Apparently, the Swiss don’t like their national anthem anymore. Pointing to the verse “Betet, freie Schweizer, betet!”, they dub it “too religious, over-ornate and antiquated”. They say it is “stylistically unwieldy” and they emphasize the argument by quoting words such as “Alpenfirn”, “Strahlenmeer”, “Sternenheer”, “Nebelflor” and “Abendglühn”. They conclude that the so called “Schweizerpsalm” does not represent contemporary Switzerland in its political and cultural diversity.
Well, what about this wonderful political and cultural diversity?
I live far away from my fatherland. I am a so called “Auslandschweizer” – a Swiss citizen in the “Swiss diaspora” or in “fifth Switzerland”, a term that alludes to the fourfold linguistic division within the homeland. And as an Auslandschweizer I regularly get the ballot sheets allowing me to take part in the national votes and petitions for a referendum. It’s a good and reassuring feeling to be able to have a say in Swiss politics, even from abroad, thanks to grass-roots democracy. To be honest, though, when I open the envelopes, I am mostly shocked to see what my fellow countrymen are actually invited to vote for or against. Often, the petitions are nationalistic and frighteningly xenophobic and supporting the “Alleingang”, a sort of solo effort within the European cultural, political and economic geography. However, once in a while, there is a petition which could put Switzerland on the global map as a democratic trailblazer. Take, for instance, the “1:12-Initiative”: It was somewhat radical, certainly, but by voting for it, the Swiss could have set an example and shown other nations the way towards a fairer social system enabling the often referred to political, economic and cultural diversity. It was, of course, shot down by a striking majority. Instead, four years back, the Swiss had voted against the building of minarets, and they keep lamenting that there are too many foreigners in the country.
“Betet, freie Schweizer, betet!”, I say. You are indeed free, your economy thrives, your land is attractive and bountiful, your currency is strong, and you have very low unemployment figures. And what, I ask, is so bad about “Alpenfirn” or “Strahlenmeer” for God’s sake? In fact, are these compounds – and all the others quoted above – not just wonderful? Try them in English or in any other language for that matter, you’ll find it impossible. Be thankful and proud and get real. And do not pretend to be diverse and open-minded by denouncing the national anthem as dated and untrue, when, in fact, it merely mirrors the love and belief in a country and its people and in God, yes, by praising nature’s sublime beauty in charmingly timeless words.