Freedom

A few times when I’ve been in the grocery store in Norway and seen someone I knew, I hollered their name to get their attention. Every single person in the store turned their head and just stared at me. No one hollers to get anyone’s attention in Norway – they simply go over and speak softly, like a civilized person. I felt like such a moron the first time I yelled, I had to do it again the next time I saw someone I knew, just to double check my observation.  Sure enough, the room went silent and all heads turned to see who in the world would yell in public like that. Now I know, so my moronic days are behind me.  But my husband, Kory, doesn’t worry about his reputation. He shouts “Hallelujah!” every chance he gets.  His cousins tell him it’s not a good idea because people will think he’s either drunk or crazy.  We just laughed off this warning until we saw why people don’t make a scene in public.

Kory’s Aunt Aslaug is on the board of her condo association.  Part of the condos are owned by the local government and used for low-income housing.  A young woman in a wheelchair lived across the courtyard from Aslaug and she often had loud parties until early in the morning.  So many people complained to Aslaug about the noise, that Aslaug decided she must say something to the young woman.  When she did, the woman exploded in anger and called Aslaug all kinds of nasty names and told her she had no right to tell her how to live her life.  Two days later, the young woman’s apartment was cleared out and she was gone.

I inquired about what happened to that woman and was told the police came and took her away.  “She was obviously unstable,” was an explanation I heard, “you just don’t yell at old ladies.” “She was a drunk and needs rehab,” was another reason given.  She was forcibly committed to some kind of mental institution/detox center all because she came unglued on poor Aunt Aslaug. 

The bottom line in socialism is about what’s good for the whole of society, not people’s individual rights.  I’m sure Norway will never have the kind of slaughter our country experienced a few weeks ago because they identify problem people and do something about them long before they become a threat.  That system wouldn’t work in America though, because Americans demand their freedom. As an American, I have the freedom to holler in public in Norway, but I’m certain I won’t be doing it again.