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What a strange article. Is there a translation or cultural context? The part about the Japanese "los[ing] face" or the reference to Russian civic culture are tw

What a strange article. Is there a translation or cultural context? The part about the Japanese "los[ing] face" or the reference to Russian civic culture are two of many puzzling bits.

ngoldbaum 11y ago
Swiss culture is still very insular. As an example of language and imagery that would be seen as quite racist in the US or the rest of Europe, take a look at this poster from the SVP/UDC party, currently the strongest party in the Swiss federal parliament: http://www.20min.ch/schweiz/news/story/22226627 http://www.20min.ch/schweiz/news/story/22226627 The slogan means "no special rights for foreigners", in protest of a practice that allows foreign residents in switzerland to sign petitions to open up a non-binding resolution in local city councils. I don't think I've seen such baldly racist imagery from a US political party in my lifetime - it looks like WW2 propoganda.
- noipv4 11y ago
  There's a whole group of expats called Grumpy Expats on FB discussing such issues. https://www.facebook.com/groups/784454428295368/?fref=nf https://www.facebook.com/groups/784454428295368/?fref=nf
- enjoy-your-stay 11y ago
  Well, when over 20% of residents in Switzerland at any time are foreign born, you can kind of understand why some of them might feel that somebody needs to fight for their corner.
  - ngoldbaum 11y ago
    I tried to be careful to only condemn the racist imagery. I don't know enough about Swiss politics to comment on this particular debate.
- whyenot 11y ago
  That seems a little unfair. The SVP are indeed the "strongest party" in the swiss government, but they still only hold 54 out of 200 seats in the National Council. Parties in many other European democracies have expressed equally repellent views in recent years -- the rise of racist anti-immigrant parties is not a problem unique to the swiss by any means. As an American (who has also spent a lot of time in Switzerland) I agree that it's shocking. But, I think it's also a little understandable. There is a strong desire to preserve swiss culture. Switzerland is a country with a history and culture stretching back into antiquity. In the US, we are a country of immigrants.

What a strange article. Is there a translation or cultural context? The part about the Japanese "los[ing] face" or the reference to Russian civic culture are two of many puzzling bits.

ngoldbaum 11y ago

Swiss culture is still very insular. As an example of language and imagery that would be seen as quite racist in the US or the rest of Europe, take a look at this poster from the SVP/UDC party, currently the strongest party in the Swiss federal parliament: http://www.20min.ch/schweiz/news/story/22226627 http://www.20min.ch/schweiz/news/story/22226627 The slogan means "no special rights for foreigners", in protest of a practice that allows foreign residents in switzerland to sign petitions to open up a non-binding resolution in local city councils. I don't think I've seen such baldly racist imagery from a US political party in my lifetime - it looks like WW2 propoganda.

noipv4 11y ago
There's a whole group of expats called Grumpy Expats on FB discussing such issues. https://www.facebook.com/groups/784454428295368/?fref=nf https://www.facebook.com/groups/784454428295368/?fref=nf
enjoy-your-stay 11y ago
Well, when over 20% of residents in Switzerland at any time are foreign born, you can kind of understand why some of them might feel that somebody needs to fight for their corner.
- ngoldbaum 11y ago
  I tried to be careful to only condemn the racist imagery. I don't know enough about Swiss politics to comment on this particular debate.
whyenot 11y ago
That seems a little unfair. The SVP are indeed the "strongest party" in the swiss government, but they still only hold 54 out of 200 seats in the National Council. Parties in many other European democracies have expressed equally repellent views in recent years -- the rise of racist anti-immigrant parties is not a problem unique to the swiss by any means. As an American (who has also spent a lot of time in Switzerland) I agree that it's shocking. But, I think it's also a little understandable. There is a strong desire to preserve swiss culture. Switzerland is a country with a history and culture stretching back into antiquity. In the US, we are a country of immigrants.