Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

To: MegaSilver
That's a gross oversimplification and idealization of what really goes on in Switzerland.

First of all, the Swiss pride themselves on having invented "multiculturalism" (presuming you can tell the difference between the three major language groups).

Secondly, there are millions of Americans who are eligible to be Swiss citizens simply because an ancestor was Swiss. Just show up at the correct Canton at the right time (usually on or near your 18th birthday) and make your declaration.

We could overrun the place if we wished ~ and that's just me and my cousins, and not a one of them speaks French!

2 posted on 09/28/2004 7:14:36 PM PDT by muawiyah
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies ]


To: muawiyah
First of all, the Swiss pride themselves on having invented "multiculturalism" (presuming you can tell the difference between the three major language groups).

The Swiss are still rather local in their loyalties, however. Their "multiculturalism" is definitely NOT the salad bowl approach we see now in the United States, but more like a main course with several items: the French mingle mainly with the French, the Germans with the Germans, the Italians with the Italians, the Romansch with the Romansch.

It should also be pointed out that the four afforementioned cultures are fairly microdiacritic. Asian, Muslim, African, etc. immigrants are definitely macrodiactitic to the native Swiss population.

3 posted on 09/28/2004 7:25:05 PM PDT by MegaSilver
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson