"Bridge over troubled water"

The one thing that has occupied my mind since I read the newspaper this morning is the article on one of my students, Mehdi Hassani. Even though I read about his hazardous and dangerous flight from his homeland, the loss of his parents and his fear for his younger brother´s life, I still cannot really and truly understand this. Because I have not lived it. However, just thinking about it makes me want to cry. Being 18 and living in a foreign country with no relatives close by must be unbelievably though - to though for me and other priviliged Norwegians to understand. He is probably one of the bravest young people I know. In fact, he is the bravest.

I just cannot understand why it is so difficult to get his brother to Norway! I mean, a rich country like Norway with all its contacts and resources. This is really beyond my understanding, and it makes me angry. Seriously angry! That´s why would like to challenge some of you to write either a personal text based on this article (diary entry or others) or an essay about the cruelties of war.

Another question comes to my mind, too. Are Norwegian teenagers spoiled and do not appreciate the important things in life, like growing up in a peaceful country and being around their relatives all the time? What do you think? Feel free to write an essay based on this question, too, or any other text you are inspired to write after having read the article about Mehdi in the paper or the thougths in my blog :0)