{"id":2779,"date":"2021-07-22T22:03:52","date_gmt":"2021-07-22T22:03:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/norwegian\/?p=2779"},"modified":"2021-07-22T22:11:50","modified_gmt":"2021-07-22T22:11:50","slug":"norway-says-never-again","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/norwegian\/norway-says-never-again\/","title":{"rendered":"Norway says never again"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Many Norwegians have memorialised the day with roser<\/a>. <\/strong>(Image by congerdesign<\/a> from Pixabay<\/a>; no copyright.)<\/p><\/div>\n

Ten years ago Norwegians experienced one of the saddest days i manns minne<\/strong> (in living memory, literally \u201din man\u2019s memory\u201d). I don\u2019t want to repeat the tragedy here \u2013 that\u2019s the job of aviser<\/strong> (newspapers). Suffice to say that 77 innocent human beings1<\/a><\/sup>R.I.P.<\/span> lost their lives to the terrorist Anders Breivik on Ut\u00f8ya<\/strong> (an \u00f8y<\/strong>, island) and in nearby Oslo. I dag ble 22. juli markert mange steder i landet. I Oslo var det ett minutts stillhet, og det ble holdt taler fra overlevende og etterlatte.<\/strong> (Today, July 22th was memorialised several places in the country. In Oslo there was one minute of silence, and speeches were held by survivors and bereaved family members.)<\/p>\n

In a language blog, it\u2019s always nice to quote some lyrics, and in this case I think the choice is obvious \u2013 Kringsatt av fiender<\/strong> (Surrounded by Enemies)! \ud83d\ude42 The poem was written by Nordahl Grieg<\/strong> in 19362<\/a><\/sup>= more than 70 years ago = there should be no copyright issues with quoting the entire text <\/span>to protest against war and extremism3<\/a><\/sup>mostly the Nazi movement of the time<\/span>. Originally titled Til ungdommen<\/strong> (To the Youth), it remains one of the most touching Norwegian peace anthems. After Ut\u00f8ya the song has even got a \u201dsecond life\u201d. Here\u2019s the text (with a stumbling-along translation) \u2013 may this be the last time you have to read about Norwegian terror!<\/p>\n

Kringsatt av fiender,<\/strong> (Surrounded by enemies,)<\/em>
\ng\u00e5 inn i din tid!<\/strong> (step into your time!)<\/em>
\nUnder en blodig storm<\/strong> (During a bloody storm)<\/em>
\nvi deg til strid!<\/strong> (devote yourself to struggle!)<\/em>
\nKanskje du sp\u00f8r i angst,<\/strong> (Maybe you ask in fear)<\/em>
\nudekket, \u00e5pen:<\/strong> (uncovered, open:)<\/em>
\nhva skal jeg kjempe med<\/strong> (with what do I fight?)<\/em>
\nhva er mitt v\u00e5pen?<\/strong> (what is my weapon?)<\/em><\/p>\n

Her er ditt vern mot vold,<\/strong> (Here\u2019s your protection against violence,)<\/em>
\nher er ditt sverd:<\/strong> (here\u2019s your sword:)<\/em>
\ntroen p\u00e5 livet v\u00e5rt,<\/strong> (the belief in our life,)<\/em>
\nmenneskets verd.<\/strong> (the value of humanity.)<\/em>
\nFor all v\u00e5r fremtids skyld,<\/strong> (For the sake of our entire future,)<\/em>
\ns\u00f8k det og dyrk det,<\/strong> (seek it and cultivate it,)<\/em>
\nd\u00f8 om du m\u00e5 – men:<\/strong> (die if you have to \u2013 but:)<\/em>
\n\u00f8k det og styrk det!<\/strong> (increase it and strengthen it!)<\/em><\/p>\n

Stilt g\u00e5r granatenes<\/strong> (Quietly go the grenades\u2019)<\/em>
\nglidende b\u00e5nd<\/strong> (gliding bands)<\/em>
\nStans deres drift mot d\u00f8d<\/strong> (Stop their race towards death)<\/em>
\nstans dem med \u00e5nd!<\/strong> (stop them with spirit\/intellect!)<\/em>
\nKrig er forakt for liv.<\/strong> (War is contempt for life.)<\/em>
\nFred er \u00e5 skape.<\/strong> (Peace is creation.)<\/em>
\nKast dine krefter inn:<\/strong> (Throw in your force:)<\/em>
\nd\u00f8den skal tape!<\/strong> (Death must lose!)<\/em><\/p>\n

Elsk og berik med dr\u00f8m<\/strong> (Love and enrich with dreams)<\/em>
\nalt stort som var!<\/strong> (all the greatness there was!)<\/em>
\nG\u00e5 mot det ukjente<\/strong> (Walk towards the unknown)<\/em>
\nfravrist det svar.<\/strong> (wring answers from it.)<\/em>
\nUbygde kraftverker,<\/strong> (Unbuilt power stations,)<\/em>
\nukjente stjerner.<\/strong> (unknown stars.)<\/em>
\nSkap dem, med sk\u00e5net livs<\/strong> (Create them with a spared life\u2019s)<\/em>
\ndristige hjerner!<\/strong> (bold brains!)<\/em><\/p>\n

Edelt er mennesket,<\/strong> (Noble is the human being,)<\/em>
\njorden er rik!<\/strong> (the earth is rich!)<\/em>
\nFinnes her n\u00f8d og sult<\/strong> (If there\u2019s need and hunger here)<\/em>
\nskyldes det svik.<\/strong> (it\u2019s due to deceit.)<\/em>
\nKnus det! I livets navn<\/strong> (Destroy it! In the name of life)<\/em>
\nskal urett falle.<\/strong> (injustice shall fall.)<\/em>
\nSolskinn og br\u00f8d og \u00e5nd<\/strong> (Sunshine and bread and intellect\/spirit)<\/em>
\neies av alle.<\/strong> (belong to everybody.)<\/em><\/p>\n

Da synker v\u00e5pnene<\/strong> (Then the weapons sink)<\/em>
\nmaktesl\u00f8s ned!<\/strong> (powerlessly down!)<\/em>
\nSkaper vi menneskeverd<\/strong> (If we create human dignity)<\/em>
\nskaper vi fred.<\/strong> (we create peace)<\/em>
\nDen som med h\u00f8yre arm<\/strong> (The one who with his right arm)<\/em>
\nb\u00e6rer en byrde,<\/strong> (carries a burden)<\/em>
\ndyr og umistelig,<\/strong> (precious and inalienable,)<\/em>
\nkan ikke myrde.<\/strong> (cannot kill.)<\/em><\/p>\n

Dette er l\u00f8ftet v\u00e5rt<\/strong> (This is our pledge)<\/em>
\nfra bror til bror:<\/strong> (from brother to brother:)<\/em>
\nvi vil bli gode mot<\/strong> (with kindness we\u2019ll treat)<\/em>
\nmenskenes jord.<\/strong> (the earth of us humans.)<\/em>
\nVi vil ta vare p\u00e5<\/strong> (We will take care of)<\/em>
\nskj\u00f8nnheten, varmen<\/strong> (the beauty, the warmth)<\/em>
\nsom om vi bar et barn<\/strong> (as if we were carrying a child)<\/em>
\nvarsomt p\u00e5 armen!<\/strong> (gently on our arm!)<\/em><\/p>\n

Here you can hear the melody (with a more poetic translation):<\/p>\n