tv British House of Commons CSPAN August 7, 2011 9:00pm-9:30pm EDT
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during this program you will hear remarks from the prime minister, courtesy of the nrk, norwegian broadcasting corporation. >> your majesty, we will never forget the day when we were struck by terror, 77 people were killed. many were critically injured. testimonies of the survivors are heart breaking. what we have experienced together is still difficult to comprehend. it was an attack against our
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government. against our values. and against our community. an entire nation is suffering pain and loss. the international community is full of compassion for those in mourning. some members of the norwegian parliament and others with next of kin. on behalf of a united parliament, i want to express my deepest sympathy of all of those affected by the tragedy of the government. without the heroic actions of those present in oslo, our loss would had been made greater. on behalf of the norwegian parliament, i express my
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gratitudes to the military and personnel and local authorities and individuals. i want to thank the local community and those at the camp site, people who not have taken consideration of their own safety and rescue the young people. the young people demonstrated great courage in rescuing their companio companions. you were there in the moment and saved many lives. thank you each and every one of you. i would like to convey the norwegian people's severe thanks to the king and queen and count and princess. you have shared our sorrows. when we have lacked words you
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have conveyed our thoughts and feelings. i know that i speak for a unified parliament and an entire nation to say a special thanks to the prime minister and the government. the way they led the nation in this time. the government was direct but our country's government was attacked. i would also like to express our gratitude of the solidarity we have seen of the leaders of all political parties. the government went after the target for terror. but all feel the impact.
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one thing that is noted is the expression from the norwegian people. when we were put to the test, we demonstrated the nation we want to be, through our actions. the entire nation head gathered in unity, young and old alike and regardless of religious affiliation. hundreds of thousands took to the streets and enormous wave of candles have swept the land. yes we hear solidarity and a resounding no to violence and terror. no one should underestimate the power and resolve these actions demonstrate. i feel profoundly humble to
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represent the norwegian people. it's a privilege to lead a people who collectively know how to do the right thing. this is precisely the reason why even when the nation has suffered enormous human loss, we should remain committed to the principles we are built on. it's natural to feel anger. but even when the pain is deepest, our response should remain not going into anger. the greek philosopher said i agree with your opinions but will express them to the bitt
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bitterbitter end. we should consider extreme points of view that should be opposed with points of reason. not censorship. we should have a recital responsibility to prevent extreme views that violate or harm other people. such actions should be met by the force of the law of the judicial system. when we face those who are different. our response should be to promote diversity. we should not be afraid of those who do not share our particular beliefs. but those who hate anyone else who doesn't.
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>> we are proud to face meet those. we must not revolt in a greater distance of the elected and the people and the representatives. it's the foundation of the representatives democracy. we want to continue this way. we will continue this way. the people will be governed by their elected representatives. once the message from the young survivors that we must not result in hate. but in love and compassion. not in fear, but in determination. not in withdrawal but in participation. many of us have adopted the words of these young people. now we have to share the
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responsibility for converting these words into actions. many people have taken to the streets and joined processions with candles and children and paintings. standing shoulder to shoulder. and all of our political parties have a surge of application for membership and willingness to participa participate. democracy has shown the strength when put to the test. this is the most important single process regardless of how people vote. it's critical in this autumn's election. to deal with a democracy is to build a community. this is our common
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ressponsibility. by supporting the football team, by caring for those in the neighborhood and those less force -- fortunate and treating others with respect. we can consider those who are different, and we can promote more of withstanding and respect for one another. positive change is a challenge, especially if we think that it means all the other people that have to change. this may be a good opportunity again by spending a little time to reflect on what i can change and to bring about more understanding. this may also be a good
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opportunity for our elected representatives to reflect upon and reassess our own opinions. democracy involves open debate. if there is times that one disagrees with our opponents. despite our better judgment. when we choose to interpret their opinions in the worse kind of light. or when we respond without determining what is actually said. this may also be a good opportunity for us to reassess what kind of language we use. do we express ourselves in a way that we as a society as a whole that we are representing. and that allows all of our people. in 1925 the norwegian author said as we say it again today,
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it's no longer about me, from now on it's about we. your majesty, your royal highness, to everyone. there are dark days now behind us. there are more ahead of us. we have to continue to care for those who are affected in the months and years to come. we have to continue to develop democracy. the norwegian people have responded to calculate an outrageous act with compassion of the heart. one sentence has been etched into our natural consciouses and transmitted around the world. let us make a common commitment to the message to the bureau and
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(inaudible) shattered. each and everyone one of us must find our way through shock, fear and devastation. it could have gone very wrong. we could have got lost. but the norwegian people found their way. through dark and uncertainty, and returned back home to norway. today i want to express my appreciation of that. we are still a country in mourning. we are bearing our debt from the government quarter and utoya. as some are waking in hospital beds, many are crying, hearts are bleeding. we will continue to comfort those who mourn.
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to take care of those who are struggling. honor the dead. but now it's also time to say thank you. i would like to thank his majesty, the king, his royal highness, the crown prince and the whole royal family for the warmth and compassion they have shown. i would like to thank those for the willingness and ability to stand together at a time when the nation needed unity. there are many other who deserve our gratitude. the police. the fire and rescue services. health personnel. the armed forces. the civil defense. the norwegian church and other religious and belief communities. volunteer organizations, and those who provided valuable
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assistance. and employees in the effective ministries. the staff of certain hotels. all of those around the lake who provided action. men often put their own lives at risk. on sunday, august 21, we will pay tribute to their courage at a national memorial for all of those who directly affected and all who helped. i would also like to express my grat gritude for the kind wordsd condolences from all over the world. with letters and flowers and facebook and other social media. we as a nation feel this strength. but the biggest thanks goes to
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the norwegian people that took responsibility when it was needed. and they retained their human digni dignity. and chose democracy. and also to the young people. they came underfire but a whole generation has mobilized in sorrowful protest. july 22 generation are our heros. and our hope. this means that we can look to the future with renewed confidence in our fundamental values. and the hope that the commencement and the dialogue and greater tolerance will continue to grow. this time of mourning has made
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many of us pause and think about our positions of attitudes. upon our thoughts and words and what we said of britain. in hindsight after the tragedy of 22 of july. we may realize that we should have expressed ourselves a bit differently. and we should choose our words more carefully in the future. i will from this podium ask people not to engage in a witch hunt. the solidarity we have shown.
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we can all know something from this tragedy. we all need to say i was wrong, and we should all be met with respect. this is equally through everyday conversations and in the public forum. it applies to politicians. and editors. and the canteen and work on the internet. it applies to everyone. as politicians we promise we will take the spirit of july 22 with us when we start up our normal activities once again. we will show the same wisdom and respect as the norwegian people had done. when freedom of speech as our weapon and in the best traditions of this chamber, we will make sure that human
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