The Past Is a Foreign Country

New York Times by Jo Nesbo | Jul. 27, 2011 (Opinion)

A FEW days ago, before the bombing here and the shootings on Utoya Island, a friend and I were talking about how the joy of being alive always seems to go hand in hand with the sorrow that things change. Not even the brightest future can make up for the fact that no roads lead back to what came before — to the innocence of childhood or the first time we fell in love. Full Story »

Posted by Kristin Gorski - via AllTop, New York Times (Opinion), New York Times (Most Emailed), barbara trummpinski-roberts (t)

More Info

Tags Help
Subjects: World, Living, Community
Topics: Terrorism, Europe, History, Peace, Violence
Member Tags: utoya (norway), oslo (norway), anders breivik
Editorial Help
Posted by: Posted by Kristin Gorski - Jul 26, 2011 - 7:19 PM PDT
Reviewed by: Kristin Gorski (review), Russell Imrie (review)
Content Type: Article
Edit Lock: This story can be edited
Edited by: Kristin Gorski - Jul 27, 2011 - 11:53 AM PDT

Reviews

Show All Comments
Show All | Notes | Comments | Quotes | Links
Kristin Gorski
3.9
 by Kristin Gorski - Jul. 27, 2011

A poignant reflection on Norway's response and future path in the light of the recent domestic terrorism. The writer deftly distills the national sentiment of Norwegians for their country and their corresponding world view so steady before -- and now shaky and newly forming after -- the horrible incidents of last week.

After the bomb went off — an explosion I felt in my home over a mile away — and reports of the shootings out on the island of Utoya began to come in, I asked my ... More »

Kristin posted this story.
See Full Review » (19 answers)
Russell Imrie
3.8
 by Russell Imrie - Jul. 27, 2011

An exposé that answers a question many must have had–how had the Oslo murders impacted individual Norwegians? Of all places, the tidy, liberal nation and its dependably calm society had experienced a shock, one that would not go back in the box, and promised a national transformation. Well written and poignant, not disassociated from the event–the bomb was clearly heard by the author and his child. As an American Indian, I never ever have enjoyed an innocence like Norwegians seemed to savor. I might say welcome to the real world, but this article transcends such.

See Full Review » (3 answers)

Comments on this story Help (BETA)

Sort by: Oldest | Newest Hide All Replies
NT Rating | My Rating

Ratings

3.8

not enough reviews
from 2 reviews (24% confidence)
Quality
4.0
Facts
3.0
Fairness
4.0
Information
4.0
Insight
4.0
Style
5.0
Accuracy
4.0
Balance
4.0
Context
4.0
Depth
3.0
Enterprise
4.0
Expertise
3.0
Originality
4.0
Relevance
4.0
Transparency
4.0
Responsibility
4.0
Popularity
3.3
Recommendation
4.0
Credibility
3.0
# Reviews
1.0
# Views
5.0
# Likes
1.0
# Emails
1.0
More
How our ratings work »
(See these related stories.)

Links Help

No links yet. Please review this story to add some!