The Times today has a story that makes the U.S.'s divisive immigration debate look downright cordial. The Swiss People's Party, the most powerful party in Switzerland's Parliament, has been promoting itself with a poster in which three white sheep standing on the Swiss flag kick a black sheep away. The tagline: "To Create Security."
Surely, this was the glaringly racist and eerily Nazi-like work of a rogue ad exec? Nope. The Times reports that the SVP is all about this kind of propaganda:
In a short three-part campaign film, "Heaven or Hell," the party's message is clear. In the first segment, young men inject heroin, steal handbags from women, kick and beat up schoolboys, wield knives and carry off a young woman. The second segment shows Muslims living in Switzerland - women in head scarves; men sitting, not working.
The third segment shows "heavenly" Switzerland: men in suits rushing to work, logos of Switzerland's multinational corporations, harvesting on farms, experiments in laboratories, scenes of lakes, mountains, churches and goats.
The Times further reports, Three years ago the SVP blocked a move to liberalize the citizenship process, using the image of dark-skinned hands snatching at Swiss passports.
An awful lot of the Swiss appear to support the SVP in its campaign of hate.Is anyone else as terrified by this story as we are?
(Photo: Getty Images.)
Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 4)
1. I am terrified by this. It's time to realize that most of the drug users and other people are just as good as other people are. Actually, most of the drug dealers can put into that category as well, it is just the illegalization of what they sell that makes them seem 'bad' and 'violent' because they have to be to keep people from stealing their wares, because the police will not help them.
The people who I fear most in the world are people who say they are for 'moral' society: THEIR idea of a 'moral' society with everyone who doesn't want to fit into it cast to the wayside or killed.
We are doing it with pedosexuals now, we are going to start doing it with other people pretty soon as well.
Christopher Kidwell at 5:23PM on Oct 8th 2007
2. This is nothing new, but it is scary. Certain political parties will stop at nothing - any dirty trick in the book - to keep power. Whip up a frenzy of fear to appeal to the zealots. Yes, there must be law and order, but this sounds fanatical.
I always thought of Switzerland as being fairly open and tolerant. And isn't their crime rate rather low compared to other countries?
David S. at 6:15PM on Oct 8th 2007
3. Always remember...the Swiss have never been "neutral," they HELPED the Nazis steal millions from Jews. The Swiss are scum pretending to be cream, as are most Euro-Trash.
bstuartca at 6:24PM on Oct 8th 2007
4. I don't understand. If sub-Sahara African nations like Zimbabwe can kick out whites, and Jews in Israel can kick out Arabs, why can't Europeans kick out non-Europeans?
Brian Buckley at 6:51PM on Oct 8th 2007
5. Switzerland isn't the US. If they want to be bigoted dirtbags, they can, it's legal, and there's nothing we can do about it. I don't find it terrifying, just pathetic.
puck at 7:03PM on Oct 8th 2007
6. Who is doing the fighting here? Who is stopping free speech? It's not the patriotic SVP. It's the radical left. And you freaks are complaining about the right? Typical liberal mindset.
You freakin radical liberal globalized idiots. If it were up to you the entire world would be so homogenized and multiculturalized that there would not need to travel anywhere because everywhere would be the same and how utterly boring that would be.
Your limitless "compassion" for the worlds poor and disenfranchised, without thought or care of the consequences to the host nation will destroy that very nation.
A national identity is supposed to mean something. But you liberal whackos who's patriotism is all but lacking could care less about saving and nurturing a culture. It means nothing to you freaks.
It's not about color you idiots. It's about culture and the non assimilation of people that are coming not because they love you but because that want your money.
Shoving multiculturalism down the throats of millions that are not ready or willing to accept it as whole heartedly as you will spell disaster.
Who made you the boss and the great decider on what is right? I'll answer that, NOBODY!!!!!!!!
Your political correctness will destroy us all.
Tom at 7:47PM on Oct 8th 2007
7. Look, everyone is overlooking the real issues here.
Switzerland is now learning what other countries have already experienced. Opening up your borders to immigration in today's age leads to an INCREASE in crime, unemployment, terrorist attacks, drug-use, and other social problems.
Immigration does not mean what it used to, so save me the Ellis Island ideology, as even America is now tightening its controls over issuing Visas and is working towards closing its borders.
Immigration leads to an erosion of a country's national identity and culture (with the exception of America whose identity is comprised of immigrants.)
Just because a country is attempting to protect itself from the onslaught of criminal immigration, currently & particularly from Islamic fundamentalists, does not make it the equivalent of Nazi Germany. Americans are so quick to yell "Nazi" or "racist" or "hate".
Bravo to the Swiss for their efforts to protect themselves and... well.. remain Swiss!!
Swiss Mister at 8:10PM on Oct 8th 2007
8. Most of the comments are probably written by Americans, like myself. However, I try to maintain an open mind on worldy matters and cultures but totally free of 65 years of American culture and experiences. The fact that we look at ourselves as being the only correct culture in such matters is what perpetuates a lot of negativity towards other cultures and nations. Live and let live should be motto on world matters and not impose our american beliefs or our culture on others. We are not the rulers of the world. If you want to do something positive deal constructively with issues on the USA front.
DOGMAN at 8:13PM on Oct 8th 2007
9. "Yes, there must be law and order, but this sounds fanatical."
I have to take issue with this. Why must there be 'law and order'? Some of the best societies in the past did not have any idea of 'law and order' and they were not going around killing each other.
What we really need is a world where every respects everyone else, doesn't try to force other people into things that they do not want to do, and realizes that everyone on the planet is entitled to everything because the time on this planet is all you get, before a 180 degree turn back into a body on this planet.
Christopher Kidwell at 8:42PM on Oct 8th 2007
10. The Swiss have a lot to commend them. It's about time that we realized that we can learn from other countries about how to control our borders and keep our people safe.
Bill at 4:14PM on Oct 9th 2007
11. I suppose we would understand if we knew that muslim teenage boys find raping of white girls acceptable. They are infedels and sluts in some of their eyes and they don't respect the culture they have imploded.
clint at 9:08PM on Oct 8th 2007
12. I know you will think that is a racist statement and it is somewhat but look at the fact of how the muslim boys and immagrants treat the swiss children. I can find many cases in the touch of a button. Don't judge the Swiss because they are not being politicly correct. Picture your child being gang raped and why it happened and you may find the problem is pretty evident and p.c can go out the window.
http://sadlynormal.wordpress.com/2006/11/21/switzerland-youth-rape-case-causes-outcry/
clint at 9:15PM on Oct 8th 2007
13. Chris, you are joking aren't you? Anyone who sells substances to shildren is not a good person. Most people who sell drugs don't care who buys it. And most of the illegal substances are illegal because they are harmful. Have you ever seen the progression of a person hooked on hrd drug. They may start as an up standing person with a problem, but it almost always descends into living only to get the substance they are adddicted to.
fuzzyrabidpanda at 9:25PM on Oct 8th 2007
14. I agree with cliont, Swiss Mister and Tom. By the way, Christopher Kidwell...you preach anarchy and are duplicitous. You talk about respect...yet you talk about it in a one way manner. Those who want respect must first GIVE respect.
It is so true that immigration is not what it used to be.
Also..for Brian Buckley...Israel's population is 80% Jewish and 20% other...mostly Arab Israeli...Hebrew and Arabic are BOTH official languages...15% of the population are Muslim.
Bob at 9:27PM on Oct 8th 2007
15. Honestly, I could care less about this whole situation. I mean, are they really hurting us, and by us I mean the U.S. Sure, this may sound a little selfish and conceited but...Perhaps we should worry about our own country for awhile instead of prying into others business.
Corbin at 9:28PM on Oct 8th 2007