The 22^nd of July 2011 will forever stand as a horrible date in Norwegian history. What we never imagined could happen in our country, did happen. A young man with a great deal of hate placed two bombs in Oslo City Centre and later drove to the small island of Utoya where youth were gathering for youth camp. Dressed in a fake police uniform, he invaded the island and started shooting. In total, the bombs and the shooting left 77 dead. 69 people were killed on the island, 55 of these were teenagers.

The whole nation was in a state of shock. Our feeling of security in our own country was damaged. The attack on a summer youth camp was an attack on democracy, on young hope, and on a belief that openness and shared knowledge is the way to move towards a better society – and a better world. The terrorist had written in his 1500- page manifesto that the violence was meant as a declaration of war on Norwegian multiculturalism. Norway has always been a small, open society and this made the attack even more damaging as it hit an important part of how we want to present ourselves to the world – a peaceful, open democracy.

Being an organization that works with youth and values the sharing of culture and intercultural learning, the terror stood as a gruesome example of how important it is to keep working on this. AFS Norway was in the middle of the host family recruitment process, and in the weeks following the attack, the office received several telephone calls from people who wanted to open up their homes as a result of what had happen. This made us realize that people all over the country also believe valuing multiculturalism and shared learning is worth fighting for.

Little by little, the nation’s response to the attacks became clear. Our Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg said it first: Our response is more democracy, more openness. At the same time he stated that we will not be naïve. The days that followed turned into a declaration of love: Cities became filled with roses, emphasizing the non-violent answer to the terror, and speeches were held supporting those who had lost their loved ones. Evangelic Christian priests and Muslim imams stood together; people did not look to differences, they were one, ethnic Norwegians and non-ethnic Norwegians. The attack had 

affected us all equally and we responded as one.

One can only wonder if the response would have been different had the attacker been a non-ethnic Norwegian. It is not our role to speculate, but those who do claim that it would have created a more hostile and more closed society –making more people move away from multiculturalism.

The immediate response Norway has experienced since the attack makes us believe that our nation is today actually stronger and more open to welcoming new cultures, new citizens. The terrorist did not succeed in destroying our multiculturalism. But, it remains to be seen if this first response of increased openness will continue to carry forward our nation. We are still a nation in shock, the ones that have lost loved ones are still mourning, and the youth that escaped the island will have to carry that fateful day for the rest of their lives.

AFS Norway will keep working for a society based on values we have seen Norwegians carefully treasure since late July: values of openness, sharing, support, and love. We hope to keep seeing these values, not only in Norway, but throughout the world.

Gunhild Soelvberg, AFS Norway