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Norwegians sing to annoy mass killer
Norwegians raised their voices in unison on Thursday to get under the skin of admitted mass killer Anders Behring Breivik.
An estimated 40,000 people turned out in central Oslo's Youngstorget square to sing "Children of the Rainbow," a Norwegian version of "My Rainbow Race," written by American folk singer Pete Seeger.
During his trial for the killings of 77 people last summer, Breivik cited the song as an example of Marxist influence on Norwegian culture.
The Norwegian version of the song describes a "World where – every sister and every brother – shall live together – like small children of the rainbow," according to a report in the Norway Post.
Breivik, whose trial in Oslo City Court began last week, boasts of being an ultranationalist who killed his victims to fight multiculturalism in Norway.
Thursday's event, which included a march to the courthouse to drop roses outside, was “a beautiful, touching scene,” said Geir Engebretsen, the court chief justice in charge of Breivik's terror trial, according to a report on Views and News from Norway.
"It’s a very moving manifestation of Norwegian culture," Engebretsen said, according to the report, which cited Norwegian broadcaster NRK.
The idea for Thursday's singing statement came from two women, Christine Bar and Lili Hjonnevag, who became upset with Breivik's derision of the song and posted a call on social media for others to join them in singing it on the square, Views and News reported. They expected a few dozen people, the report said.
But by Tuesday, 4,000 people had accepted their Facebook invitation - and then 10 times that many turned up Thursday.
“I think this just shows that people felt a need to show their feelings, to make an expression of how they value the Norwegian democracy. It’s fantastic," Views and News quoted Labour Party Secretary Raymond Johansen as telling NRK.
Culture ministers from Sweden, Denmark, the Faroe Islands and Iceland joined in the song, the Norway Post reported.
Lillebjorn Nilsen, who wrote the Norwegian version of the Seeger song, led the crowd in singing both the Norwegian and English versions, according to the Views and News report.
decapitate the monster and use his head as a soccer ball. the norwegians need a little practice if they want to make it to the next world cup.
this guy should be put to death. he doesn't need to spend time in mental hospital but be held accountable for his actions
Nop. We do not believe in the death penalty and the death penalty is not an option. Nor did those he shot at Utøya believe in the death penalty, but rather stood for the very values we all protect: Humanity, openness and understanding. Executing Breivik would be a slap in the face of their memory. Breivik hopet for a more radical society. Executing him would be equal to playing right into his wishes and dreams, and thus – not an option.
Accountability must never be mistaken for revenge. He will be held accountable, in fact – he stands trial and IS held accountable right now. How would killing him make him even MORE accountable?
You can't punish murder with murder. We abolished the death penalty along with slavery a long time ago in Europe.
I understand your feelings Lucille, but that would make us as bad as him. I urge you to value life, even his.
The Norwegians aren't on the same page with that line of thought from some of their posts I'm reading on here. But that said, maybe the parents of the dead children and families of the murdered adults should be polled to see how they feel about it. IT would definitely be interesting to learn what kind of punishment they deem fit for that monster. Would they have changed their minds about him being executed or not.
"... was “a beautiful, touching scene,” said Geir Engebretsen" I don't know about being “a beautiful, touching thing" because it was done to PEA someone off. But I would say it was effective. lol
Probably not the smartest thing to do, seeing as this guy will ACTUALLY kill you.
Wow! Very moving.
You know instead of Norwegians clubbing innocent whales on the coast of the Faroe Islands. Why don't they club that murderer!! Would make a Hell of lot more sense
Really??? "You know instead of Norwegians clubbing innocent whales on the coast of the Faroe Islands. Why don't they club that murderer!! Would make a Hell of lot more sense"
Um.... the Faroe Islands are Danish, not Norwegian....
Great post to expose your knowledge :-). If it's irony, that was great (got me!). Excuse me, I am rowing over to the Faeroe Islands now to club a blue whale. I am pretty sure it won't mind.
And THAT is how you show a murderer that he doesn't speak for your country.
He was but one man, singing that song at his cage will annoy him for a day, but it will be remembered longer for the social act.
American has already been there done that, ask Noriega.
You want to drive him nutz? Send him to Disney and make him ride "It's a Small World" ride 24×7 for life. I suspect there are a lot of Norwegians that agree with Rainbow race and they will handle it in their own way, and I say good for them. Just don't export him here. I feel sorry for those that were murdered with no chance to protect themselves and I feel the pain of the surviving families. I wonder if they agree with ol Rainbow on their understanding part... We'll never know...
That is hilarious about Disney and It's a Small World. I thought I was going to have a seizure before I got out of there! Great that all these people showed up outside that courthouse, wish I could have been there to sing with them.
yeash.. doesn't Norway have somehting about crule and unusual punishment...
Good for you people of Norway!
What a wonderful positive way to help with the healing process. Bravo.
(and not all of us Americans are baying for revenge blood. Some of us also disagree with the death penalty, even for something as horrific as this; so pay no attention to them)
Its such a shame that so few of you comment on these sort of foras. The impression we get is just horrible. Beeing a Norwegian, its shocks me to read this manic need to use your freedom of speach. Under an assumed name. And as if most of the rest of the world do not have freedom of speach. Why not ues it to say something useful? Thank you for that post!
Like "FREE MR CLARK", only opposite!
Ok ... They do not have the death pentality.
So what about isolating this guy on a desert island somewhere .... Then blockading the island.
Let nature take its course.
For the attention of CNN and the MEMRI run US media: (a) Breivik is a terrorist and (b) he hates Muslims. Perhaps thats why he is privately admired so widely in the US because he did a deed that was approved by our powers-that-be and corporate media.
K psycho...trololololololololo
Breivik might be a far-left terrorist who killed socialists so that more people in Norway would sympathize with the left. Yes, the conspiracy theory is far-fetched; however, who can read his mind and know for sure? Exactly ... only HE can. If Breivik is as smart as some individuals claim, he may have realized early on that murdering random civilians with a bomb in Oslo and shooting teenagers would turn the population against his cause - whatever it may be.
Uh... "widely admired?" Report to the psycho ward immediately, your meds have stopped working.
I'm a native, US citizen, and I don't consider what he's done to be exalted. Anyone who murders people, especially those who are still children, need to serve their sentence on earth for what they've done, then be kicked into he ll ~ but that's just me I guess.
Uh-huh. Do the world a favor and get back on your meds.
he is not admired in the US anywhere that I've seen. Cite your sources or don't post anything.
LMAO! OK, um who cares...all muslims should be killed........and all christians should be too. we need to rid this world of all the evil, and that would be a good start.
LMAO! OK, um who cares...all muslims should be killed........and all christians should be too. we need to rid this world of all the evil, and that would be a good start.
Are you serious? "Widely admired?"
On what planet do you live?
I know I admire him.
what makes you think that! This guy should have weights attached to his legs and dropped in the water where he did the tragedy! American!
What in the world are you talking about? I have never heard a single person utter one approving syllable about him. Nice MEMRI reference there too...I knew you'd have to somehow indict Jews in all this.
Huh? You are a perfect example of why the internet's comment/blogging segment should be terminated. What you noted is absolutely asinine. Unfortunately, these types of articles are meant incite you and others to display your ignorance and intolerance. The internet based news and information mediums that allow comments really are looking at the dollars they reap from advertisers based upon the number of visitors (clicks) to their sites. Since money is involved, there will be no end to this madness.