A bomb in Oslo City Center killed 7 people and injured several, whereas at the island of Utøya, 86 kinds and teenagers and the death-toll is expected to rise.
I was fortunate enough to not be very close as it happened, but I heard the blast and felt the pressure from the explosion.
We are still trying to cope with the shock and horror of it all, and don't really know how to move on from this. Through it all, there has been one song reoccurring in my own and other people's minds, and it has been cited both on twitter, facebook and was earlier today performed in the official memorial for the victims.
The song is really old, written by Nordahl Grieg in 1936- and is a song urging youth of Norway to fight using love as a weapon.
The song is in Norwegian, but I'll post a translation of parts of the song here along with some photos I shot of Oslo - The Day After:
Faced by your enemies
On every hand
Battle is menacing,
Now make your stand
Fearful your question,
Defenceless, open
What shall I fight with?
What is my weapon?
Here is your battle plan,
Here is your shield
Faith in this life of ours,
The common weal
For all our children's sake,
Save it, defend it,
Pay any price you must,
They shall not end it
Neat stacks of cannon shells,
Row upon row
Death to the life you love,
All that you know
War is contempt for life,
Peace is creation
Death's march is halted
By determination
We all deserve the world,
Harvest and seed
Hunger and poverty
Are born of greed
Don't turn your face away
From needs of others
Reach out a helping hand
To all your brothers
Here is our solemn vow,
From land to land
We will protect our world
From tyrants' hand
Defend the beautiful,
Gentle and innocent
Like any mother would
Care for her infant.
