And what is the source of this latest wave of panic? It seems that the Norwegian media have been too supportive of Fjordman!
At least that's what Thorbjørn Jagland, a longtime enemy of Fjordman, has proclaimed. What keeps him awake at night in a cold sweat is the "real danger that the topics he [Fjordman] writes about could become part of the normal public discourse".
Horrors!
Our Norwegian correspondent The Observer has translated an article about Fjordman from today's VG. He includes this note:
It seems that the political elites in Norway are suffering from 'Fjordmania' — maybe we should refer to them from now on as 'Fjordmaniacs'?
Notice also the mandatory reference to Anders Behring Breivik; it's almost as if ABB and Fjordman have morphed into this giant two-headed bogeyman that has been condemned to live life as an outcast and a pariah, constantly taunted and ridiculed by the righteous few.
See these previous articles about Thorbjørn Jagland:
The translated article:
Jagland condemns the Norwegian media for their support of Fjordman
It is troubling that the Norwegian media haven't focused on the ethical aspects of 'Fritt Ord' (Freedom of Expression) monetary grant to Fjordman, says Jagland.
"The fact that Fjordman is given so much coverage in the media and the fact that he has received a grant to write a book means that there is a real danger that the topics he writes about could become part of the normal public discourse. Someone has to sound the alarm, says the Secretary General of the Council of Europe," says Thorbjørn Jagland to Dagsavisen [Norwegian newspaper].
In a commentary in today's edition of Dagsavisen Jagland writes about what he refers to as a "failed liberalism" in the Norwegian media.
"Fritt Ord's decision has been supported by a unified Norwegian media. It is disturbing that no one has contested the decision and adopted a different position," writes Jagland.
"I fear that within a few years, as a result of misguided liberalism, Anders Behring Breivik could be given free access to all the various news channels," Jagland continues.
Jagland goes on to say that he started to become seriously interested in Fjordman after hearing about the grant.
"I have to admit that I'm appalled by his writings. I think it is important that we lay down some foundations in order to prevent us from losing our shared morals," he says.
The Secretary General of the Norwegian Press Association, Per Edgar Kokkvold, reacts to Jagland's criticism.
"Which newspapers has he actually read? The first thing that strikes me is that we cannot possibly have read the same ones. I haven't read a single newspaper that hasn't critically examined the ethical aspects of the grant, whether it has been in the form of an editorial, comments, letters to the editor or articles. There have been several critical voices," says Kokkvold.