“Sir please don’t. Oh God! Oh no! Please don’t!”
The cries above could have been made by any one of the 77 people that were murdered by Anders Breivik. Any individual with the capacity for sympathy would spare this person on account of his plea. When one considers the fact that Breivik murdered dozens of young Norwegians as a demonstration of a political agenda, it becomes clear that Breivik simply lacked the capacity for commiseration . He was unable to look into the hearts of his victims and allow them to fully experience life. Thanks to the actions of Breivik, the entire Norwegian nation was brought together in mourning the death of 77 young citizens who would have gone on to become active participants in the Norwegian society (Knausgaard, 2015). Breivik’s actions point to the fact that he was indifferent to human life. He set out on a murdering spree and left dozens dead in his wake. This essay borrows from Knausgaard’s article, The Inexplicable, in its examination of how Breivik could be so indifferent to human life that he murdered people who posed no threat to him.
Norway is one of the most peaceful and welcoming countries in Europe. The citizens of this country have been described as harmless and genuine (Knausgaard, 2015). It was therefore astounding that one of these citizens would set out to commit mass murder. In the introduction above, it has been mentioned that Breivik displayed complete indifference to human life. Evidence for this lies in the series of attacks that he carried out. He began by parking a vehicle fitted with a bomb. While the vehicle exploded, killing eight people, “Breivik headed to Utoya”. At Utoya, he committed more murders (Knausgaard, 2015). The fact that Breivik could easily carry out murders at one place then proceed to a different place to commit even more murders points to his disregard for human life. One of the features that almost all humans possess is the ability to question their actions. When one commits evil such as murder, their conscience should prick them. It is clear that Breivik’s scruples had become so numb that he was unable to see how inexplicable and unacceptable his actions were. Who murders eight people at one place and moves on to a different place to kill more people? It has to be remembered that the eight people that Breivik killed using the bomb had lives, families and communities. Given that Norway is a rather small nation, everyone was affected in one way or another by the atrocities committed by Breivik. Every Norwegian knew someone who knew someone who lost their lives in the tragedy that the nation suffered (Knausgaard, 2015). The failure by Breivik to display sympathy and to keep himself from committing more murders is clear indication that he lacked respect for human life.
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In the discussion above, it has been stated that Breivik committed murders at two different locations. His actions raise the question of the factors that motivated him. To fully understand why he killed so many people who did not pose any threat to him, an examination of the forces that shaped this mass murderer should be conducted. The murders that Breivik committed were the result of religious hate. In the hours leading up to the bomb explosion that had left eight people dead, Breivik had shared a political manifesto. In the manifesto, he made it clear that he wished to rescue (Knausgaard, 2015) Norway from the influence of Islam. He stated that “we were at war with Muslims and Multiculturalism and that the slaughter of the campers was meant to be a wakeup call.” (Knausgaard, 2015). Fear and prejudice must have blinded Breivik. He was simply unable to see the error in his actions. He desperately wished to save Norway and to wake Norwegians from their slumber. According to the manifesto, Breivik simply wanted to raise awareness about the hazard that Islam posed to the Norwegian identity. Religion is so powerful that it can offer an individual the drive to commit grave crimes such as murder. It is clear that religion was at play in the actions of Breivik. Breivik represents the state of the globe today. Religious intolerance is being witnessed across the globe. Religious minorities are bearing the brunt of this intolerance. While it is unlikely that the world will witness a repeat of the evil committed by Breivik, there is still cause to be concerned. The religious intolerance can develop into a full-blown religious war. If the world wishes to rescue religious minorities and to promote tolerance, it must keep a close eye on such individuals as Breivik who are so indifferent to human life that they could kill in the pursuit of a political mission.
Isolation is a problem that millions of individuals grapple with. These individuals do not feel that they belong to any group and they resort to keeping to themselves. There are numerous ways of addressing isolation such as seeking the intervention of a mental health professional. In the weeks following the attack, it emerged that Breivik was a deeply disturbed individual. He was convinced that he was “a prominent member… of a large organization” (Knausgaard, 2015). Breivik is clearly an individual who the Norwegian society had made to feel small. He chose to respond to the isolation and the discomfiture that the society had caused him to suffer by committing mass murder. His motivations can be compared to the perpetrators of other mass murders who were driven by the desire to seek revenge against society for the isolation and the injustice that they endured. While individuals must not remain focused on the heinous and unforgivable crimes that Breivik committed, it is important to understand the role that his mental health played. The court which heard his case determined that Breivik was not psychotic but it also noted that he possessed narcissistic traits and had been diagnosed with dissocial personality disorder (Knausgaard, 2015). The mental issues that Breivik presented and the isolation that he suffered must have combined to create a mass murderer who was indifferent to human life. None of his victims posed any threat to him yet he killed them without any regard for the sanctity of their lives. It is quite clear that the sense of isolation and the mental health issues played a role in creating an individual who was indifferent to human life.
In a previous discussion, it was mentioned that the Norwegian people are welcoming and harmless. These people have developed a culture that allows them to come together to celebrate successes and mourn when they suffer a loss. This culture of acceptance can be blamed for the actions of Breivik. During Breivik’s trial, the nation shifted its focus from Breivik’s crimes to his identity as a human being. Norwegians began trying to understand the personal struggles that could have led Breivik to commit the crimes (Knausgaard, 2015). While the actions of the Norwegians are noble , it must be remembered that Breivik’s actions caused families to suffer untold pain. The nation even turned against Breivik’s victims. When one of the victims described Breivik as a jerk, he was dismissed as “small, petty and pathetic” (Knausgaard, 2015). The Norwegian nation basically robbed victims of the sympathies that they were owed. It can be argued that the soft stance on crime that Norway has adopted served to make Breivik indifferent to human life. It could be that he understood that the nation would forgive him. While the court sentenced him to a 20-year jail term, the nation appears to have merely slapped him on the wrist. Breivik must have understood that the nation would allow him to get away with the murders. For this reason, he regarded life with less significance and went on to murder individuals who posed no threat to him.
Conclusion
All communities desire harmony and peace. This desire has been made difficult to satisfy thanks to the actions of individuals who commit crimes that cause pain and chaos. Breivik interrupted the pattern of multiculturalism and peaceful coexistence among different communities that Norwegians were accustomed to. He mercilessly murdered dozens of individuals in a demonstration of his anger and disapproval of the policies that Norway had adopted. Religion, political forces and personal issues appear to have driven Breivik to become indifferent to human life. These factors are indeed powerful and could cause any individual to commit crimes. There is need for communities to keep an eye out on their members to ensure that the tragedy that Norway suffered is not witnessed again.
Reference
Knausgaard, O. K. (2015). The Inexplicable.
