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Norman Lear

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The Big Question

Posted: 07/25/11 11:52 AM ET

The New York Times story this Sunday covering the bombing and the slaughter in Norway by a Christian Fundamentalist ends with these words from a researcher at the London School of Economics:

"With 9-11 in America people could ask "Who are they?" and could pour their rage out on someone else. But we can't disavow this person, he's one of us."

Therein lies the rub. "He's one of us" -- what? One of us, a Norwegian? A Christian? Whatever, he is certainly one of "them" One of them -- what?

How about he's one of us -- human? And how about every bit of common sense thinking and questioning that flows from that?

 
The New York Times story this Sunday covering the bombing and the slaughter in Norway by a Christian Fundamentalist ends with these words from a researcher at the London School of Economics: "With 9-...
The New York Times story this Sunday covering the bombing and the slaughter in Norway by a Christian Fundamentalist ends with these words from a researcher at the London School of Economics: "With 9-...
 
 
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12:41 PM on 07/28/2011
Brevik made a choice. His religion did not tell him to do what he did - he chose to do what he did on his own, based on his own thoughts and personal beliefs. Whatever factored into his thinking, Brevik is solely responsible for turning those thoughts into actions. Brevik must face the consequences of his actions, and we must hold him - and him alone - responsible for those actions.
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dijit44
02:45 PM on 07/26/2011
The ultra-wealthy in, "democratic," states profess to be Christian, in spite of all Christ said about rich men. Virtually all U.S. slave owners professed to be Christian. Glen Beck, Mitt Romney and John Huntsman profess to be Christian. The Knights Templar professed to be Christian. All the top Nazis, original and neo, profess(ed) to be Christian. Torquemade and the Crusaders professed to be Christian.
There are many among us who buy into their professing.
Anders Breivik, because most are not drinking his particular flavour of Koolaid, is not to be considered a Christian - just because.
Logic, like mathematics, eludes the religious.
03:04 PM on 07/26/2011
Very good comment. Please repeat it on the Bill O'Reilly says we shouldn't call him Christian post.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/26/bill-oreilly-media-breivik-christian_n_909498.html
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HUFFPOST COMMUNITY MODERATOR
Lilly-G
09:59 AM on 07/26/2011
Why is it so difficult for Christians to believe a Christian could do such a thing? It seems that Christians are always whitewashed as the 'good' people, and all other religions are lesser thans. The abortion doctor in Wichita was murdered by a Christian, in the name of religion, I might add. Muslims aren't always the bad guys, you know.
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Richbruin
We'll walk this world together through the storm
12:14 PM on 07/26/2011
Because this madman was a terrorist that happened to be "Christian". He was not inspired by Jesus Christ to kill people. He did not, to my knowledge yell "Jesus is great" when he went on this rampage. You may not like it, but there's a difference.
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HUFFPOST COMMUNITY MODERATOR
Lilly-G
12:46 PM on 07/26/2011
It's all relevant. People are so quick to assume Muslims are always the bad guys, this situation shows that anyone can be a bad guy, even a Christian. You may not like it, but sometimes, there is NO difference.
12:25 AM on 07/27/2011
I find religious fanatics of all sorts are dangerous. One could call all of them madmen. Since America has a lot of them it would behove Americans to be careful of Christian fantatics.
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FTracy3
My micro-bio is as empty as the rest of my life.
09:37 AM on 07/26/2011
Where is the evidence this guy was associated with anything or any group resembling Christianity? Is there a Christian group claiming responsibility or patting him on the back? And if he is in his own mind some deranged version of that religion, how does the word "fundamentalist" apply? I missed the part of the New Testament where people are encouraged to mass murder innocents.
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AkiraBergman
09:43 AM on 07/26/2011
He calls himself a Knights Templar.
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HUFFPOST COMMUNITY MODERATOR
Lilly-G
09:51 AM on 07/26/2011
Then you must have forgotten the Crusades carried on by Christians eliminating anyone who didn't believe as them. A lot of death has been caused by Christians, why should this one shock you so much?
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scifichick
10:02 AM on 07/26/2011
Agreed.
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margoharris
I used to be Snow White but I drifted.
12:02 PM on 07/26/2011
This is true.
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Idaho dachnik
meliorist goat lady
09:32 AM on 07/26/2011
Could it be that this person was intent on a blood bath and the issues and ideology he assumed were just for decoration?
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AkiraBergman
09:44 AM on 07/26/2011
Chicken and egg.
This user has chosen to opt out of the Badges program
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bascombe
Send the kids off to die, bleed their country dry.
01:06 AM on 07/27/2011
no
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jf12
Esta vez saldré como las otras y me escaparé.
09:28 AM on 07/26/2011
I guess we could question both the shooter's common sense and Mr. Lear's. What was his point again? That we all should try to refrain from killing each other?
09:23 AM on 07/26/2011
I just read the most beautiful essay by Chris Hedges on Truthdig today about this subject. I urge everyone to read it, too.
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bascombe
Send the kids off to die, bleed their country dry.
01:06 AM on 07/27/2011
link?
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WilliamBradford
Veritas vos Liberabit
08:57 AM on 07/26/2011
I don't think this killer was one of us. He is someone who gave up his humanity and tried to simply murder hundreds of innocent people. He is not one of me. Whatever sicknesses drove him to his actions, he lost his membership in humanity when he surrendered to them.

But there is a difference between him and those who perpetrated 9/11. They were part of an organized group of thousands (perhaps millions) of people who believe that such actions are justified and heroic. They still believe this today. They didn't snap and lose touch with reality. They are rational and devoted and methodical. And they are still actively pursuing their goals.
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Richbruin
We'll walk this world together through the storm
05:03 PM on 07/26/2011
Well said. Unfortunately, that doesn't satisfy those that want to equate his actions with belief in Jesus Christ; a school yard mentality that wants more than anything else show that "we" are just as bad as "them."
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paxatman
Do no harm, Help others.
08:49 AM on 07/26/2011
History is full of religious ideologs and zealots lobbing off heads, burning at stakes and other assorted acts of slaughtering innocent people. All to rid the world of the demons implanted into the zealot's mind by whatever religious dogma of the day.

We all share this heritage but seem to learn little from it.

Human intellect evolves when it moves beyond religion.
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4eva
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09:14 AM on 07/26/2011
By his own manifesto, he had 'moved beyond religion'.
However, I agree with you about history and about this guy being an zealot ... he's just not a religious zealot.
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isis
Job 39:5 - Who has sent out the wild ass free?
12:27 PM on 07/26/2011
The Church does nothing to stand up to zealots of any kind. It is a training ground for zealots. We had a bunch of crazy zealots in my church once and the minister stood up to them and they badmouthed him and went to another church. The other church was happy to take their money and welcome them and even bend to their will.
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ndem
08:45 AM on 07/26/2011
I simply think we need to stop and look at what is going on in the world today. We are at war, economic war, in some places religious extremism...and sadly, always, racism...and there are new alliances being formed.
This man found a sick alliance, perhaps because he did not have a strong healthy family...sort of like the youth who choose violent gangs to affiliate with...because it benefits him or her in some way psychologically.
What is the most disturbing is that in Norway, for the most part, each individual is truly valued, people watch out for one another's children, the communities are small and tight.
This so called lone wolf was a loner and somehow fell through the holes in what is normally quite a strong sane system.
What I find heartening is that the Norwegians ask themselves what is their role as a society and as individuals in all this. They take responsibility and much will come from this in terms of helping children who might also go down a bad path. They do not externalize the blame.
Yes Norman, we ALL must as humans ask ourselves why one of "ours" is capable of this!
And take care of each and every human being.
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isis
Job 39:5 - Who has sent out the wild ass free?
08:40 AM on 07/26/2011
I'm a blonde blue eyed person and it gave me a chill to see a photo of him and see how much he looks like a relative. I was a bit ready for it given that my family looks a bit like the Malfoy's but still, it was chilling as I am not used to being The Other. But "one of us" probably means Christian. There are many ministers in my family and to be honest, the silence of the church on the "right wing" issue disgusts me. The local mega church even elected a hate monger as an elder. The Church wants the donations from these people more than it loves justice and mercy. Without an Other people will not flock to the church for guidance. What was once the religion of the Enlightenment is now a sham. This one man will be denounced from the pulpit as an outlier but the Church will not look in the mirror. We will face another "War on Christmas" and other campaigns within a few months and the lesson will be lost.
08:52 AM on 07/26/2011
And just what is "the lesson"?
Timothy McVeigh was painted as a "Christian", but there was never any evidence that what he did was for any religious calling. So he "probably" was NOT a Christian. What McViegh was, and what this Norwiegian is, is mentally deranged.
The rest of your rant is nonsense, since you're purely guessing about this man's religion.
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CaptainFrogbert
09:43 AM on 07/26/2011
As always, anything bad any muslim (or brown-skinned person) does taints all muslims everywhere. Anything bad thing a right wing christian does makes him a non-christian and lone wolf. Right wing christians are always innocent.

The hypocrisy is staggering.
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Lilly-G
10:01 AM on 07/26/2011
It's not always a muslim who is the bad guy, sometimes it just happens to be a Christian.
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4eva
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09:15 AM on 07/26/2011
In this guy's own manifest he says he is not religious and called people who rely on religion "weak".
08:08 AM on 07/26/2011
No one seems to understand the necessity that deranged acts of violence provide for the collective psyche of humanity. What kind of world would it be, if throughout history there were no "other" to project our hatred upon. Hatred refined from our fear. A fear derived from our dimly perceived self-awareness and even more dimly perceived realization that we really don't have a clue about the nature of existence. If we were not constantly striving to define ourselves and our environment and thereby periodically engaging in bloodletting like some confused adolescent engaging in self mutilation we would be so much worse off. We wouldn't have warrior heroes or demon villains to ease the pressure of our confusion. We wouldn't be able to enjoy the deep satisfaction of self-righteousness. And, of course, we wouldn't have the protection and solace of an omnipotent, omniscient protection of a loving god.
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Moder8tion
07:35 AM on 07/26/2011
He is not one of us or one of them.

He is one.

He is not a cult, religious group, militia, or sect.
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AkiraBergman
07:42 AM on 07/26/2011
There are many like him in the US, UK and EU.

They are called neo-Nazis.
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Moder8tion
10:03 AM on 07/26/2011
He acted alone.

Neo nazi = Cult
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Jeffreygeez
07:09 AM on 07/26/2011
Norm- Exactly what I said on another blog post when I questioned the Huffpost headline that insinuated this atrocious by one lone human punk represented a "TEST" for all of Norway. Also I take issue with the headline that mentioned the suspect was going to "EXPLAIN HIS REASONING" for is actions.

Sometimes there is no reason or motive for evil, it just is, and the only test is on humanity, not Norway, or the Muslim religion.

For these atrocities happen everyday, everywhere, and all races, creeds, and religions commit them.

So if there is a " TEST" it is a test on humanity. Evil has existed in humans since man first walked the planet, so one might say that if we are being tested , we are failing, that is failing to improve the species.We are US..
08:58 AM on 07/26/2011
Well said. I'm frequently stupefied at the way headlines are written. HuffPo is as bad as any other in the misrepresentations of the news.
Concur about the existence of evil in the world, and your comments about it.
06:37 AM on 07/26/2011
In Ander's own words:

"Hate-propaganda against Italy and Denmark are incredibly bigoted. Norway's own violent "Marxist/Islamist Jugend" (red youth, SOS Racisme, Blitz, in collaboration with Jihad young) who has injured and terrorized hundreds of cultural conservatives in recent years in Oslo is not mentioned with a single word ... It might be fine as long as multikulturalistene controls the violent mob?

It is unacceptable that the Labor Party, the SOCIALIST left PARTY, the Christian Democratic party finances, these violent extremists.

Comic to see every single European cultural Marxist "empty around the mouth" of hatred against Denmark and Italy. The only Western European countries that have a touch of wise leadership.

It is our duty to ensure that support is the only anti-racist cultural conservative organization that has the guts enough to ride in Oslo's streets-SIOE. FpU is another anti-racist cultural conservative organization. Unfortunately, they do not have guts to demonstrate against other than toll calling and high gasoline prices, etc.

However, it is understandable. None dare because they know they are being harassed and attacked. But people are starting to get tired of this utryggheten. As a result, organizations such as the EDL PROVIDED and other forms of civil protection."

http://www.document.no/anders-behring-breivik/
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Jeff Rosenbury
I love all people -- in the abstract
08:32 AM on 07/26/2011
Why repeat the words of a mad man? One doesn't get to kill random people then claim any sort of legitimacy in civilized society.
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4eva
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09:17 AM on 07/26/2011
Because people are projecting all kinds of things into his motives, we should look to see what his motives really were.