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Sat, Jul 23 2011 12:48:22

Stories We Tell Ourselves During Tragedies

Reflections of a story hoarder after the Oslo bombings and the death of Amy Winehouse.

  1. On July 22, 2011, a bomb was set off in the government quarter of Oslo, Norway. A few hours later a youth organization was attacked by a gunman in that same country.

  2. Reports initially suggested that car bombs[3] exploded outside the office of Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg and other government office buildings such as the Oil Ministry[3] and Ministry of Finance,[3] with many windows blown out. There are mixed reports as to whether there might have been several explosions.[4] Stoltenberg was reported as unharmed in the blast.[5] Norway’s finance minister, Sigbjørn Johnsen, was on holiday in Denmark at the time.[6] The blast was heard at least 7km away.[3]

    2011 Norway attacks - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
    en.wikipedia.org
  3. The next day, famous pop singer Amy Winehouse was found dead.
  4. Amy Winehouse found dead in her London home
    Troubled U.K. pop star Amy Winehouse was found dead Saturday in her London home, according to multiple British wire reports. Britain's Sky News reported that paramedics were called to her home at just after 4 p.m., but the 27 year-old was pronounced dead at the scene. Winehouse publicists in the U.S.
    latimesblogs.latimes.com
  5. There would be plenty of storytelling had either of these events occurred in isolation.
  6. We had larger narratives to fall back on in each case.  Larger ideas about terrorism, the contrast created by a terrorist who was not a Muslim radical, how democracies ought to respond to attacks like these.
  7. GNVilla
    GNVilla@GNVilla
    92 people now confirmed to have died in Oslo, such a damn shame. People getting on with their lives then suddenly taken away by one idiot.
    Sat, Jul 23 2011 11:44:39
  8. What Just Happened in Oslo, Norway? (UPDATES)
    Fri Jul. 22, 2011 10:25 AM PDT This explainer is being updated as more news emerges. Click here for photos from the scene and here for details about the man arrested in connection with the attacks. For the latest news updates, click here.
    motherjones.com
  9. bellamackie
    bellamackie@bellamackie
    Norway Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg: "The answer to violence, is even more democracy. Even more humanity" Amazing words from a PM.
    Sat, Jul 23 2011 02:30:18
  10. aurosan
    aurosan@aurosan
    The media is no longer referring to the Oslo terrorist as a terrorist because they found out he's a white Christian. Now he's a 'madman'.
    Sat, Jul 23 2011 08:00:22
  11. Successful artists who throw their lives away, the legitimate struggle that is addiction.
  12. amandapalmer
    amandapalmer@amandapalmer
    this just in: Amy Winehouse was found dead in her london flat. Soaring talent. Fucking tragic. http://bit.ly/nRuhwL
    Sat, Jul 23 2011 09:42:27
  13. Garth Webster
    Garth Webster
    amy winehouse dead, what a waste of good talent. rip.
    Sat, Jul 23 2011 12:40:08
  14. courtenlow
    courtenlow@courtenlow
    Addictions are complicated, at times impossible things. And in fairness, you wouldn't know unless it had ruined your life already.
    Sat, Jul 23 2011 11:14:15
  15. Eileen Fletcher
    Eileen Fletcher
    wow just read that amy winehouse is dead. its sad to say that im not surprised. she has a few good songs. as the saying goes another bites the dust. when will people learn and start taking care of themselves.
    Sat, Jul 23 2011 12:40:09
  16. stuyparker
    stuyparker@stuyparker
    Yes, let us cry over the loss of the life of someone who didn't care enough not to squander it themselves.
    Sat, Jul 23 2011 11:21:43
  17. kulturhack
    kulturhack@kulturhack
    Last Comment About Amy Winehouse: After all the inevitable narratives & moralizing, this is the only thing that matters t.co/dnIdwlo
    Sat, Jul 23 2011 11:04:04
  18. The fact that the two events happened so close together, and in the order that they did, called upon another kind of story: moral outrage at the attention a celebrity death received relative to a human tragedy on a larger scale.
  19. themaria
    themaria@themaria
    I also love how there are 3.76 times more tweets in my stream about Winehouse than Oslo. Yep, 76% of all statistics are made up. #fb
    Sat, Jul 23 2011 12:11:22
  20. ryan
    ryan@ryan
    Nearly 100 dead by the hands of a Christian fundamentalist in Oslo. Let's talk about Amy Winehouse.
    Sat, Jul 23 2011 10:44:37
  21. thetomatosnob
    thetomatosnob@thetomatosnob
    Sorry to hear about t/ death of Amy winehouse but shes had it coming for years. Much more pressing news today. My heart is in Oslo.
    Sat, Jul 23 2011 12:11:30
  22. deesnider
    deesnider@deesnider
    Amy Winehouse died. That's a lifestyle choice. The 87 who were murdered in Oslo Norway. That's effing tragic.
    Sat, Jul 23 2011 11:19:42
  23. twentymajor
    twentymajor@twentymajor
    Just to clarify, what happened to Amy Winehouse is a shame. It is not a tragedy. Please see Norway for correct use of that word.
    Sat, Jul 23 2011 09:41:19
  24. I have seen this reaction before. At the time that Michael Jackson died, the Iranian elections had been a hot topic and were suddenly overshadowed. People didn't like that.
  25. mishakaz
    Kaz@mishakaz
    Dear Iran, I'm sorry that we care more about Michael Jackson's cardiac arrest than about you getting slaughtered in the street #IranElection
    Fri, Jun 26 2009 04:52:57

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