Reykjavík Grapevine - 10.11.2017, Síða 51

ADVENTURE
AT SEA
REYKJAVÍK CLASSIC
WHALE WATCHING
REYKJAVÍK EXPRESS
WHALE WATCHING
REYKJAVÍK
NORTHERN LIGHTS CRUISE
WITH THE PROS
FROM REYKJAVÍK & AKUREYRI
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Tel: +(354) 519 5000
EL-01
EL-06
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Express tours
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Elding Whale Watching Reykjavík . Ægisgardur 5 . Reykjavik's Old Harbour
Tel: +(354) 519 5000 . elding.is . elding@elding.is
Adults 10.990 ISK
7-15 years 5.495 ISK
0-6 years free
Adults (10 years+)
19.990 ISK
Min. height 140cm
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7-15 years 5.495 ISK
0-6 years free
Hað Bláa
The Blue Sea
restaurant with a view
483-1000 • hafidblaa.is
5 minutes from Eyrarbakki
at the Ölfusá bridge
483-3330 • raudahusid.is
10 minutes from Selfoss
and Highway 1 in Eyrarbakki
open daily 11:30-22:00
Traveling the south coast or Golden Circle?
Reykjavík
Eyrarbakki
Keavík
International
Airport
Vík
51The Reykjavík Grapevine
Issue 18 — 2017
cal fold with the Centre Party, who
received 10% of the vote share on
October 28.
Progress
In Iceland and more broadly in
the West, it seems that the linear,
post-war narrative of progress is
dissolving and for the first time
in generations, younger people are
worse off than their parents. To
set Iceland on a path away from
chaos and towards progress once
more, Valur suggests that politi-
cally, “the way forward would be
for parties to form electoral al-
liances so you know which gov-
ernment you’ll be voting for, not
just which party.” In that case,
Halldór’s concern that “there’s no
trust in the parliament and thus,
no trust in the society” could be
redressed by outlining campaign
compromises before elections.
Phi losophical ly, Valur and
Halldór have different speculative
proposals. Since religion has only
maintained and even intensified
its value outside of the West, the
latter thinks a resurgence in Ice-
land is a slight possibility, and that
it could fill the current moral void.
Valur, on the other hand, would
like us all to go back to basics.
He argues, “All of the things we
thought were boring and took for
granted in the nineties like human
rights and science and democracy
should be defended. It’s scary we
even have to say that, but they’re
worth defending.”
In a post-truth political land-
scape, there is surely no better an-
tidote than to agree on undeniable
facts and work from there. Per-
haps the only way to re-establish
progress is by taking lessons from
the past, and to appreciate the
metaphorical value of the Sputnik-
celebrating priest. With a common
myth and a shared appreciation of
the fundamentals, after all, comes
harmony. On reflection, maybe
our encounter with him wasn’t so
confusing after all.
Novels by Valur Gunnarsson and
Halldór Armand Ásgeirsson are
available now from Amazon and
most Icelandic book stores.
Shocking event that inspired Halldór Armand's novel, Aftur & Aftur.
“All of the things we took for granted
in the nineties like human rights, science and
democracy should be defended.”