Proud.

 

It's an honor to be able to live in a country that believes in compassion, in forgiveness and tolerance.  After a day such as Friday, when the horror hit us all in Norway, it is truly an example of peace to see how they are handling the worst of the worst.  

It has been difficult to write this post, what can I say? In the middle of the news on the T.V, on the newspaper, the rambling of people talking about the tragedy I just had to sit for a moment and digest what happened.  It's impossible, it can't be digested! I look for answers somewhere else because I can't quite understand all that I read or hear on the T.V.  Norwegian is still a difficult language when it comes to serious matters.  I understand most of it, but I don't want to miss one piece of information... so I have to ask and look for better explanations, only to find out there aren't any good enough. 

For the first time in 4 and half years since I moved to Norway, I don't feel safe...it is not a good day to be an immigrant when there are extremists like this man out there.  I feel scared for my child who is a product of multiculturalism.  We are part of this salad bowl!  I know I am not part of the target group this man is against at the moment... but maybe I am, or I will be.  Anyways, I can't help but feel solidarity and sadness.  But I have to follow the example of the massacre survivors and lift my forehead and fill myself with courage and say that I know I still am in one of the best places to live in the world.  The land where I want my daughter to grow up.

Picture by P. Modahl, taken in Bergen (den Blå Stein).

Norway has been my home for the past years.  My daughter is born Norwegian.  We are part of this land just as much as my neighbors.  I love this country of beautiful culture where I have become a better human being, a better woman, a wife and a mother.  This is a place where friends are true friends, and a hug is a real hug.  So today, I feel proud... scared but proud of being part of such a place where love is bigger that hate.