German hero named ‘Norwegian of the year’
Published: 16 Dec 11 12:24 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.de/national/20111216-39557.html
A German man has received the honour “Norwegian of the Year 2011” for helping rescue 30 survivors of the Utøya island massacre in July.
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"Initially I thought that it was fireworks,” said Gleffe. “Then I quickly realised that someone was shooting, and that someone had to bring these people out of the water," he added.
Instincts took over as Gleffe, who had been living in Norway for several years working as a roofer, jumped in a boat and began pulling youths from the cold waters of surrounding the island.
He made multiple trips in the hour that it took the police to arrive at the shooting, managing to bring between five and eight people at a time back to the mainland. His boat was shot by the attacker during the rescue.
Officials believe he rescued around 30 survivors from the island, which was hosting a camp for the Norwegian Youth Labour Party.
The prestigious “Norwegian of the Year” award, which is run by the Norwegian news magazine Ny Tid was also awarded to Norwegians Prableen Kaur, 18, and Synnøve Kvamme, 20. The ceremony took place on Thursday, at the House of Literature in Oslo.
Kaur is the deputy head of the Labour party’s youth wing in Oslo and the youngest person ever to be elected to the Oslo City Council.
Kvamme organized the largest demonstrations in Norway in the last 30 years, against the construction of massive electricity pylons in the rural west of the country.
In the past year, Gleffe has also received the German Federal Cross of Merit, the Ludwig-Beck Prize for Civil courage and the Golden Hen German media prize.
NTB/DAPD/The Local/jcw
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Your comments about this article:
Everyone knows heroism is an American trait. Get with the program.
Just look at catjones making his bitter sweet comment of unjust German heroism. Not to mention lack of correct history or fact. Short memories from little minds always twist facts.
Professor Quincy Wright offers this further statistical evidence for the same period, that is, 1480-1940:
Of the 278 wars involving European states during this period, the percentage of participation by the principal states was: England, 28; France, 26; Spain, 23; Russia, 22; Austria, 19; Turkey, 15; Poland, 11; Sweden, 9; Netherlands, 8; Germany (Prussia), 8; Italy (Savoy-Sardinia), 9; and Denmark, 7.7
I'm impressed by Denmark's 7.7 wars. I guess maybe only 70% of Danes were really into the 8th war. (just kidding)
:) just like 2.5 kids!
Anyway, hat off to Mr. Gleffe for what he did!
Percentages are advanced math for some. In fact the Danes were in 21.4 Wars. Still a bit hard to grasp. No, it's not the result of round off.
First, I think the headline is appropriate, since you wouldn't typically expect the "Norwegian" of the year to be a native of some other country. That's completely aside from the fact that I think the man deserves the recognition.
Second, I'll bet the "fractional wars" numbers come from the 30 Years War. Some countries only participated in parts of it, dodging in and out from time to time. On the other hand, not all wars are created equally, and I don't think you should get as much credit for "The War of Jenkin's Ear" as you would for World War II. Just thinking out loud here.
wa
In the context of a German citizen winning Norwegian of the year the title is absolutely appropriate. Kudos to this guy.
I do think how ever. That in general far to much is made out of where one comes from. This is a big issue with government forms in the US. If one applies for a home loan, Your race must be revealed. Ones race should not matter. If you have a good job make enough money and don't owe to much is what really should matter. But the government just loves to pigeon hole people into neat little stacks.
I haven't filled out home loan forms for many years, but I know that in most other situations, the questions relating to age, sex, and race are separate, and clearly marked as "optional." They supposedly are collected only for statistical purposes. That may or may not be true, however, it is illegal to base any decisions upon them. That said, I won't say it couldn't happen.
Most often that information has been required by Congress, to evaluate or show whether or not the "intent" of a specific law or rule is accomplishing its goal. While I personally don't much care about my own data...I understand that some question them, and all the forms I've seen specifically state that you can leave them blank.
Yes, the government does like their statistics, but I think some of them are valid. Hard to judge which ones...and we might disagree on that.
wa