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Arne O. Holm comments:
Magical Meetings With The People of the North
Commentary (Harstad): Armed with the world-famous Kvæfjord cake, I am sitting in the café at Trondenes Historical Centre outside Harstad. It takes time to land after discussing the security of the United States and Europe with our leading experts.
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This is a comment written by a member of the editorial staff. All views expressed are the writer's own.
For the fifth year in a row, High North News is organising a debate series during the True Northern Arts Festival of Northern Norway. From a cautious beginning, we have moved into the Nordic Hall, one of the largest stages at the festival.
The analogue meeting
For a journalist, this is the very reason for choosing this profession. To be able to meet just over 200 people in a hall where there are not even enough seats for everyone.
At a time when our opinions are shaped through digital media, and when more and more journalism is governed by artificial intelligence, or by despots who set the journalistic agenda, this is no small tribute to the analogue meeting between people.
Over the course of three debates, more than 500 spectators have attended our blend of politics and culture. Most recently with a full choir on stage, Vokal Nord, who treated us to beautiful tango-inspired singing, as a break in what was otherwise a rather gloomy analysis of the development, or dismantling if you will, of the USA.
When journalism is governed by artificial intelligence
Before and after the choir performance, among others, Norway's Chief of Defence Eirik Kristoffersen uncensoredly analyses international political developments, while his American colleagues are dropping like flies because of President Donald Trump's shifting moods.
The right to survive
Such experiences provide fresh inspiration to fight for democracy’s right to survive despite the advance of extremist forces in both the USA and Europe.
The High North is no longer a periphery; it is at the centre of the great powers’ conflict of interests, both with and without weapons. But even as we discuss weapons and stronger defence, we must not forget why we defend ourselves. The democratic freedom we still enjoy.
Without democracy, weapons become the enemy of the people. Without democracy, we also lose our most important weapon. A free people.
It is therefore no coincidence that I withdraw from the sea of people and enter a historical centre at Trondenes, also by the sea, but without the large crowd.
Inside the museum, our history can be traced further back in time than I can count, to a period when we were still in the Stone Age while the rest of Europe was stepping into the Middle Ages.
Barbarity
The alleged barbarity that raged was nevertheless moderate in form compared with modern warfare, where international law has been replaced by the right to kill an entire people. But the shortcuts taken when the Bjarkøy chieftain Tore Hund was convicted of having killed another killer in 1027 existed then as well.
With the help of the Danish-English king, the law of the time was repealed and replaced by a new one, with the result that Tore Hund was reimbursed the fines he had already been sentenced to pay.
We recognise it. Also in nations that adorn themselves with democratic labels.
In return, new laws required priests and churches to pay a tax that would finance the Nidaros Cathedral, whatever we might get in return for that.
Without democracy, weapons become the enemy of the people.
The best interests of the nation
We in the Arctic have always stood at the forefront for the good of the nation, even in periods when we were barely heard.
Some will strongly argue that we are still not being listened to.
The debates in Harstad during the True Northern Arts Festival of Northern Norway show with complete clarity that, if that is the case, it is not for lack of willingness.
Rather, it is about a lack of ability to listen.
Have a good summer!
