Today's the anniversary for the Norwegian massacre at Ut?ya and the bombing of Oslo.

77 persons lost their lives that day, the one responsible being a lone Norwegian man claiming to protect Christian values. He wanted to cripple the political youth of the current government, as a punishment for the government allowing muslim refugees and immigrants coming to Norway. When I heard the news, I was minding my own business playing Portal, and I was stunned. I watched the live news on TV until far into the night, it all felt unreal.
I knew there were act of terrorism and war all over the world, most far more bloodier than the one struck at us, but it felt so unreal that it was happening to my country. When I hear of bombings and shootings in other, bigger countries, I used to find it tragic, but a part of life. I gave it little more thought, but when it was my countrymen who were targeted, I was completely stunned.

Breivik's a twisted man, and he's brought upon his people the greatest tragic since the Second World War, but I can't hate him. Since the 22 July last year, there have been many strong emotions in play. Hate for the criminal, sorrow for the losses and compassion for those left behind. But I can't hate the man, I have no capacity to both hate and love at the same time. The first days after the incident, I heard people speaking of death penalties, torture and various other inhumane acts. But also, I saw a great strength in the Norwegian people, something which also seemed to surprise foreign media. I saw a people overwhelmed with compassion, and not consumed by hate and venegance. We had already taken the one behind, now we had to take care of the victims.

It's tragical and depressing that a man could do something so hateful and hurt so many people, but in one way, I'm glad. It restored some of my faith in mankind, to see so much hate countered with so much love.

I know this isn't really something discussable per se, but I wanted to mention it at least. I can see this thread derailing into politics and be locked, but I wanted to convey my feelings about this.

Yeah, can't believe it's been one year already. I still remember the day when it happened, and it's just unbelievable, still is...

I could actually have been at Ut?ya last summer, but I didn't go. In retrospect I'm very glad I didn't.

I don't think we'll ever truly be able to understand what went on inside that man's head. It's the white padded walls for him, I think. That said, it's a crying shame that anyone would seek to commit such acts against other people, simply because of their chosen faith or religious beliefs. My hope is that one day we'll be free of some of these prejudices, but sadly I don't see it happening any time soon.

EDIT: I was shocked when it happened, but was also working with some Norwegians at the time. It was hard not to empathise with the genuine sadness they felt that something like that had happened in their own country, to their own people.

Yeah, I agree. There were some huge discussions whether he was sane or not, as we treat mentally sick criminals different from those who aren't.
Appearently they agreed he was sane during the act and were to be judged by regular laws. The judgement is to be given in about a month, but I think we're speaking of a lifetime behind bars.

I'm headed for a memorial gathering now. There's probably be tens of thousans showing up.

I have a lot of respect for Norwegians as a whole for being relatively calm and level-headed over this - memorializing the tragedy but not being vengeful. In certain other countries this would not have been the case. If anyone deserved the death penalty, it's Breivik, but good on the Norwegian court for not giving in to hotheaded sentiment.

Dang, a year already? Time sure does fly, doesn't it?

Indeed, sometimes it is a good thing while other times it can be sorrowful. It's already been 10 years since the sept. 11 attacks on the US. These kinds of tragedies will always be with their countries.

Not sure if I agree with the OP about Hatred, but I guess it is necessary. As a relative told me "life is too short to hate something or someone."