National Memorial Ceremony: The King's Speech
His Majesty The King’s Speech at the National Memorial Ceremony for 22 July 2011. Oslo Spektrum, 21 August 2011. English translation.
Dear all of you,
There is so little that has not already been said.
The last four weeks have been hard for us all.
But that is also why it is good to be together. My thoughts have been with those of you who were directly affected by the terrorist actions, and those who have lost someone you loved.
As a father, grandfather and husband, I have some feeling of what you are going through, but I can only imagine the depth of your pain.
As the King of this nation, I feel for each and every one of you.
It can take a long time to regain equilibrium after a traumatic experience of this magnitude. It is important to remember that grief takes many forms and there must be room for all of them. Feelings of guilt and anxiety, rage and emptiness.
We will continue to mourn together. But in the midst of our sorrow, I also have a great need to say thank you.
Thank you to all of you who were there in the government buildings and on Utøya, and who have decided that you will not allow these events to break your spirit.
Thank you to all of the helpers – from the police, fire and rescue services, health care institutions, churches and other religious communities, armed forces, civil defence, volunteer organisations – and all of you who just did whatever you could because you needed to. All of you have shown us what loving-kindness and courage mean in practice, when it really counts. Many have helped to save the lives of others – some at risk to their own. And many are still working hard to help the bereaved and offer support to those who need it.
Thank you as well to the Prime Minister, the Government and the government ministries. The Prime Minister has led us steadfastly, and with admirable fortitude, as our national anchor in a time of crisis. At the same time, he and his administration have managed to keep the wheels turning under conditions of extreme duress. Local authorities have responded with compassion and the political parties have demonstrated solidarity – with each other, with the people, and with those directly affected. It is evident to me that everyone has done absolutely everything they could to help.
These past weeks we have seen the funerals of 77 people. We have all had a chance to learn a little bit about each of those who died – through stories in the media and the eulogies given in their memory. We have lost 77 individuals who wanted to use their lives in the best way possible for the society of which they were a part. We will honour their memory by continuing to work to achieve the values that they held so dear.
I would like to repeat today what I said the day after these tragic events took place:
I firmly believe that freedom is stronger than fear.
I firmly believe in an open Norwegian democracy and society.
And I firmly believe that we will uphold our ability to live freely and securely in our own country.
I firmly believe that freedom is stronger than fear.
I firmly believe in an open Norwegian democracy and society.
And I firmly believe that we will uphold our ability to live freely and securely in our own country.
This tragedy has reminded us of the fundamental ties that bind us together in our multicultural, multi-faceted society. Let us keep this understanding foremost in our thoughts – and let us take care of each other. Let us as individuals be clear about what we stand for and take every opportunity we can to influence our society in a positive direction.
Much will still be demanded of us in the weeks and months to come. Those of you who have suffered a loss may find that things grow harder as the outpouring of national grief gradually subsides. As the strong sense of community that we have felt during this time recedes more into the background. That is when we, as fellow human beings, must make an effort to seek out those who are grieving or struggling with their lives. We must stay beside them as the spotlight of world attention fades.
When day-to-day life once again resumes.
As a nation we must take this experience with us in our hearts and in our minds, and we must not lose sight of our renewed awareness of what is really important to us.
21.08.2011
国家纪念仪式：国王的演讲
尊敬的各位:
关于这件事，人们已经谈论的很多。我们都度过了极其艰难的四个星期。但这也正是我们团结在一起的意义：那些被恐怖事件所直接影响到的,以及在袭击中失去亲人的人们，我的心，一直同你们在一起。
作为一个父亲，祖父和丈夫，我了解你们的感受，但只能凭借想象体会你们的痛苦究竟有多深。作为国王，我有与你们每一个人一样的感受。
我们可能需要很长时间，才能让内心从如此痛苦的经历中的恢复平静。请记住，苦痛可能演变成多种形式，比如负罪感，焦虑，愤怒以及空虚，但无论如何，我们都必须坦然地面对。
悲伤还会继续，但在这悲伤中，我必须感谢你们：
感谢你们当时在政府大楼和于特岛上的每一个人，你们没有被这次惨剧所吓倒。
感谢所有提供帮助的人——包括警察，救援队，医疗机构，教堂以及其他宗教团体，军队，国防力量和志愿者组织——和一切尽你们所能提供帮助的人。在正当人们需要的时候，你们用行动告诉我们什么是善良和勇敢。你们很多人挽救了他人的生命——甚至是冒着生命的危险也在所不惜。直至现在，你们中的很多人仍然在努力地帮助那些在灾难中失去亲人的人，并为其他需要的人提供帮助。
同样感谢你，首相，以及政府和各个部门。首相用他那令人尊敬毅力领导着我们，稳定而迅速地应对这突如其来困境。同时，在他的领导下，我们国家在极大的威胁之下仍然正常运转。地方官员带着起大的同情和责任心做出响应，各政党也都同彼此，同人民以及同那些被直接影响到的人们，紧紧团结在一起。这些都告诉我，你们每个人都在尽其所能提供帮助。
过去的几周，我们安葬了77位遇难者。从媒体报道和各种纪念仪式中，我们都多多少少对他们有了一些了解。我们失去了77个公民，他们本来希望能够用他们的生命使这个他们身处其中的社会更加美好。我们会以他们为荣，并为实现他们的信念而不懈努力。
今天，我想再次重复我在惨剧发生的第二天所说过的话：
我相信自由比恐惧更强大。
我对开放的挪威的民主和社会充满信心。同时，我更坚信，我们会捍卫我们在自己国家自由和安全生活的权利！这次惨剧提醒我们，不要忘记那些把我们这个多文化和多元社会联系在一起的纽带。让我们把这些信念放到思想中最为重要的位置，让我们关心彼此。让我们每个人都牢记那些我们捍卫的东西，并且尽己所能使这个社会向变得更好。
我相信自由比恐惧更强大。
我对开放的挪威的民主和社会充满信心。同时，我更坚信，我们会捍卫我们在自己国家自由和安全生活的权利！这次惨剧提醒我们，不要忘记那些把我们这个多文化和多元社会联系在一起的纽带。让我们把这些信念放到思想中最为重要的位置，让我们关心彼此。让我们每个人都牢记那些我们捍卫的东西，并且尽己所能使这个社会向变得更好。
在未来的几个星期到几个月里，我们仍有许多事情要做。对那些在这次事件中遭受损失的人们，当整个国家的苦痛逐渐平复的时候，你们的生活可能会更加艰难，因为我们此时被唤起的强烈的社会意识会慢慢消退。那也正是我每个人应当，付出努力去发现和帮助那些生活依旧艰难以及仍在痛苦中人，当世界不再关注他们时，我们必须仍和他们在一起。
当我们的生活又恢复往常一样——我们每个人都必须铭记这次经历，并且永远不能忽视那些被这次事件再次唤起的，我们所真正珍视的东西。
2011年8月21日
