In the wake of Britain's recent hacking scandal and the News of The World's disregard for legal or ethical considerations, the question of press regulation arose, which UK media organisations have re-framed in terms of freedom of, or gagging of, the press. This is a debate where views have become polarised and dare I say fundamentalist. That all censorship is bad or anti-democratic is a conviction in which news organisations have a vested interest in peddling. This morning Sky News have played a clip of a survivor of the Utøya atrocity; 'If I had to make a choice right now I would say, "yes, let the cameras be there"'. When asked why, he replied,
"Of course, I'm for democracy. Some other people will think that they don't agree with this man any more."There are those that would argue that Berveick has had his say. He had it 76 times.
These are difficult questions for any democracy to answer. Especially one as progressive as Norway's. Is this the price we must pay for free speech? And if so are we getting value for money? Is it right that a perpetrator of mass murder should be allowed to justify those actions by espousing his (supposed) political ideology? Bear in mind, the results of any psychological evaluation are unknown. Is it right that a nation should relive the most horrific act in its post-war history, a mere three days after the massacre?
On the other hand, this is an opportunity to expose Breivik and his views and remove the secrecy and mythology that has already arisen around his activities and that of the organisations he has been linked to.
Democracy is not easy and can make its citizens uncomfortable. That Geir Lippestad, Breivik's defence lawyer, has received messages on his website from fellow Norwegians incapable of understanding how he can take the job, is evidence of the discomfort that a democratic principle such as due process can engender. However, as Lippestad himself suggests, the ideals of democracy must be upheld:
"It is important to follow democratic principles. These are the times when we value our democracy most and the administration of justice is an important part of it." **
That leading Norwegian political figures and citizens alike, in such emotive circumstances, are lauding the democratic principles that differentiate us from Breivik and his ilk on the extreme far-right, suggests that Norway may succeed where so often America has failed, in championing democracy as a higher ideal and not a mere tool of oratory.
**This is a Google translation of an original article in the Norwegian daily Aftenposten.
