Norway tragedy

PHOTO: PAKDEFENCEUNIT.WORDPRESS.COM

Recent tragic events in Norway illustrate how dangerous it is when neither the state, nor society in general, recognises or confronts those religious extremists (Christian or Muslim) who argue they are not under a country's law because it is "man's law and not God's law" and so consider themselves free to break the law. This can encourage unstable or brain-washed individuals to think they have the right to persecute and even murder those who disagree with them, even members of their own faith community.
If such people are indulged and not confronted, then it can lead to the collapse of justice, hope and, ultimately, a failed state.
In a democracy, if enough people agree that a law is bad, it can be altered through the due processes of law - and public debate - and not by criminal behaviour.
Robert Zoellick, President of the World Bank, said, 'development is the rule of law' - but civilisation depends on it as well. The rule of law has to be protected and practiced with integrity - and no indulgence given to those who mock it.