Oslo
The aftermath of news like that from Oslo leaves only numbness. The injustice of it, the disbelief that this was even possible. Bombs at least kill in a single action. The deliberate persistence involved in attacks like Anders Breivik’s make them all the more distressing.
For a writer with comedic inclinations, the usual set of responses are neutered. Laughter falters, mouth half open. Even in our bleakest political situations, there are moments of light. Something like this is all darkness.
As reports began to come in, it was the last subject in the world you would have imagined being used for political point-scoring. But if ever someone was going to do just that, it was Andrew Bolt.
Continue reading "Even the worst nightmares can’t keep Bolt upright" »
Despite our web-interconnected, frequent-flyer, globalised world, we are still predominantly tribal people. We identify or invent enemies to scrap it out with, and occasionally this tribalism ends in violence. Extreme violence, as we’ve just seen in Oslo.
Tribes were once small groups of families, communities that lived together. People survived and prospered because of their commitment to those groups. Now tribes might be religious, or cultural groups. They might be left wing or right wing, emos or nerds. Footy supporters. Gamers, Nazis, fetishists, gypsies, gun nuts or just plain nutters who’ve found something in common.
We huddle together, sometimes in peaceful solidarity, sometimes with spears raised to the outside world. We use clothing, our words, our beliefs, to signal our membership.
Continue reading "Tribalism can lead to terrorism and tragedy" »
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Jim says:
We have changed in a big way since the ‘bible times’! We’re not persecuting people (in the west) for not believing in a god! Science is leading the way. More and more people are turning away from religion because it contradicts the bible and just makes more sense. Read more »
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Anne Stocks says:
rtyecript says:02:44pm | 22/08/11 I really liked the article, and the very cool blog…...Yes so true, not that I always agree with the thoughts and opinions of everyone on Punch but we all need to express how we feel as long as we are not hurting anyone or putting them… Read more »
The savage, blood-soaked massacre in Norway might seem like the act of a deranged madman. But the perpetrator, Anders Behring Breivik, was nothing of the sort.
In fact, he appears to have been an intelligent, well-educated individual and a competent businessman, who owned a successful farm. Nothing in either his life story or even in this unprecedented atrocity smacks of wild insanity.
Just the opposite. He planned the whole operation with utter ruthlessness and precision, from using fertiliser from his farm to make the bomb that was planted at the government’s offices in Oslo, to disguising himself as a policeman to gain access to the island summer camp.
Continue reading "A glimpse into Scandinavia’s heart of darkness" »
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LC says:
Your level of understanding of the Australian constitution? 0. Your level of understanding of the relationship between the constitution and the UN? 0. Your level of knowledge of atheists of any shape, form, gender or skin color? 0. Read more »
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Jo says:
“When people feel threatened and disenfranchised, when peaceful protests are seen to achieve nothing, then violence begins to look like an acceptable alternative.” Women are amongst the most disenfranchised people on this earth, yet a relatively few number of women undertake mass shooting sprees of innnocent people etc. as a… Read more »
Edvard Munch’s best-known painting, The Scream, was stolen from the National Art Museum in Oslo, Norway on this day in 1994.
Welcome to Monday at The Punch. What’s on your mind? Share it here.
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Ryan says:
Bono has come out in support of racial Genocide in Africa. I wonder which is his favourite, wrapping babies in newspaper and setting them on fire while chanting “Kill the Boer, Kill the Farmer” or hacking farmers achilies tendons with a machete so they can’t run away giving them plenty… Read more »
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Cate P says:
Reg, with respect, the opposition appear to be holding the govt to account rather well at the moment, and therefore fulfilling their role. The opposition is not the government. Yet. Read more »
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