Confessions of an everyday racist

This chronicle was published shortly after 22/7. I think it's a brilliant piece, my apologies for not translating and sharing it with you sooner, but here it goes:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bjørnar Nordahl

Confessions of an everyday racist.

I have been irritated with most of what concerns muslims.

"Tonight the streets are filled with love!"* I hope to keep this feeling. I hope the politicians keep this feeling. And I hope the muslim part of the population keeps this feeling.

I have been annoyed over muslim cabdrivers with long beards. I have been somewhat annoyed over muslims who has probably been on their way to or from prayer. I have at least looked at their clothes and imagined that they're either on the road to or from a mosque, which I perhaps didn't think should've been built at all. I have been annoyed with women covered by clothes. I have been annoyed with muslim terrorists. I have been annoyed with muslim prisoners who wants halal-meals. If the Quran is so important to them, they wouldn't be in prison at all, would they? I have been annoyed that presumably 50% of the people at the security checks at european airports looks like they have the same faith as those we protect ourselves against when we're standing there taking our clothes off. "Mo"** is probably the only somali I'm a little fond of. And Kadra***, of course! Or are they really Somalis? I have basically been annoyed with pretty much everything concerning muslims, including their lack of tolerance.

When the bomb went off and I heard the news on my way home from work, Friday 22. July, I thought: "Now the f.... politicians has to wake up and finally do something!" I believe I even thought that; "Now they have to get them out!!"

But it was ME who would get the great awakening. The shock over this not being done by a muslim would probably be enough to awaken most people.

Deep inside I knew that if the attack had been carried out by a muslim, I would've blamed the entire muslim world. Every dark person with a moustache and beard would end up in the category "GUILTY". I think I would've been so full of hate that it would've made me physically ill.

When the image of Breivik appeared surprisingly soon on the TV-screen, one of my "new" thoughts was that I now saw only one single sick human. I didn't make an entire religious group scapegoats, even though he had defined himself as "christian" and "conservative", something the media made into "conservative christian" - then he sounded at least a little more dangerous!

Then it struck me that if the actions had been carried out by muslims, we probably wouldn't have followed the Imams eventual suggestion to seek out a "quiet mosque" for silent thoughts, as we did when The Norwegian Church invited to open church. It was after all a "conservative christian" who had carried out the deed.

Another new thought: it is probably so that not all muslims see those who commit acts of "muslim terror" as good muslims, just as little as I assume norwegian christians see breivik as a good christian.

With my newly won insight it struck me that it was good a proper and true norwegian was behind it!

In the following days I have basically had my prejudices put on a mighty test. A test many of these prejudices have failed.

But, it's probably not just me who have had my prejudices put on a test; With the danger of being prejudiced, I believe the imam who walked hand in hand with bishop Kvarme has had his prejudices put on a test. I also assume that it was a new experience for the imam who walked beside the female priest at Nesodden when Bano**** was buried. I believe that these too, including Kvarme, has experienced a feeling of community which is probably new to them, a warm feeling, and one which gives hope! It has also made an impression seeing young muslims who profess proudness at being a part of the "community of feelings" we now experience.

How would "The Norwegian WE"***** behaved if this act had been committed by someone claiming to be muslims?

We probably wouldn't be particularly concerned with the terrorists rights. Especially not if Brynjar Meling****** had taken on the role of defender, something he probably would've done. We probably wouldn't be standing together as a united nation which also includes the muslim part of the population. I don't think we would've stood up for the innocent, muslim countrymen if they were exposed to verbal, physical and psychological attacks. I would also not bet my entire monthly salary that Crown Prince, Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and a bishop had visited a mosque to say that today we're all united in our sorrow.

After the last weeks events, I have been more aware of the split in the society we are a part of. My contribution to the split has been that I have agreed with most un-nuanced comments. Comments which has put all muslims in one big stall, a stall carrying the labels "terrorist" and "freeloader". The stall has also been labeled "forced marriage", "female circumcision" and much more.

Integration and integrationpolitics are two words you almost don't dare using today. The words are associated with a debate which has probably appeared more exclusive than inclusive, especially on the group we would love to integrate.

But it's exactly now that we should talk about integration. Both we who are taking in someone from the outside, and those who would like to get inside and contribute in our society. To achieve integration, we must want to include. We must include each other. With flaws, wants and particulars.

On that note, I think Antiracist Centre's "TeaTime" is a brilliant measure. Inclusion is very often about getting to know each other. Now everyone is open, and standing shoulder to shoulder for a common cause.

If the church and the mosques are united and manage to show that it actually meant something walking hand in hand over Grønland, and all the rest of us manage to take in our new national feeling: "The Norwegian We", then we can experience a new era in the question of integration.

My apologies for the bad spelling and grammar. Thoughts?

*He refers to the rose parades and such that took place after the attacks.
**Mo won a singing competition last spring(Idol or something).
***Kadra is a known critic of female circumcision.
****One of the Utøya-victims.
*****A post 22/7-catchphrase.
******Mullah Krekar's defence lawyer.