How Breivik Taught me to Overcome the Fear of the Unknown | Bjorn Ihler | TEDxBratislava

Summary

In this powerful narrative, the speaker recounts the terrifying experience of surviving the 2011 Utøya Island massacre by Anders Behring Breivik. The speaker reflects on the fear of the unknown, the trauma of witnessing violence, and the journey of overcoming fear. Emphasizing the importance of embracing diversity and rejecting extremism, the speaker calls for collective responsibility in addressing terrorism. Through personal resilience and the pursuit of understanding, the speaker advocates for a world where fear is confronted, and human connections are valued over divisive ideologies.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker recounts a terrifying personal experience during the 2011 Norway attacks, where they narrowly escaped death at the hands of Anders Behring Breivik, a neo-Nazi terrorist.
• 😀 The most profound fear the speaker faced was not the immediate threat of death, but the uncertainty of what death would be like, and the fear of the unknown.
• 😀 Despite the terror and violence on Utøya Island, the speaker found the strength to act selflessly, protecting and caring for two young boys who had lost their fathers in the attack.
• 😀 After surviving the attack, the speaker chose not to hate Breivik or fear him, but instead to face him in court, rejecting the notion of dehumanizing him or becoming consumed by fear.
• 😀 The speaker reflects on the destructive power of fear, noting that it drives extremist ideologies and terrorism, whether from far-right or Islamist groups, based on a fear of diversity and the unfamiliar.
• 😀 The speaker's experience led them to work towards understanding extremism, collaborating with reformed terrorists and studying the paths into and out of violent ideologies.
• 😀 Terrorism thrives on fear, but the solution to extremism is not violence. Rather, it lies in confronting and understanding fear, embracing diversity, and fostering human connections.
• 😀 By confronting fear, we can choose a different path from terrorists, who use violence to impose their worldviews. True heroes face their fears and stand for acceptance and unity.
• 😀 The speaker emphasizes the importance of challenging societal narratives that encourage fear and violence, advocating for empathy, diversity, and the acceptance of people’s differences.
• 😀 Ultimately, the speaker calls for collective action to combat terrorism by promoting understanding, embracing diversity, and fostering stronger, more resilient communities.

Q & A

What is the most terrifying experience the speaker recounts?

The speaker describes the most terrifying experience as staring down the barrel of a gun held by Anders Behring Breivik, a terrorist responsible for the 2011 attacks in Norway. The fear stemmed from not knowing what death would be like and being unsure of what would happen next.

How did the speaker survive the attack?

The speaker and two young boys survived by hiding in the woods and then swimming away to safety after Breivik, disguised as a police officer, began shooting at them. Despite being terrified, the speaker remained focused on survival.

How does the speaker describe Breivik's behavior during the attack?

The speaker describes Breivik as calm, cold, and calculated in his actions, particularly when he aimed his gun at them. Despite the immediate danger, the speaker faced the situation with a sense of acceptance, coming to terms with the possibility of death.

What was the significance of the ringing cell phone among the dead bodies?

The ringing cell phone, discovered among a pile of bodies, symbolized the tragic loss of life and the reality that a person, likely a child, would never be able to answer it. This moment highlighted the innocence lost during the attack.

How did the speaker overcome fear after the attack?

The speaker chose to not let fear define their life. They faced their trauma head-on, chose to speak about their experiences, and even sought to understand terrorism and extremism. This approach led to them working towards ending terrorism and helping others overcome violent ideologies.

What does the speaker think about Breivik today?

The speaker does not hate Breivik nor fear him. They chose to face him in court and recognized that Breivik, despite his actions, is just a human being who does not have special power over them.

How does the speaker view terrorism and the fear behind it?

The speaker believes that terrorism is driven by fear, particularly the fear of the unknown, diversity, and change. This fear leads individuals like Breivik to commit acts of violence in a misguided attempt to defend their worldview.

What does the speaker say about the ideologies behind extremism?

The speaker emphasizes that all forms of extremism, whether based on political or religious ideologies, are driven by fear. Terrorists use fear to justify violence against those who are different, targeting diversity and difference.

What is the speaker's stance on how societies should respond to extremism?

The speaker advocates for a non-violent approach to addressing extremism. They believe societies should confront fear with understanding and acceptance, fostering diversity and unity rather than resorting to violence, which only deepens divisions.

How does the speaker suggest we fight against the fear that fuels terrorism?

The speaker suggests that the key to combating terrorism is embracing diversity, challenging fear-based ideologies, and confronting our own biases. By promoting heroes who stand for acceptance and understanding, we can create a society that resists extremism.