{"id":153,"date":"2009-01-28T18:09:22","date_gmt":"2009-01-28T22:09:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/swedish\/?p=153"},"modified":"2009-01-28T18:09:22","modified_gmt":"2009-01-28T22:09:22","slug":"yes-sweden-is-a-neutral-country","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/swedish\/yes-sweden-is-a-neutral-country\/","title":{"rendered":"Yes, Sweden Is a Neutral Country"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>I am very behind when it comes to entertainment news in the US, and only today finally managed to catch up on the whole Jessica Alba hullabaloo. And even then, it was only thanks to a very astute reader who sent me the story. Thanks! You know who you are.<\/p>\n

What surprised me was just how many Americans think that Switzerland is the only neutral country in Europe. But what didn\u2019t surprise me was how many of those Americans then went on to confuse Switzerland with Sweden.<\/p>\n

But to set the record straight \u2013 yes, Sweden is indeed a neutral country, regardless of what some under-educated American talk show host thinks. Ms. Alba was right, and good for her.<\/p>\n

But what desperately needs pointing out I think, are the differences between Switzerland and Sweden. Both countries are neutral, but that\u2019s about all they have in common.
\nSo, here we go:
\nSwitzerland \u2013 only recently (December 12, 2008) finally joined the Schengen zone, not an EU member
\nSweden \u2013 EU member, part of Schengen.<\/p>\n

Switzerland \u2013 white cross on a red background
\nSweden \u2013 yellow cross on a blue background<\/p>\n

Switzerland \u2013 banking
\nSweden \u2013 Vikings<\/p>\n

Switzerland \u2013 Swiss watches and Swiss Army Knives
\nSweden \u2013 Volvo<\/strong>, Saab<\/strong> and Draken<\/strong> fighter planes<\/p>\n

Switzerland \u2013 yodeling
\nSweden \u2013 ABBA<\/strong><\/p>\n

Switzerland \u2013 Swiss cheese
\nSweden \u2013 surstr\u00f6mming<\/strong><\/p>\n

Switzerland \u2013Swiss chocolate
\nSweden \u2013 Marabou<\/strong> (Mmmm, mmmm\u2026)<\/p>\n

Switzerland \u2013 Roger Federer
\nSweden \u2013 Bj\u00f6rn Borg<\/strong><\/p>\n

Switzerland \u2013 Ursula Andress
\nSweden \u2013 Izabella Scorupco<\/p>\n

Switzerland \u2013 not so keen on immigrants applying for Swiss citizenship
\nSweden \u2013 welcomes immigrants and happily allows them to become Swedish (after residency requirements have been fulfilled)<\/p>\n

Switzerland \u2013 not really sure who\u2019s in charge over there
\nSweden \u2013 the royal family (they\u2019re not in charge, but at least they look good on postcards)<\/p>\n

Switzerland \u2013 the Alps
\nSweden \u2013mountains and everything else<\/p>\n

Switzerland \u2013 Heidi
\nSweden \u2013 Pippi Longstocking (Pippi L\u00e5ngstrump<\/strong>)<\/p>\n

Switzerland \u2013 German, French, Italian and one other language that nobody ever heard of
\nSweden \u2013 Swedish in all its many varieties<\/p>\n

And now you should be able to easily distinguish between things Swiss and Swedish. And I don\u2019t think I need to tell you which ones I personally prefer.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\"\"

I am very behind when it comes to entertainment news in the US, and only today finally managed to catch up on the whole Jessica Alba hullabaloo. And even then, it was only thanks to a very astute reader who sent me the story. Thanks! You know who you are. What surprised me was just…<\/p>\n

Continue Reading<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":154,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[911,3240,3311],"class_list":["post-153","post","type-post","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-culture","tag-current-events","tag-jessica-alba","tag-neutral-country"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t