http://www.aftenposten.no/english/local/article.jhtml?articleID=506644
Students rally support for USA
Tired of what he calls "anti-Americanism," a student at the Norwegian School of Management outside Oslo is trying to drum up moral support for the US. His aim is to bolster Norway's longtime alliance with America.
Fredrik KR Norman and a handful of fellow students have formed a group called "Norwegian Friends of America" (Venner av Amerika). Through a newly-created web site designed by Norman, they're hoping to show that Norway still has a solid relationship with the US.
"Many Americans have heard about (comedian) Otto Jespersen burning an American flag on TV, or about some radicals' plans to stop President Bush's visit in May," Norman told Aftenposten Multimedia. "It's sending out a bad image, and we want to counterbalance that image."
The web site is dedicated to the "support of Norway's most important ally," and it heavily features Norway's King Harald, although Norman admits the group has no formal backing from the Royal Palace. "We are allowed, however, to cite quotes from the king," he said.
And that they do, even linking to the full text (in English) of remarks made by King Harald during a visit by former US President Bill Clinton in 1999. At that time, the popularity of the US was riding much higher than it is today.
Recent polls indicate that policies of the Bush administration, especially Bush's threats to attack Iraq without approval from the United Nations, have since soured the vast majority of Norwegians' opinions about the US. A record 60,000 Norwegians took part in an anti-war demonstration last month.
Norman is determined to rekindle the bond between the two countries. "No one was out marching when Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait," Norman notes. "It just seems like America always get blamed for everything. One of the problems we face is that it's very uncommon to do things in support of America."
The flag-burning on TV was the proverbial last straw for Norman. "We want to show that we think everyone owes respect to the American ideals," he said. "We all have relatives or friends in America, and the mainstream here, including the king, the prime minister and the minister of defense, supports the US."
Norman, who's originally from the south-coast town of Kristiansand and majoring in business administration, nonetheless calls his group's effort "just a campaign." He notes, though, that around 100 messages of support came in during the first few hours after the web site was launched Monday.
They have one high hope, however. "Our dream is to be able to hand over the signatures to President Bush when he comes in May," Norman said. Failing that, an official at the US Embassy in Oslo will do.
Students rally support for USA
Tired of what he calls "anti-Americanism," a student at the Norwegian School of Management outside Oslo is trying to drum up moral support for the US. His aim is to bolster Norway's longtime alliance with America.
Fredrik KR Norman and a handful of fellow students have formed a group called "Norwegian Friends of America" (Venner av Amerika). Through a newly-created web site designed by Norman, they're hoping to show that Norway still has a solid relationship with the US.
"Many Americans have heard about (comedian) Otto Jespersen burning an American flag on TV, or about some radicals' plans to stop President Bush's visit in May," Norman told Aftenposten Multimedia. "It's sending out a bad image, and we want to counterbalance that image."
The web site is dedicated to the "support of Norway's most important ally," and it heavily features Norway's King Harald, although Norman admits the group has no formal backing from the Royal Palace. "We are allowed, however, to cite quotes from the king," he said.
And that they do, even linking to the full text (in English) of remarks made by King Harald during a visit by former US President Bill Clinton in 1999. At that time, the popularity of the US was riding much higher than it is today.
Recent polls indicate that policies of the Bush administration, especially Bush's threats to attack Iraq without approval from the United Nations, have since soured the vast majority of Norwegians' opinions about the US. A record 60,000 Norwegians took part in an anti-war demonstration last month.
Norman is determined to rekindle the bond between the two countries. "No one was out marching when Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait," Norman notes. "It just seems like America always get blamed for everything. One of the problems we face is that it's very uncommon to do things in support of America."
The flag-burning on TV was the proverbial last straw for Norman. "We want to show that we think everyone owes respect to the American ideals," he said. "We all have relatives or friends in America, and the mainstream here, including the king, the prime minister and the minister of defense, supports the US."
Norman, who's originally from the south-coast town of Kristiansand and majoring in business administration, nonetheless calls his group's effort "just a campaign." He notes, though, that around 100 messages of support came in during the first few hours after the web site was launched Monday.
They have one high hope, however. "Our dream is to be able to hand over the signatures to President Bush when he comes in May," Norman said. Failing that, an official at the US Embassy in Oslo will do.
