Royals and humanitarians

The Crown Prince, The Crown Princess and Minister of Internatioal Development Erik Solheim from the Socialist Left Party (Photo: Norwegianblogger 2006)

I went downtown yesterday - and in the middle of the city centre of Oslo HRH Crown Prince Haakon and HRH Crown Princess Mette Marit celebrated their five year anniversary of their marriage with a concert / presentation of 20 organizations that helps people in different parts of the world. Five years ago they decided that instead of presents they wanted their guests to contribute to a fund. Since then the royal couple have helped thousands yearly. In addition to that, they put a focus on a lot of important causes. The Crown Prince is deeply involved in the fight against poverty, while the Crown Princess is putting a focus on HIV-aids (they both participated in the big HIV-aids conference in Toronto earlier this year). I went to a UNDP (United Nations Development Fund) meeting earlier this year that was about the responsibility for the worlds governments to fight poverty and saw the Crown Prince taking notes and listening intensely to the different lectures. It's not only that they are working on these causes, but they are incredibly well-read and very well informed.

HRH Crown Princess Mette Marit and HRH Crown Prince Haakon in Oslo August 26, 2006. (Photo: Norwegianblogger)

Mette-Marit and Haakon are doing a great job, and they're able to represent Norway and their (our) generation in a wonderful way. I think it's hard to be enthusiastic about the monarchy as a constitutional form, but I've no problem in supporting this couple. I listened to the radical, socialist representative of the Cabinet today, Minister of International Development Erik Solheim (Socialist Left Party), and it was somewhat strange to listen to him praise the Royal family for their work (His party calls for an overthrow of the Monarchy every year in the Parliament). He was incredibly enthusiastic and was embraced by the Crown Princess :).

I wish them many happy years - and I hope they'll continue with this great combination of being Royals and Humanitarians!

Even though this picture is a little blurred I like it. The Crown Princess among the people - Photo: Norwegianblogger, August 26, 2006.

Any limits for technology?

A couple of days ago I invited some friends over to see Wim Wenders' movie "Until the end of the World - the Directors cut". I bought it when I was in Italy last year. The movie is four and a half hours, so its really an experience.

The film raises some difficult, but interesting questions. Are there any limits to what we as humans are supposed to know? Are there any lines we shouldn't cross? Is there something that is holy and not for us to mess with?

Every person in the movie seems to be confused and unsure of their place in the world. Through technology they think they find a lot of answers when they're able to make movies of their dreams, but it makes them self-absorbed and insulated.

I've seen this movie several times, but I always feel the last part challenges me to think about how we live our lives. Wim Wenders paints a dark future where technology isolates us when it's used to explore the mind, but maybe we're better off? Is technology more of a tool for communication these days or is technology itself pushing us further towards isolation and egocentrism? Is technology only a tool for better living and community - or could it be an obstacle for the same? Are we given opportunities through technology we really shouldn't have?

The Aborigines in the film were convinced that there are limits to what we are to know; there are things that are holy, there are lines that shouldn't be crossed. Knowledge should never lead us to isolation, but should be shared in a setting of reverence and respect. Holiness means that things are to be put in context, not to be used for personal gain exclusively - that leads to egocentrism. What consequences are there for technology? Is technology neutral or an instrument for our worst nightmares?

I do wonder if it's the technology that is bad or if it's our use of it? The problem in the movie was probably not that the technology was there, but that they didn't have the ethical grounding to resist the temptation of being obsessed by themselves, and to use the technology to be even more egocentric. The quest for understanding isn't always to be strived for when it leads to self-absorption and isolation. Does it lead us TO community or OUT of it? That's sometimes the question. I guess we have to be aware of that in this blogging community as well? Are we here to worship our egos (and make others do it) or are we here to seek community and SHARE our lives with others.... OOOoooooops! Difficult question...... Have to process that myself.

What then about the monastic tradition you might ask? Well, isolation in religious movements is about community as well. Sometimes we have to shut out the noise of the world to be able to listen for the spiritual dimension - to find spiritual community with God and others. That, I believe, is to be strived for. That might give us the ethical grounding necessary in this confusing world.

What do you think?

Death

It's late; it's in the middle of the night. There's a candle-light in my window; I've got a wonderful CD with Annie Lennox on; I've seen an amazing movie (The Princess and the Warrior) by Tom Tykwer, one of my favorite directors. I feel content and happy - and I'm thinking about death. Does that sound strange? Maybe, but being aware of my mortality makes me feel intensely alive. To sit here and feel that I don't feel any pain, I've got work, I've got friends and family that cares for me, I even have some wonderful friends here in Cyberspace that have given me a virtual community that brakes down all barriers of borders and continents. I'm here and I'm alive, but one day I will not be here anymore. I leave this existence behind and I'm dead. As a teenager I dreamt that I died. It's one of the most intense dreams I've ever had. I was catapulted upwards in spirals of light, energy and speed - and the strange thing was that I felt intensely ALIVE, free of my body, free of my limited thoughts and emotions; on my way HOME. I've written about HOME several times in this blog and I think it's a reality. Sometimes I feel lost, a few times I can feel alone, hurt and wounded but I know I'm on my way HOME. Sometimes there's a glimpse of home here, but through life and death, nothing going to stop us - we're on our way!