Are you sure?
This bookmark will be removed from all folders and any saved notes will be permanently removed.
Prayers for Oslo
Originally appeared on spirituality.com
On the afternoon of Friday, July 22, a huge explosion rocked central Oslo, the capital of Norway. Several buildings in the busy Oslo shopping district next to the government building housing the Prime Minister’s office, the apparent target, were littered in broken glass and collapsing walls. Central Oslo was immediately condoned off by the police to allow rescue operations to take place. A few hours later on a small island just outside of Oslo, a lone gunman opened fire on a youth summer camp meeting of the ruling Labour party. Dozens of people were killed in the twin attacks, and scores more were injured. The right-wing Norwegian extremist who confessed to having perpetrated both attacks has been apprehended.
The main thought in many people’s minds seems to be, “Oslo? Of all places?” I have been studying in Oslo since March of this year, and have also been a visitor here on and off for the last three years. I can testify that terrorism is the last thing that could have been expected in this peaceful city, where the Prime Minister rides a bike and sits in a café with little or no security. Compared to the helter-skelter of my home country, Kenya, where insecurity demands a heavy security presence, everything in Norway seems to work with little visible police presence.
Everybody here was surprised by the attacks, and one of the sad conclusions being drawn is that no one anywhere is immune to the threat of terrorism; that no one is safe. This reasoning would bring one into the cowering state of fear that is the very result the terrorist is after.
Enjoy 1 free Sentinel article or audio program each month, including content from 1898 to today.
