What happened to the US lawsuit against the Swiss government about keeping Hilter’s gold?

First of all, look at those stupid sheep in that picture. Talk about not making eye contact! Real sheep, while not actually stupid, are a fitting symbol for this image. They stick to their own herd and dislike strangers. I had to tend my father-in-law’s sheep once when he went on vacation, and I had to go by there for a few weeks beforehand to get them used to my voice.

Now, about this train episode. Why were you looking to others to help you? Public transportation is about the last place to look for someone to jump up and get involved in unpleasantness. (I couldn’t even get a seat on the bus when I was pregnant.) But there are a million things you could have said to that jerk! How about: “Damn! It’s a good thing you’re not driving!” Or “Well, I’ve never been to South Africa and I couldn’t care less.” Or, “Dude, mellow out.” Or any number of other things.
I don’t understand why you were hurt by others not knowing how to act when you didn’t know how to act yourself. Relocating was a good idea–no need to give such people any energy–but I wonder what impression the other passengers had, compared to the impression they might have had if you had made a response.

The Swiss people’s “reserve” has to do with space. People are the way they are because that’s how they get along together within their limited space. They’re independent and neutral, and don’t get involved in others’ stuff. The landscape and climate also play a big part. I come from Florida, where there is a flat horizon and 300 clear and sunny days a year. In Switzerland, the fog rises up and the clouds press down, and you huddle inside your coat. It’s a case of body language influencing personality, rather than vice versa.

You wrote: “I just don’t know if having a nappy-headed Auslaender walk around with it would have a positive effect.” But you DO know that NOT walking around with it won’t have ANY effect, right?

Here’s an interesting link about voter turnout in Switzerland: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voter_turnout#Salience

I don’t agree that the Swiss aren’t used to diversity. Twenty percent of the people living here are foreign, and I think in Zurich it’s 26%. In our little Dorfli, I think it’s about 10 to 15% and 10% of my daughter’s kindergarten class speaks a non-European language at home. When my daughter saw the above poster, I explained to her that her mama is a black sheep. She wanted to know if she’s a black sheep in the States, since she needs two fingerprints, a retina scan, and a note from her kindergarten teacher in order to visit her grandma there. I said it’s too bad sheep don’t have more colors. She reminded me that sheep wool can be dyed lots of colors.

I can’t vote, but I do have a Swiss child. I think that gives me much greater power.

From Rashunda: My response is here.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20919945/site/newsweek/

There has been a lot in the news lately about Swiss Xenophobia and racism due to the largest party, a nationalist party, making provocative statements about immigrant populations. Unlike a lot of opinages, I have actually been to Switzerland (St. Gal…

I hear ya. I remember those days when the men used to that (in the 1980’s). As I continued my visits there over the years, I started noticing a difference in the late 1990’s. More hostility/indifference, even from some of my husband’s relatives.

I just don’t think they are used to diversity of any kind. Especially if that diversity comes in larger numbers.

I also noticed that the blacks that are there actively seek out eye contact from you like they are hungry for connection with other people of color. I did not see that in the early 90’s or 80’s.