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| King of Norway calls for greater unity in speech that hails diversity | King of Norway calls for greater unity in speech that hails diversity |
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| In an impassioned speech, the King of Norway has called for greater unity in his country, emphasizing that Norwegians are people from all places and backgrounds, regardless of their sexuality or religion. | In an impassioned speech, the King of Norway has called for greater unity in his country, emphasizing that Norwegians are people from all places and backgrounds, regardless of their sexuality or religion. |
| “Norwegians are girls who love girls, boys who love boys, and girls and boys who love each other,” King Harald said in the widely praised speech delivered on 1 September. “Norwegians believe in God, Allah, the universe and nothing.” | “Norwegians are girls who love girls, boys who love boys, and girls and boys who love each other,” King Harald said in the widely praised speech delivered on 1 September. “Norwegians believe in God, Allah, the universe and nothing.” |
| “Norwegians come from north Norway, central Norway, southern Norway – and all of the other regions. Norwegians have immigrated from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Poland, from Sweden, Somalia and Syria. My grandparents came here from Denmark and England 110 years ago,” he said. | |
| “It is not always easy to say where we are from, what nationality we are. Home is where our heart is – and that cannot always be confined within national borders.” | “It is not always easy to say where we are from, what nationality we are. Home is where our heart is – and that cannot always be confined within national borders.” |
| The remarks come as Norwegians grapple with migrants seeking refuge in their country. An estimated 30,000 people claimed asylum in Norway in 2015. Some 5,500 people, most of them Syrian, had even ridden bicycles through Norway’s Arctic border with Russia to claim asylum. | The remarks come as Norwegians grapple with migrants seeking refuge in their country. An estimated 30,000 people claimed asylum in Norway in 2015. Some 5,500 people, most of them Syrian, had even ridden bicycles through Norway’s Arctic border with Russia to claim asylum. |
| Anti-immigration rhetoric has been on the rise in Norway since a centre-right coalition rose to power in 2013. Last January, the country was criticized for attempting to deport many asylum seekers to Russia. Norway had reportedly offered cash for refugees who voluntarily offered to leave. Last month, a plan to build a fence along the Russian border to deter refugees from entering the country was put forward by the government, according to Reuters. | Anti-immigration rhetoric has been on the rise in Norway since a centre-right coalition rose to power in 2013. Last January, the country was criticized for attempting to deport many asylum seekers to Russia. Norway had reportedly offered cash for refugees who voluntarily offered to leave. Last month, a plan to build a fence along the Russian border to deter refugees from entering the country was put forward by the government, according to Reuters. |
| On Thursday, the king and queen, who are by and large ceremonial figureheads within the Norwegian government, hosted a crowd of 1,500 people in the Palace Park, which surrounds the palace in Oslo. | On Thursday, the king and queen, who are by and large ceremonial figureheads within the Norwegian government, hosted a crowd of 1,500 people in the Palace Park, which surrounds the palace in Oslo. |
| “Those of you who are gathered here represent Norway as it is today,” the king told his guests, who reportedly came from every county in Norway and Svalbard. “So what is Norway?” | “Those of you who are gathered here represent Norway as it is today,” the king told his guests, who reportedly came from every county in Norway and Svalbard. “So what is Norway?” |
| The 79-year-old king described the diversity of the country’s landscape in his poetic speech, from its “high mountains and deep fjords” to its “lush farmland and rolling moors”, before hailing the diversity of its people. | The 79-year-old king described the diversity of the country’s landscape in his poetic speech, from its “high mountains and deep fjords” to its “lush farmland and rolling moors”, before hailing the diversity of its people. |
| Norwegians, the king said, were of all ages, physical abilities, heights, family statuses and careers. “In other words: Norway is you,” he said. “Norway is us.” | Norwegians, the king said, were of all ages, physical abilities, heights, family statuses and careers. “In other words: Norway is you,” he said. “Norway is us.” |
| “My greatest hope for Norway is that we will be able to take care of one another. That we will continue to build this country – on a foundation of trust, fellowship and generosity of spirit. That we will feel that we are – despite our differences – one people,” the king said. | “My greatest hope for Norway is that we will be able to take care of one another. That we will continue to build this country – on a foundation of trust, fellowship and generosity of spirit. That we will feel that we are – despite our differences – one people,” the king said. |
| Queen Sonja made the closing remarks, in which she urged the crowd to “safeguard what is most important to us, so that we can continue to speak openly, continue to feel safe and secure, continue to pursue education – and continue to live in freedom”. | Queen Sonja made the closing remarks, in which she urged the crowd to “safeguard what is most important to us, so that we can continue to speak openly, continue to feel safe and secure, continue to pursue education – and continue to live in freedom”. |
| The speech has been widely shared on social media, with a video on Norwegian news agency NRK’s Facebook, earning over 3.2m views and another 98,000 on YouTube. | The speech has been widely shared on social media, with a video on Norwegian news agency NRK’s Facebook, earning over 3.2m views and another 98,000 on YouTube. |