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ButWhy
Riot In Switzerland?
W
HY,
of aJI places on
earth, should people riot
i n Swi tzerland? In
Northern lreland, we have cometo
expect mobs to take to the streets
in frustration over a hunger strik–
er's death.
The unprecedented violence in
Britain last summer was blamed on
the economic woes and resultant
unemployment in that country. In
Iran, the faithful riot in religious
fervor. In poverty-stricken societies
of Asia and Africa, food shortages
cause riots. In South America it's
politics. But why riot in Switzer–
land?
If
any place on earth could be
said to "have it made," it's this
landlocked little country in central
Europe. Switzerland is one of the
fre.est democracies on earth. The
inftation rate is less than 3 percent
and unemployment is almost non–
existent. The Swiss standard of liv–
ing is one of the highest. Food
shortages are unheard of, and there
is complete freedom of religion.
The política! and social conditions
that send the citizens of other
countries on the rampage just do
not exist in Switzerland.
Ye t lt Has Happened!
And yet, severa! times in the last
few months, angry groups of youth–
ful demonstrators calling them–
selves the "forum of the discon–
tented" have shattered the calm of
Zurich's elegant banking and shop–
ping districts. With stones and iron
bars, they broke the windows of
exclusive shops and bou tiques.
Banks and public bui ldings were
sprayed with graffiti from aerosol
paint caos.
Street battles ensued as the
police battled the mobs with tear
gas and rubber bullets.
30
Older Swiss people looked on in
shock and d isbelief. This was the
kind of thing that happened abroad,
in "less civilized" places. But not in
Switzerland!
Switzerland has been an island of
peace and sanity on a continent that
has twice in living memory torn
itself apart in bloody wars. Since
World War II, it has skillfully
managed to have the best of both
worlds-the high standard of living
of an industrial society, wh ile
avoiding sorne of the worst prob–
lems that usually come with it, like
slums and pollution. Swiss banks
remain the standard by which all
others are measured, and the Swiss
franc is good as gold . The popular
image of the country is one of
majestic mountain scenery, pictur–
esque valleys, quiet towns, clean lit–
tle villages and happy, healthy
people.
Compared to most places on
earth, it is hard to find anything
wrong with Switzerland.
The Swiss have, in a sense,
achieved the goals that most people
sti ll have to pursue. The world's
average
man-a semi literate peas–
ant with too many children, and not
quite enough of anything else–
would cheerfully settle for the
Swiss standard of living. That is
what makes the Swiss demonstra–
tions so puzzl ing- yet also so sig–
nificant.
When a well-fed, well-educated,
potentially wealthy young Swiss
breaks a jewelry shop window and
scatters the contents (without both–
ering to loot), what is he trying to
say?
When a young Swiss mother,
with a chubby healthy baby, drags
an expensive fu r coat in the dust of
a Zurich street, what is she asking
for?
In a world where one bill ion des–
titule people struggle daily to stay
alive, why are tbose who can take
their daily bread for granted so
unhappy?
We need to take a closer look at
the Swiss demonstration. And the
participants need to take a close
look at themselves. Why are they
so discontented?
Frustrated w i th Frustration
They seem to be frustrated rebels
looking for a cause. The riots lack
any cohesive plan. There are no
definitive leaders-<>ne of the slo–
gans is "power to nobody."
The demands are vague and
uncoordinated; they have difficulty
focusing on specific things that are
wrong. Sorne young people do point
out the hypocrisy of a neutral nation
tbat keeps itself in a state of constan t
readiness for war. Switzerland has
been neutral since the 16th century.
Swiss citizens are forbidden to parti–
cipate in war- anywhere. The
nation carefully avoids any alliances
or associations that might lead it into
armed conftict. Although the Swiss
play host to many of the organiza–
tions within the United Nations,
they did not join themselves.
But do not confuse neutral-ity
with pacifism. All able-bodied citi–
zens are considered part of the mi–
litia unti l the age of 50.
The rifle and a neatly pressed
uniforrn stay in constant readiness
in rnany Swiss bornes. "The Swiss
do not have an army; they are an
arrny," explained one president.
While not engaging in war, the
Swiss have li ttle tolerance of the
conscientious objectors in their
midst. Few nations on earth are so
war conscious. The st r ateg ic
passes, t unnels and bridges stay
perrnanent ly mined , ready to
block the progress of an invader.
There is alrnost an obsession with
fallout shelters-already facilities
exist to accornrnodate 50 percent
of the population, a nd all new
bornes and apartrnents rnust by
law rnake provision for adequate
shelter. By the year 2000 Switzer–
land plans to be able to protect its
entire population from the effects
of nuclear war.
(Continued on page 39)
The
PLAIN TRUTH