation.

      The business they were “minding” and the “thing” they were doing, was learning about leading their generation, their country, their society on to greater and better things.

      And yes, members of NZ Labour do recognise that and do stand in solidarity with members of Norwegian Labour.
    • gobsmacked 19.2

      25 July 2011 at 1:51 pm

      Southboy., why do we have to speak “as New Zealanders”, a phrase you’ve now used twice?

      We might want to express our condolences “as young people”. Or “as parents of young people”. Or “as members of a sister party”. Or whatever may be applicable, in each individual case.

      Who gets to choose these labels? Are there rules?

      Young Norwegians were slaughtered, simply because they were Labour supporters. That’s a deeply shocking and inescapable fact. If New Zealand Labour supporters want to express solidarity in their darkest hour, who are you to tell them not to? You don’t have to join in. You certainly don’t have to dish out abuse.
      • the pink postman 19.2.1

        25 July 2011 at 2:30 pm

        The Cambridge Branch NZLP had a minutes silence at our monthly meeting yesterday. It was as Labour Party members first and New Zealand citizens secondly .

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