Feeling Cynical? Here is A Perspective For You.

Oslo City Hall, Norway

The International Association of Suicide Prevention 2013 World Congress opened tonight with a grand reception in the famous Oslo City Hall. The highly civilized and hospitable Mayor Fabian Stang welcomed Congress attendees himself.

If you are a movie buff: this Mayor is the son of beloved Norwegian Actress Wenche Foss, famous for her Art and also for her humanity. She was a vocal advocate for several causes including the recognition and visibility of disabled individuals as well as the tolerance of gay marriage.

But coming back to the reception setting: Why is this City Hall famous?

It is the site of the annual Nobel Peace Prize ceremony, award and celebration.

While enjoying the spectacular setting, music and champagne (it's Europe-ceremonial parties have champagne), I was nursing an obvious question, which I had never pondered before. Once the question emerged, I really really HAD to quench my curiosity.

Why did Alfred Nobel, a Swede, stipulate that the Nobel Peace Prize should be given out in Norway, rather than in Sweden, like the four other Nobel Prizes?

After asking a few international attendees who, like me, had no clue, I made a bee line to the Mayor to... ask him. Surely, HE would know. If you are thinking that champagne clouded my judgement...nope, I just am slightly tenacious...ask my husband if you don't believe me.

Thankfully for him, Fabian Stang was surrounded by Norwegian suicidologists who interecepted me and assured they could answer my question.  The perplexing answer, echoed by all the Norwegians in attendance, is that the Nobel Peace Price is handed out in Norway...because Norway is a peaceful country in general and in particular, relatively to its Scandinavian neighbors.

My thoughts about Drakkars and pillages must have danced in my eyes or face, which I realized when  one of our graceful Norwegian hosts exclaimed: "Well...if you go back one thousand years, we were really really horrible". For fear of offending my peaceful host, I back-pedaled: "No, no, you guys were terrific. After all, if you are going to be horrible, you should do it with style. The Vikings set a standard etc..."

But it is making me take better stock of the relative peace exemplified by our host country and of Norway's many efforts expended to take care of all of its own in exemplary humane ways. All its own, including the infamously violent.

One thousand years ago, the Vikings and now a bastion of peace.
That may not be moving fast enough for us but it is certainly a reason to hope.

Till Later,

Anne