Monday, July 31, 2006

Palestine, Israel and Lebanon


People of the Middle East (All photos: Norwegianblogger)

I haven’t really written much about the situation in the Middle East in this blog. It’s incredibly difficult to be objective and there are many load voices wanting us to share their views. In spite of this I don’t think we should be silent. We are all responsible as part of the human race to care, to use our thoughts and hearts to contribute and to say it out load and clear that we are all brethren: Israelis, Palestinians, the Lebanese and the rest of us. There’s so much suffering and pain in the region and the question is: Are we entitled to speak about this conflict when we’re living far away, not being personally involved? Am I entitled?

At times I’ve spoken to people from the region and I’ve heard that as a Norwegian I can’t understand the situation, and I guess there’s truth in this, but that’s when we look at ourselves as Israelis, Palestinians or Norwegians. We shouldn’t forget that we’re all first and foremost human beings, in need of others, craving for understanding, love and someone who cares, and frightened to death by war, pain and loss. Most of us have experienced loss, the emptiness and rage we feel when a loved one has lost his life, in accidents, in sickness or in war. At a personal level we’re living in a situation where death is as evident in our lives as life. It’s a part of being human.

How are we to understand and how are we to be able to lift our voices in a situation as the one in the Middle East? It takes time and I guess we have to listen for what we have in common; our humanness. Are we able to forget the dividing lines and listen to the joys, the pain and the fright in the voices of the people in the region? I’m not saying that we are not to criticize or argue about politics, but I think we have to start with acknowledging our common humanness.

A few years ago I was in Southern France, in a little idyllic town called Menton. From the hostel there’s a view of the Mediterranean and the beautiful coastline of the Cote D’Azur. A very peaceful setting and the porch is a wonderful place for conversations with people from different parts of the world. One evening I met an Israeli couple in their early twenties. This was during a very turbulent time in Israel with a lot of suicide bombings, and they said that it was incredibly difficult to get it off their minds. Even in peaceful Menton they were not able to let it go. At the beach they’d seen some luggage and thought immediately that it was a bomb. They had to convince themselves that they were in France and that nothing would harm them there. Every time they went out to a café, a disco or to meet their friends in a public area in Israel they went out with the knowledge that they could be killed. From a very early age this was a part of their daily lives, and after twenty years with this kind of fear, it was a part of their mindset.

How are we to comprehend this? Do we have these kinds of experiences as Norwegians? Probably not, but it’s very close to what could be called a phobia. Some of us are scared of heights, of open places, of masses of people, of birds or of insects – it’s a part of our mindset. Sometimes it really makes life difficult. Living with fear is not easy, but probably also a part of being human. Being scared could either make us distance us from others or draw us closer to each other. To acknowledge your own fears and to share your thoughts about them could help us understand and recognize our common humanness. By listening to this Israeli couple I was connected to them, because I could relate to my fears and was able to get an impression of how it is to live in conflict. The difference between a phobia and the situation in Israel is that in this situation the fear is justified. This couple had lost friends and family, and knew that next time it could be them. As a fellow human being we should be outraged of the fact that someone has to live with fears like this!
Later I’ve listened to Palestinians who are forced to stand in lines for hours just to be able to visit relatives or get to work, being abused, yelled at and treated like second-rate citizens, treated differently because of their ethnicity and background. A sad, sad situation! Are we able to relate? Have we been abused, yelled at or treated differently because of ethnicity, gender, orientation or age? Yeah, unfortunately it’s a part of being human, but who are we to make walls, to separate people because of their ethnicity, to abuse, to look down at, to treat differently? We should be outraged!

Lebanon – a country caught between the actions of their neighbors, a more or less innocent bystander to groups and countries making this beautiful country into a battleground. Losing inhabitants in massacres and attacks that should make the world outraged!

Well, the peoples of the Middle East are outraged, and they have every right to be filled with rage, but where does it leave us as human beings? Our rage could separate us or draw us closer. Do we see each other as human beings or as representatives of nations or groups or as the enemy? Politics is not about actions between politicians, it’s about fighting for the right of the Israeli couple to live without fear of being killed when they dance to celebrate life, it’s about the Palestinians right to lift their heads and walk freely to their neighbors, to be met by a smile instead of a gun, it’s about the Lebanese people’s right to live peacefully, but when it all comes down it’s about our rights as human beings to live in peace, to love, to talk freely, to share life with all, and to see our neighbors as brothers and sisters, here to make this earth our common HOME. Please politicians, please Palestinians, please Israelis, please Norwegians and Africans, Americans, Asians, Europeans, Australians; make this world a home for all of us!
People of the Middle East & me (All photos: Norwegianblogger)

Sunday, July 30, 2006

From Cyber band to real band (for me)

Something Sally in Concert, Oslo, July 2006 (Photo: Norwegianblogger)


It's been an interesting day indeed. A couple of months ago I was introduced to a band called Something Sally through the web. I listened to some of the songs on their page and was immediately attracted to the music. They've got a sound and a style that is right up my alley. I was surprised to read that they actually are Norwegians, even though they now have their base in the UK. For a long time they've announced that they would have a concert here in Oslo at the 29th of July, and since I liked their music I wanted to be there. It was fun to listen to this band that has been a cyber band for me for some months now. Afterwards I was even able to have a nice, little chat with Sally and Thomas from the band and I had fun shooting a couple of photos of the two of them.

Something Sally in Concert (Photo: Norwegianblogger)

Sally and Thomas from Something Sally (Photo: Norwegianblogger)

Five different artists / bands within the soul - genre contributed to this day's concert and it was great fun listening to them. I even had some interesting conversations with a guy that happened to sit beside me in the audience. After talking for some hours I was again made aware of the fact that every single person in this world has their own story - and it was great listening into one more of these stories. After this I met four of my friends for dinner, conversations and a movie.

Tuesday, July 25, 2006

Paris Photoblog

Paris - I'm out of words. Here are a few of my photos from my days in Paris (All photos: Norwegianblogger, July 2006).

Notre Dame de Paris

Parisian street

Petit Palais

Fashion photography in La Défense, Paris

Something to eat anyone?

The Eiffel Tower - the symbol of Paris

Monday, July 24, 2006

London photoblog

I've spent great days in London, Paris and Ålgård. Instead of writing a lot of words I've chosen a few photos from my travelling in the last couple of weeks. Photos sometimes says more than a thousand words. Here's London through my lense in July 2006 (All photos: Norwegianblogger). I'll be back with more photos later.

Tate Modern Cafe, London

At the South Bank.

St. Paul's Cathedral seen from the South Bank.

A great day with Barbara from Tolouse

Temple Church, London

Happy after a great Al Jarreau consert at the Tower of London.

Tuesday, July 11, 2006

Photoblog from a summer day in Oslo

One of the many joys of having visitors from out of town is the possibility of some sightseeing in Oslo. Here are a few of our experiences from yesterday (All photos: Norwegianblogger July 2006)

A visit in the Botanical Garden in Oslo





Changing of the guards outside the Royal Palace in Oslo

Sunday, July 09, 2006

Never walk alone?

Gustav Vigelands art in Frognerparken, Oslo (Photo: Norwegianblogger, July 2006)

I've been to Frognerparken here in Oslo today with a good friend's family. To see this park with kids puts another perspective on the whole experience. The park is filled with statues by artist Gustav Vigeland showing human beings from birth until death and everything between. The artist portrays grief, jealousy, joy, innocence, love, hate and loneliness through groups of statues. All the statues are naked and I'm reminded of Sting's song "FRAGILE". How fragile we are as humans: We love, we hate, and we are lonely and happy. We're lost, we're found, but the question is: Do we walk this road alone or are we here to walk it together? I've had some great conversations through e-mail today, and it makes me believe in sharing more of this life. Do I dare to let other influence me; do I dare to let others lead the way or do I dare to walk my path in spite of what others say? I don't know, but at least I'm glad to feel that there's a road ahead - waiting for me to walk it. I think I will join the Liverpool supporters in this great truth and hope for our fellow man (and myself): You never walk alone!


Frognerparken, Oslo (Photo: Norwegianblogger, July 2006)

Friday, July 07, 2006

Joy of Summer


Summer in Oslo (All photos: Norwegianblogger, July 2006)

I'm having the best possible summer vacation. Lazy days in the sun and in the water, having a great time with friends and family. Time to reflect, converse, be lazy, do nothing, have photo expeditions, time on my computer and to "waste" time. I'm loving it!

Tuesday, July 04, 2006

Drøbak at the fjord

Enjoying vacation at the Oslo fjord near Drøbak (Photo: Norwegianblogger July 2006)

Yesterday I joined my sister to the little village of Drøbak, located where the Oslo fjord is at its smallest. It's a village with wood houses and a great location next to the fjord. First we spent some hours in the sun outside of the village before we had dinner and a walk in the village (or is it a city?). Three ferries and the enormous cruise-ship Jewel of the Seas passed by while we were there. I let the photos speak for themselves (All photos: Norwegianblogger July 2006). Today it's the fourth of July: I guess there will be fireworks and a lot of fun in the US today! All the best to all my American friends!





Jewel of the Seas passing Oscarsborg Fortress and Drøbak (Photo: Norwegianblogger July 2006)

Saturday, July 01, 2006

The best start

I've had the best start possible for my vacation. Thursday was my last day at work and I went out for dinner with three colleagues. Had a great time at Aker Brygge with a view of the harbor and the islands in the Oslo fjord, when you add sun and a warm breeze from the fjord it's great. Yesterday morning I went on my bike along the Aker River ("Akerselva") to Kjelsås. I spent 2 - 3 hours in the sun and was even able to get a little sunburned. Some of the time I spent listening to Jan Kjærstads book "Forføreren" (audio book), a funny and great book from one of Norway's best authors. In the evening I went to a friend’s house in the countryside right outside of Oslo for a barbeque. It was exciting because of a lot of the people where new to me, in other words; I've never met them before.

Marion's House (Photo: Norwegianblogger June 2006)

Flowers in Marion's garden (Photo: Norwegianblogger June 2006)

Some people are just born to be the perfect hosts: Marion is one of them. Her house could have been featured in a design / style magazine and is a cozy, warm setting for gatherings of friends. Coming to a place with a lot of unknown people could be awkward, especially for Norwegians - we are not like the Americans :), but not at Marion's; great conversations, delicious food, and friendly people. I've had the best start possible for my vacation.