No Handshake? No Swiss Citizenship!

[ChillDoubt]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-45232147

How drastically draconian of the liberal-minded Swiss!

Good to see they’re not bending to the right-on fascists, eh?

[Rockrose]

NJ the relevance to my reply is to chilldoubts comment copied below
//If a Jew was that ultra I’d hazard a guess he’d settle in Israel, not a tolerant, liberal-minded country like Switzerland. //

Had you read through before commenting you would have seen it.

[Mamyalynne]

It's becoming obvious that for the moment at least 'Handshake' is the watchword giving 'Burka' a few days rest.

Within the article ( and that's only what has been made public) there was more to this than not shaking hands.

[ummmm]

NJ - It's not your world!

[New Judge]

OK, since we're now into semantics, the bit of the world that I inhabit.

[douglas9401]

""The constitution and equality between men and women prevails over bigotry," said Pierre-Antoine Hilbrand, who was part of the commission that interviewed the couple"

Fresh alpine air blowing through.

Doubtless they'll appear in a less demanding society and carry on with their ways, fully supported by people who should know better.

[bednobs]

i dont understand who are the fascists here?

[New Judge]

"Within the article ( and that's only what has been made public) there was more to this than not shaking hands."

Yes that seems evident. But the refusal to shake hands would, in my view, be sufficient to deny the applicants their request.

What I find very odd about this (and similar episodes) is that nobody seems willing to explain to these people that refusing to shake a proffered hand is quite an insulting and offensive thing to do. It's all about THEIR sensitivities, THEIR religious proclivities, THEIR feelings. No thought is given to the person who offers his or her hand and is snubbed.

To get down to basics,shaking somebody's hand is not going to kill them. If they worry that much about uncleanliness they can swiftly disappear to the nearest ladies/gents/gender neutral washroom and have a brisk rub down with a wire brush and some Jeyes Fluid. I'm sure nobody would mind (though they may smell a bit odd on the tube home). They are in a country where refusing to shake hands is insulting and offensive. They clearly don't mind offending people with whom they have dealings so long as their requirements are met.

When I travel to a foreign country I try to comply with the customs and habits that prevail there. Many of them seem daft or without foundation, but I comply because they are my hosts' rules. I don't set out to insult them by doing something that is clearly offensive to them. Why should anybody coming to Europe be allowed or even encouraged to behave in an offensive manner just because "it's their religion" (which it often isn't)?

[Prudie]

I have never thought of Swtizerland as liberal, it's fiercely independent and managed to stay out of 2 world wars, the EU and eurozone. Can't knock them for sticking to their own principles, if you don't want to comply then don't go there.

[Togo]

The Swiss know how to clock a cuckoo in the nest. :))

[bednobs]

"What I find very odd about this (and similar episodes) is that nobody seems willing to explain to these people that refusing to shake a proffered hand is quite an insulting and offensive thing to do. It's all about THEIR sensitivities, THEIR religious proclivities, THEIR feelings. No thought is given to the person who offers his or her hand and is snubbed. "
errrr havent the swiss done just that?

[Mamyalynne]

It would indeed be pleasant if everyone openly accepted the culture of where they had decided to settle however as evidenced on the previous thread about the lady in Sweden there are a few here who aren't over keen on physical contact with strangers.

Barriers may be nibbled away at over the years but as I said to get hung up on the handshake is shortsighted, whatever else went on in this case the Swiss has the call to who gets citizenship or not.

[Peter Pedant]

we dont deny citizenship to jews who would rather not
do we ?

[bednobs]

lol i never shake hands, perhaps i should be shipped to saudi or somewhere?

[woofgang]

the swiss aren't that liberal minded, ask people who live there....the ethos is conform or get out and neighbours will check up and report on neighbours

[woofgang]

I never shake hands with strangers either bedknobs, or social kiss.

[dannyk13]

I don't think that many women greet men with a handshake and vice versa.

[bednobs]

i never shake hands with anyone, even people i know. I have RA and have the typical deformities that 25years of not taking medication properly gives you, If people hold out their hand to me i just hold my hand up and say "sorry it hurts to shake hands"

[jourdain2]

Yes, OK, woof - but you wouldn't even dream of moving to France, for example, where social kissing is expected and to draw back is an insult. You have more sense and know it would be a big problem for you. I was called a 'bigot' on the other thread for saying that you should abide by the customs of the country you move to.

[bednobs]

if i was investigating moving to france, whether i wanted to kiss people would be on the bottom of my list of things to concern me

[woofgang]

I agree with bedknobs. In the circles I moved in with my late husband's job, social kissing was expected. I didn't like it and never did it.