Here’s a link to a really heartwarming video. View the video FIRST, before reading my comments below. Oh yeah, and it is much better with sound, so turn on your speakers. 🙂

If you liked this video and wish to watch it again, please download it instead of clicking “play” again (help me keep my costs down). First, click on the “FLV Player” link under “Tools” in the right-side bar. Next, hit “save as” and install it on your computer. Then click the download link below.

Downloadable copy (please hit “save as” instead of “open with”)

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I recently received an email with a link to this video clip. This particular clip is of a commercial that airs on standard television channels in Norway. My initial reaction to the clip was one of two-fold awe. Firstly, the clip depicts a beautiful scene of one boy admiring another and having the courage to approach him, even in a world that doesn’t tolerate homosexuality. Secondly, I have respect for the country of Norway for allowing it to receive air-time. In more fascist conservative nations, the Pope-loving Catholics and other religious fundamentalists, political Neo-Nazis, overbearing moralists, and the simply asinine, narrow-minded jerks would have torn this commercial to pieces.

At the end of the clip, it says:

Du trenger ikke å være så tøff

Which roughly translates to “We don’t need to hurt one another” or “You don’t need to be so mean.” I think the video sends the perfect message; we can’t just ‘tolerate’ other people, but rather, we need to love them and their differences. I hope you’re as moved by this freedom of expression as I was (and still am). Stunningly beautiful.

|:| Zach |:|

P.S. Thanks to RIVA for creating the wonderful FLV Player. If you want to know more about the player or its creators, please visit www.rivavx.com