In his speech to the nation on New Year's Eve, Norway's King Harald opened by quoting the English poet John Donne: "No man is an island, entire of itself...". He also recalled the 60th anniversary of the UN Human Rights Declaration in 2008: "All men are born equal..".

- If we had really taken this to heart, the King said, the world woul have looked different from how it looks today. {mosimage}

- I want to use this last day of the year to reflect over what it is that link us human beings to each other. 

- We need to remind each other of this - as we met the global challenges we are facing, but also as we face our everyday lives. 

- I am concerned over the fact that persons in our own land still are receiving differential tratment because of the colour of their skin, in their workplace, when buying a home or when meeting the public official.

- Fortunately, at the same time a lot of important work is being done to tear down these barriers. We of the older generation have a lot to learn from the youth and from their natural  approach to a multicultural society.

- If we had acknowledged that all humans are equal, neither would we have tolerated the condescending attitude towards those struggling with a drug problem. I wish we would stop using the term "the weakest in our society". Some of them are in reality the strongest among us. We are all responsible for providing for a worthy life for ourselves and our fellow human beings. This is not a responsibility we receive, - but one we take, the King said.

He went on to say that no one can expect that others will make us happy without any efforts on our part. Those who believe that will soon be disappointed. To be allowed to contribute and take on responsibility gives us a vital feeling of dignity and self-respect, King Harald said.

The King said the global financial crisis has created a situation more serious than we are used to in modern Norway. It will demand much of us all in the time ahead, - both in keeping up our spirit an in tackling readjustments at various levels.

He said the financial crisis as well as the climate crisis remind us how closely we human beings are linked to each other. What happens here in Norway will affect those living on the other side of the globe. As expressed by John Donne: "Any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind".

King Harald also expressed a fear that we today build too much of our identity around performance and being noticed - and that we judge both ourselves and others from this.

- In the new year we should just encourage each other to relax a bit more in relation to outside pressures.

- Today Norway is made up of peope from many countries and cultures.

- Together we build Norway.

- Together we will be a people secure in seeing the best in each other.

- Together we will be able to live as whole, fallible persons in a generous Norway.

- Happy New Year!

(Excerpts from King Harald's speech)

Edited by Rolleiv Solholm

 

 

Written by Rolleiv Solholm