The author, a Lianhe Zaobao correspondent, visited various parts of the Alpine country on the Singapore-Switzerland Youth Exchange Programme last month.
Apart from the extending mountain ranges and the breathtaking beauty of nature, what does Swiss Confederation possess that commands admiration？ To the author, the country owes its distinctive charm chiefly to — its people.
I HAD many first-time experiences while touring Switzerland.
For the first time in my life, I lifted a machine-gun weighing 16 kg, and for the first time I watched military exercises within a distance of 400 metres.
I had my first in-depth discussions on politics, people's livelihood, and environment issues with foreigners, not counting interviews I had conducted as a reporter.
I paid my first visit to the parliament premises of a foreign country. I took my first free walk on the parking apron of an airport rather than boarding for a flight.
These fresh experiences speak volumes about the openness, democracy, and warm hospitality of the Swiss people.
I felt relaxed on the scene of the army exercises, happily oblivious to the heavily guarded military facilities around. Along with us, there were some elderly veterans invited by the commander to the event.
The visitors were given a briefing by an officer in a construction that looked like a barn. Later we learnt that it was a civilian house, which would become a centre of military communications and command whenever there was an army unit under training there.
It is scarcely imaginable in Singapore that people could be so generous as to lend the army their houses, or that the military would have to use civilian properties. Herein one can find differences in culture and ideas.
Yet something dawned on me when I witnessed the Swiss servicemen mingling so amiably with the civilians and answering our questions so sincerely－that secrecy may backfire, gradually undermining the mutual faith and trust among people.
Please don't overlook such openness as nothing remarkable or a mere public relations exercise by the West. For a small country, frank and honest interactions between the authorities and the public would turn whatever discord between them, if any, into harmony conducive to progress.
SwissAir allowed foreign visitors, myself included, to enter the airfield without undergoing body frisking. This is because people who are trusted and respected will treat others in the same way.
Another thing that impressed me is that all the Swiss friends I met on the tour take pride in their motherland. Talking of their government's policies, even those they are not very happy about, they would not show any helplessness which Singaporeans sometimes would betray about certain systems of their island-state.
Meanwhile, probably because they have faith in their country and government and understand their responsibilities as citizens, the Swiss people would not laud other countries' achievements at the expense of their own despite their sincere admiration. Instead, they try to understand how others have succeeded.
By contrast, we can find some Singaporeans who praise other countries to the skies while condemning their own as worthless, without much understanding of the differences involved.
Or, at the opposite extreme, there are those who believe Singapore is the best country on earth, eulogising it as “second to none, under the sun”。
To be fair, Singapore is on a par with Switzerland in such fields as economic growth, and even leads the latter in community amenities and other respects.
Yet society is made up of individuals. A good country can be crowned with charm and grace by a people who are cultured and refined.
“The Swiss people can better appreciate Nature and enjoy a leisurely life,” remarked a fellow visitor from Singapore, “probably because they live close to the Alps.”
We see many Singaporeans make a point of vacationing abroad every year for rest and relaxation. Yet, fearing to lose out to others, they would rush to cover as many scenic spots as possible within the shortest time and hurry around shopping for the best bargain.
What a sad existence for those obsessed by such an urge to push forward！
Here is food for thought for Singaporeans.
（Translated by Allen Zhuang）
瑞士精神
● 梁文寧
作者是本報執(zhí)行級記者,上個月以新加坡瑞士青年交流計劃訪問團成員的身分,到瑞士多個地方參觀、交流。
除了延綿不絕的高山以及清幽綺麗的風(fēng)光,瑞士究竟有什么特點值得我們向往？對筆者來說,瑞士的大特色在于——他們的人民。
在瑞士經(jīng)歷了許多的第。
第拿重達(dá)16公斤的機關(guān)槍,第跟外國人很深入地談?wù)巍⒚裆?、環(huán)保等課題（采訪工作不算）,第進入另一個國家的國會大廈、第在不超過400公尺的距離觀看軍事演習(xí)、第在機場飛機停泊處自由行走（從地面登機的經(jīng)驗不算）等等。
這種種的“第”,一再體現(xiàn)了瑞士人的開放和民主,以及好客的熱情態(tài)度。
到軍事演習(xí)現(xiàn)場,輕松自在,不會有戒備森嚴(yán)之感；當(dāng)天除了我們,還有一群受司令邀請的退役老軍人也到場參觀。
我們在一所看似棧房的屋子聆聽軍官講解匯報,過后才聽說那所房子其實是民房。每當(dāng)一營兵隊到那里訓(xùn)練,它就被充作聯(lián)絡(luò)和指揮基地。
很難想象新加坡有任何人會大方借出自己的房子,也不能想象我們的軍人會要用人民的房地產(chǎn)。這里頭牽涉到文化和觀念的問題。
然而,在親眼見到瑞士軍人和平民打成一片,親身體會軍官一一回答我們的問題的誠意之后,不禁有所感悟：有時越神秘,對彼此的信心和信任就會越來越少。
不要以為這樣的開放沒什么大不了,又或者覺得這是西方國家的玩意兒；對一個彈丸小國來說,政府／官方與人民之間,如果凡事皆能坦誠相對,再大的矛盾也可以化成進步的泉源。
瑞士航空公司可以在不搜身的情況下帶我們這些外國人進入機場重地,那是你信任我、尊重我,我也當(dāng)然會以相同的態(tài)度對你。
在行程中結(jié)識的瑞士朋友都對自己的國家感到自豪,談起瑞士政府推行的政策,即使他們也不一定贊同,可是你不會感覺到那種有時新加坡人提起我國一些制度時會流露的無奈。
或許正因為對國家、政府有信心,也很清楚自己作為一個公民的責(zé)任,瑞士人縱使欣賞他國的一些作法,也絕不會“長他人志氣,滅自己威風(fēng)”,而是很理性地嘗試了解他人是怎么辦得到的。
反觀不少新加坡人,總是很盲目地大贊別人的好,再把自己國家貶得一文不值,也沒去作進一步的分析,探討其中的差異。
令筆者有些啼笑皆非的是,一些國人卻是另一種極端,認(rèn)為新加坡是獨一無二,高高在上,高唱“世界只有你好”。
其實,我國在一些方面的成就確實已可跟瑞士平起平坐,比如經(jīng)濟表現(xiàn),或甚至超越它,比如社區(qū)設(shè)施的完善?？墒?社會是由人組成,人民的素質(zhì)、文化修養(yǎng)可以使一個國家變得更具魅力,更加優(yōu)雅。
同團一名在銀行工作的執(zhí)行員就曾對筆者說：“大概是因為接近高山,所以瑞士人比較懂得愛惜大自然,也比較有閑情逸致,享受生活?！?BR> 你看到很多新加坡人每年必會出國旅游,說是松懈身心,卻因“ 怕輸”而要求在短時間內(nèi)參觀多的景點,購買便宜的東西。那種無形又跟自己形影不離的壓迫感,可怕可怕。
與新加坡同胞共勉。
Apart from the extending mountain ranges and the breathtaking beauty of nature, what does Swiss Confederation possess that commands admiration？ To the author, the country owes its distinctive charm chiefly to — its people.
I HAD many first-time experiences while touring Switzerland.
For the first time in my life, I lifted a machine-gun weighing 16 kg, and for the first time I watched military exercises within a distance of 400 metres.
I had my first in-depth discussions on politics, people's livelihood, and environment issues with foreigners, not counting interviews I had conducted as a reporter.
I paid my first visit to the parliament premises of a foreign country. I took my first free walk on the parking apron of an airport rather than boarding for a flight.
These fresh experiences speak volumes about the openness, democracy, and warm hospitality of the Swiss people.
I felt relaxed on the scene of the army exercises, happily oblivious to the heavily guarded military facilities around. Along with us, there were some elderly veterans invited by the commander to the event.
The visitors were given a briefing by an officer in a construction that looked like a barn. Later we learnt that it was a civilian house, which would become a centre of military communications and command whenever there was an army unit under training there.
It is scarcely imaginable in Singapore that people could be so generous as to lend the army their houses, or that the military would have to use civilian properties. Herein one can find differences in culture and ideas.
Yet something dawned on me when I witnessed the Swiss servicemen mingling so amiably with the civilians and answering our questions so sincerely－that secrecy may backfire, gradually undermining the mutual faith and trust among people.
Please don't overlook such openness as nothing remarkable or a mere public relations exercise by the West. For a small country, frank and honest interactions between the authorities and the public would turn whatever discord between them, if any, into harmony conducive to progress.
SwissAir allowed foreign visitors, myself included, to enter the airfield without undergoing body frisking. This is because people who are trusted and respected will treat others in the same way.
Another thing that impressed me is that all the Swiss friends I met on the tour take pride in their motherland. Talking of their government's policies, even those they are not very happy about, they would not show any helplessness which Singaporeans sometimes would betray about certain systems of their island-state.
Meanwhile, probably because they have faith in their country and government and understand their responsibilities as citizens, the Swiss people would not laud other countries' achievements at the expense of their own despite their sincere admiration. Instead, they try to understand how others have succeeded.
By contrast, we can find some Singaporeans who praise other countries to the skies while condemning their own as worthless, without much understanding of the differences involved.
Or, at the opposite extreme, there are those who believe Singapore is the best country on earth, eulogising it as “second to none, under the sun”。
To be fair, Singapore is on a par with Switzerland in such fields as economic growth, and even leads the latter in community amenities and other respects.
Yet society is made up of individuals. A good country can be crowned with charm and grace by a people who are cultured and refined.
“The Swiss people can better appreciate Nature and enjoy a leisurely life,” remarked a fellow visitor from Singapore, “probably because they live close to the Alps.”
We see many Singaporeans make a point of vacationing abroad every year for rest and relaxation. Yet, fearing to lose out to others, they would rush to cover as many scenic spots as possible within the shortest time and hurry around shopping for the best bargain.
What a sad existence for those obsessed by such an urge to push forward！
Here is food for thought for Singaporeans.
（Translated by Allen Zhuang）
瑞士精神
● 梁文寧
作者是本報執(zhí)行級記者,上個月以新加坡瑞士青年交流計劃訪問團成員的身分,到瑞士多個地方參觀、交流。
除了延綿不絕的高山以及清幽綺麗的風(fēng)光,瑞士究竟有什么特點值得我們向往？對筆者來說,瑞士的大特色在于——他們的人民。
在瑞士經(jīng)歷了許多的第。
第拿重達(dá)16公斤的機關(guān)槍,第跟外國人很深入地談?wù)巍⒚裆?、環(huán)保等課題（采訪工作不算）,第進入另一個國家的國會大廈、第在不超過400公尺的距離觀看軍事演習(xí)、第在機場飛機停泊處自由行走（從地面登機的經(jīng)驗不算）等等。
這種種的“第”,一再體現(xiàn)了瑞士人的開放和民主,以及好客的熱情態(tài)度。
到軍事演習(xí)現(xiàn)場,輕松自在,不會有戒備森嚴(yán)之感；當(dāng)天除了我們,還有一群受司令邀請的退役老軍人也到場參觀。
我們在一所看似棧房的屋子聆聽軍官講解匯報,過后才聽說那所房子其實是民房。每當(dāng)一營兵隊到那里訓(xùn)練,它就被充作聯(lián)絡(luò)和指揮基地。
很難想象新加坡有任何人會大方借出自己的房子,也不能想象我們的軍人會要用人民的房地產(chǎn)。這里頭牽涉到文化和觀念的問題。
然而,在親眼見到瑞士軍人和平民打成一片,親身體會軍官一一回答我們的問題的誠意之后,不禁有所感悟：有時越神秘,對彼此的信心和信任就會越來越少。
不要以為這樣的開放沒什么大不了,又或者覺得這是西方國家的玩意兒；對一個彈丸小國來說,政府／官方與人民之間,如果凡事皆能坦誠相對,再大的矛盾也可以化成進步的泉源。
瑞士航空公司可以在不搜身的情況下帶我們這些外國人進入機場重地,那是你信任我、尊重我,我也當(dāng)然會以相同的態(tài)度對你。
在行程中結(jié)識的瑞士朋友都對自己的國家感到自豪,談起瑞士政府推行的政策,即使他們也不一定贊同,可是你不會感覺到那種有時新加坡人提起我國一些制度時會流露的無奈。
或許正因為對國家、政府有信心,也很清楚自己作為一個公民的責(zé)任,瑞士人縱使欣賞他國的一些作法,也絕不會“長他人志氣,滅自己威風(fēng)”,而是很理性地嘗試了解他人是怎么辦得到的。
反觀不少新加坡人,總是很盲目地大贊別人的好,再把自己國家貶得一文不值,也沒去作進一步的分析,探討其中的差異。
令筆者有些啼笑皆非的是,一些國人卻是另一種極端,認(rèn)為新加坡是獨一無二,高高在上,高唱“世界只有你好”。
其實,我國在一些方面的成就確實已可跟瑞士平起平坐,比如經(jīng)濟表現(xiàn),或甚至超越它,比如社區(qū)設(shè)施的完善?？墒?社會是由人組成,人民的素質(zhì)、文化修養(yǎng)可以使一個國家變得更具魅力,更加優(yōu)雅。
同團一名在銀行工作的執(zhí)行員就曾對筆者說：“大概是因為接近高山,所以瑞士人比較懂得愛惜大自然,也比較有閑情逸致,享受生活?！?BR> 你看到很多新加坡人每年必會出國旅游,說是松懈身心,卻因“ 怕輸”而要求在短時間內(nèi)參觀多的景點,購買便宜的東西。那種無形又跟自己形影不離的壓迫感,可怕可怕。
與新加坡同胞共勉。