Sonja Blackstone ’12 and professor Frankie Shackelford reflect on the violence in Norway which occurred this summer and its connections to Sept. 11, 2001. Blackstone and Shackelford were in Norway during the attacks for the Nobel Peace Scholars program.

9/11-7/22

By Sonja Blackstone

I was living two miles from downtown Oslo this summer, studying peace and conflict at the University of Oslo. On the afternoon of Friday, July 22 my friends and I were enjoying the beginning of our weekend when we thought we heard thunder. Twenty minutes later everything changed. Word of an explosion began murmuring through campus, students who had been downtown flooded back, scared, with stories of broken glass and people running. The first few hours after the explosion were wrought with confusion. Who could have done this? As an American, it was difficult not to feel reverberations of 9/11. As a Peace Scholar studying in Norway, it was almost impossible to understand how this could happen in “The Peace Nation.”

I was 13 on 9/11. We were in school, and we were watching the TV coverage of the first plane when the second plane hit. I remember thinking, “This is like some sort of action movie, when is Bruce Willis going to come in and save the day.” It was absolutely unreal.

Luckily the bomb in Oslo hurt very few people. It was a Friday afternoon in the middle of July, a time when most Norwegians are on holiday. A few hours later we heard the reports of the shootings on the island. The Norwegian media was reluctant to link the incidents, and we were all confused. By this time we had all been pumping adrenaline for several hours but it was Friday night and most of us had made plans to go to parties or socialize. At a short meeting the director of the summer school told us to continue our normal activities. Most of us unhooked ourselves from our laptops (the BBC had been running live coverage for hours) and went to try and relax.

In the morning we were awakened with the shock of the actual death toll for the shooting on the island. We were horrified again and all thought of relaxing or forgetting was gone. The bombing was no longer central now it was the great loss that we all felt. As bright students from our own countries, we mourned the loss of so many promising young adults.

The Norwegians immediately said they would remain an open democracy, not shutting down or closing off in fear. It is completely common in Norway to have access to public officials’ private information such as home telephone numbers or addresses. It is also likely that you could run into even high-ranking politicians in the grocery store. Immediately after 9/11 everything in American became about being safer, about trading liberties (large or small) for peace of mind.

I will admit that the attacks were very different. The US was victim to an attack from outsiders, who were attacking the very concept of America at its core. They were trying to destroy America as it stands, not a certain political party and not any specific agenda. The attacks were very grand, took a lot of planning, and were carried out by many people. The attacks in Norway were carried out by one man, a Norwegian citizen, unhappy with certain policies in the ruling party. The attacks were direct, targeting not only government property but specifically the youth of that party. Youth Parliament in Norway is not some little-tended-to after school activity. It is an active part of Norwegian government, and many future leaders of the party were present on that island. He didn’t take out the people in power; he took out the party’s future.

Perhaps it’s easier, ideologically, to calm a small country after a singular attack than to calm a large country after a broad base attack. What I know is that I would rather be in Norway after 7/22 than in America post 9/11. The openness of the Norwegian government and the people of Norway and the warmth and acceptance that they professed is absolutely preferable to the anti-Islam that still simmers in American culture.

Reflection on September 11th and July 22nd

Frankie Shackelford

As we mark the tenth anniversary of September 11th, the renewed images of horror and grief mingle in my mind with fresh ones from this summer in Norway. When the car bomb went off outside the main government buildings on the afternoon of July 22nd, I was a few kilometers away  at the University of Oslo watching a documentary on the life of Prime Minister Stoltenberg. The film followed him through strenuous days of policy debates, strategic planning, and brief naps in the office that the bomber had targeted. But the most memorable clip for me was Jens Stoltenberg sitting in a tent at Utøya, the small island that would soon be the focus of the global media, as he explained the formative role of the Labor Party’s annual youth camp, where he has spent time every summer since 1974.

When I emerged from the film with enhanced confidence in Labor’s leadership, the news of the bombing shattered my mental landscape. A few hours later the news of the shootings at Utøya would break my heart. Like the sharp contrast of the clear blue September skies with the smoke from the collapsing Trade Towers, the incongruity of a heinous act of terrorism in “the peace nation” was all the more shocking. Much like Americans in September 2001, Norwegians on July 2011 experienced a sudden end to their sense of invulnerability.

In the days that followed, as the sad stories of the 77 victims and the terrifying tales of over 500 survivors filled the news, Norwegians, like Americans, were incredulous. The most frequent adjective used in interview after interview was ufattelig (incomprehensible). A decisive break has occurred in the national self-perception. Just as all Americans who experienced it are forever marked by September 11th, all Norwegians will carry with them the shared tragedy of July 22nd. But there the comparison ends.

Whereas the terrorists on 9/11 were militant outsiders seeking revenge against greedy infidels, the perpetrator on 7/22 was an ultra-conservative insider, the beneficiary of a secure upbringing in a welfare state with 100% literacy, universal healthcare, and the second-largest sovereign wealth fund in the world to insure his future! More parallel with the Oklahoma City bomber, Anders Breivik directed his hatred at his own government. He blamed the Labor Party for envisioning and implementing a pluralistic society that threatened his narrowly western worldview. He aimed to eradicate their next generation of leaders. Whereas the American response to 9/11 was one of heightened homeland security and aggressive retaliation, the Norwegians have responded with restraint and dignity, calling for more democracy, more openness, more dialogue and compassion.

Norway will no doubt adopt increased security measures, since the Norwegian police have not routinely even been allowed to carry weapons. The single police helicopter, which was grounded on 7/22 with its entire crew on vacation, will surely be expanded into a more effective fleet, and surveillance of extremist viewpoints on the internet will be increased. The nation is in for an extended period of soul searching, but the outcome will not be a culture of fear like ours. Rather all signs point to an atmosphere of increased concern for one another’s well-being and more expressions of welcome for the immigrants who are enriching the formerly monochromatic cultural landscape.

The Labor Party Youth includes many children of immigrants, and several young Muslims were among the victims of the Utøya massacre. The first-ever Norwegian funeral to be officiated jointly by a Lutheran pastor and an Imam has been celebrated, and immigrants were well represented among the hundreds of thousands who turned out for the rose memorials held in every city and town. Far from achieving Anders Breivik’s aim of making Norway a bastion against “Eurabia,” his deed has served to chasten those with xenophobic leanings and to strengthen the collective will to integration and reconciliation. We can only hope that the remembrance of 9/11 this week will spawn a renewed sense of solidarity here.

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Professor Robert Cowgill of the Department of English, Excellence in Teaching

Bob Cowgill is a brilliant teacher who is held in high regard by his students and colleagues. A University of Minnesota alumnus, Bob’s primary purpose in teaching is to help students understand their full humanity, and to understand themselves as artists. He is recognized by his students for creating a classroom environment that is intellectually challenging, respectful, and fun. His colleagues marvel at his command of the art of teaching; his students never forget him and Augsburg would not be the same without him.

Professor Benjamin Stottrup of the Department of Physics, Distinguished Mentoring and Advising

There is a sense of pride among the students who work in Ben Stottrup’s physics lab that is palpable. They are working hard at a very high level because Ben creates a quality learning environment that is both challenging and supportive. He is recognized for his ability to effectively mentor both novice and skilled student researchers. An alumnus of the University of Minnesota-Morris and the University of Washington, Ben is dedicated to helping students realize their potential as they prepare for graduate school or industry.

Professor Diane Pike of the Department of Sociology, Distinguished Academic Leadership

Diane Pike, former Director of the Center for Teaching and Learning, has made innumerable contributions to Augsburg College as teacher, scholar, and dedicated citizen. An alumna of Connecticut College and Yale University, Diane’s creative vision for faculty and staff development has enriched our campus community tremendously and shaped our understanding of the scholarship of teaching. Her leadership role in developing the Augsburg Core Curriculum stands out among her many accomplishments.

Professor Frankie Shackelford of the Department of Languages and Cross-Cultural Studies, Distinguished Academic Leadership

Frankie Shackelford is best known to Augsburg’s newest faculty members as the co-leader, along with Bruce Reichenbach and Tom Morgan, of the two-year orientation seminar sponsored by the Center for Teaching and Learning and the Exploring Our Gifts program. She is a trusted coach and mentor to seminar participants. An alumna of Texas Christian University and the University of Texas, Frankie is known to the entire Augsburg community for her leadership of countless initiatives that have made a significant difference in the academic life of the college, including the First-Year Experience Program, Augsburg Seminar, Learning Communities, Faculty and Staff Development, and the Peace Prize Forum. She is an extraordinary teacher and scholar who personifies Augsburg’s motto, Education for Service.

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Other members of the delegation include Frankie Shackelford, Augsburg professor of Norwegian and chair of the Languages and Cross-Cultural Studies Department; Jeremy Wells, Augsburg vice president of Institutional Advancement; and Lois Quam, who recently joined Piper Jaffray in the areas of environmental and healthcare investment.

In his first term representing the district in which Augsburg is located, Ellison expressed interest in learning more about the cultural history of the district and the role it has played in providing hospitality and welcome to immigrant populations. Augsburg’s historical and current partnerships in Norway provide a natural connection to learn more about Norway’s world leadership in the above areas and what has been called its “culture of peace.”

Quam, who recently left 18 years of policy leadership at UnitedHealth Group, has turned to a leadership role in seeking solutions for mitigating the effects of climate change, and consulted with Ellison concerning similar legislative issues. She proposed the Norway learning trip in partnership with Augsburg and in collaboration with the Norwegian Embassy.

Shackelford has lived in Norway, translated Norwegian literature, and taught Norwegian at Augsburg for nearly 20 years. She is past president of the Norwegian Teachers and Researchers Association of North America.

Wells, who came to Augsburg’s Institutional Advancement division 4 months ago, will explore further connections for Augsburg and meet with Augsburg’s Norwegian alumni, who are increasing in number with the International Partners program.

Their full schedule in Oslo includes meetings with special advisers and visits to a number of Norwegian agencies dealing with energy policy, the High North and the environment, multinational and development cooperation, and human rights.

Proposed visits include the Nobel Peace Center, the Oslo Center for Peace and Human Rights, the Center for Studies of the Holocaust and Religious Minorities, and the Norwegian University of Life Sciences.

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