Chapter 42 another kind of rich and poor

Everyone in the world knows Switzerland, but if you ask where the capital of Switzerland is, most people can't answer. There are many reasons, one of which is that Bern, the capital, does not have an airport. In modern society, not having an airport is equivalent to blocking the easy access of many politicians and media, and denying a large number of events to be held here. Therefore, the people of all countries have little chance to hear about it.People know more about Geneva and Zurich. It is unknown how many passengers fly to these two cities every day. After getting off the plane, they immediately transfer to a car and travel long distances to find the capital.

It was tiresome to even think about it. Switzerland is one of the richest countries in the world and an international financial center. It is absurd that the capital does not have an airport.When asked the reason, the Swiss friends shrugged shruggingly and said that it was the result of the referendum in Berne, and they were afraid that the noise of the plane landing would be too loud. What's even more strange, this Swiss friend said: The European headquarters of the United Nations is in Geneva, which is in Switzerland, but Switzerland just does not participate in the United Nations, which is also the result of a referendum.

It’s fine if you don’t want to pay the membership dues of the United Nations. I heard some Chinese scholars here say that the most unreasonable thing is that some large-scale transportation projects that have been fully demonstrated have been completed for many years, and a large amount of funds have been spent. However, they were denied. Most of the voters were farmers who did not go out. The reasons for the denial were trivial and specific, but only such reasons could influence them. I think it seems democratic to hold referendums with such things, but it goes against the rational principles that underpin the spirit of democracy.On a night of votes full of personal voices, Switzerland exposed its own spiritual and cultural poverty when clearly selfish considerations overwhelmed decisions based on overall dignity.

It is indeed very rich, and it has been rich for nearly a hundred years, mainly out of a survival strategy.As a result, there is a serious contrast between its cultural heritage and economic status.In the ecological shell of a modern city, it still has the original democratic sentiment of the village community, and the result can only continue to make people dumbfounded. It reminds me of some farmers and entrepreneurs who have become rich quickly, who have sufficient survival resources but lack sufficient cultural morality.Later, I gradually heard that although Switzerland was neutral in World War II, it had hidden economic contacts with Nazi Germany, and in recent years, it has ranked at the bottom of the ratio of foreign aid from developed countries to poor and disaster-stricken countries. I am not surprised up.It lacks another, more important kind of affluence, so although it frequently benefits, it frequently shows cowardice.

I don’t know if it has realized itself, and I wrote a special paragraph last night to send it off: Impressive wealth cultivates your conceit, a century of success encourages your conservatism, long-term tranquility increases your triviality, too much Your welfare swallows your pursuit, lacks cultural accumulation and spiritual axis, and there are too many hidden worries buried in your beauty. But this passage was only sent to Phoenix Satellite TV in Hong Kong, and the Chinese audience listened to it.Then, you in this paragraph should be changed to it.It's just such a change, and it becomes a disgraceful gossip behind others' backs.

Every country has its own destiny.Compared with Switzerland, many countries have suffered bad luck in the past hundred years. For example, they have been tormented by war, or ruled by demons, or controlled by poverty, but disasters will also breed another kind of fruit, not to mention some countries have brilliant spiritual culture heritage.Switzerland often proves from the negative side that those countries have deep roots after all, just like a nouveau riche often reflects that others are not shabby in certain life details. After the end of the Second World War, the meaning of neutrality no longer existed. Fortunately, the Cold War made it barely extended; now that the Cold War is over, neutrality has completely lost its status.So Switzerland, what will happen to you in the days to come?

I just want to remind that there are many things in the world that cannot be neutral.After shaking off all kinds of historical confrontations, human beings will inevitably face the most essential contradictions again, that is, the contradictions between civilization and barbarism, kindness and evil, peace and terror, normality and extremes. Before these contradictions, what is most needed is precisely what you compare The lack of cultural morality.Survival strategies are not allowed here, secret joints are not allowed here, and neutral space does not exist here.