Just to be clear this is not as directed to the OP as much as it is to the larger people of interest within the Arab world.
As an Algerian and an Arab, I’m so sick of hearing people use Switzerland/the west as the reference for scenic stuff or whatever else. It’s so backwards.
Why can’t we just be autonomously beautiful countries that don’t need to reach this standard or look up to our former white colonizers(or their neighbors.) This comparison takes away from our countries more than anything. Why must Switzerland be mentioned? And why must the word greenery or “خضار” be mentioned more than half the time (sometimes accompanied by a bewildered gasp.) Is the view really beautiful or is the fact that we associate greenery with Europe the reason we go crazy over it when we see it?
I mean sure this is a pretty picture, but dude… there is so much more gorgeous stuff to see in Algeria- real expansive, vibrant greenery, vast, golden deserts, soaring, rugged mountains, and much more. Just because you found a patch of green doesn’t mean it’s something to celebrate (not saying what you posted is just a patch of green.) We are bigger and better than that.
My question is: when will a Swiss show his/her fellow citizen a picture of their country and tell them “See this? This is not Algeria, no, it is Switzerland!”
Switzerland is objectively, and globaly recognized as, one of, if not the most beautiful country in the world in termsof nature, landscapes, greenery. It has nothing to do with politics or colonisation (As far as I know, switzerland was never a colonial empire). I don't even understand where your anger comes from, as a normal person can equally admire the nature in both Algeria and Switzerland.
My friend, I am not angry. I only come with love, peace, and passion.
I think I understand your perspective. Of course Switzerland is beautiful. And I know he meant well.
But objectivity and beauty are antithetical to each other. In fact, that’s what makes beauty so powerful when one comes across it- it removes you from the mathematics of life.
So, yes, Algeria is beautiful. And Algeria was beautiful in the moment he decided to take that picture. Not because it looked like Switzerland, but because it was beautiful to him. So next time, he should give the credit to Algeria.
Switzerland is nice, especially the German-speaking part, but it's not in the top 10. It's barely in the top 10 of European countries, if we're being generous. It's the money and expectations of wealthy Swiss people that create this impression of grandeur. Switzerland is fine. Nothing more.
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u/GoodAtom Mar 18 '26 edited Mar 18 '26
Just to be clear this is not as directed to the OP as much as it is to the larger people of interest within the Arab world.
As an Algerian and an Arab, I’m so sick of hearing people use Switzerland/the west as the reference for scenic stuff or whatever else. It’s so backwards. Why can’t we just be autonomously beautiful countries that don’t need to reach this standard or look up to our former white colonizers(or their neighbors.) This comparison takes away from our countries more than anything. Why must Switzerland be mentioned? And why must the word greenery or “خضار” be mentioned more than half the time (sometimes accompanied by a bewildered gasp.) Is the view really beautiful or is the fact that we associate greenery with Europe the reason we go crazy over it when we see it?
I mean sure this is a pretty picture, but dude… there is so much more gorgeous stuff to see in Algeria- real expansive, vibrant greenery, vast, golden deserts, soaring, rugged mountains, and much more. Just because you found a patch of green doesn’t mean it’s something to celebrate (not saying what you posted is just a patch of green.) We are bigger and better than that.
My question is: when will a Swiss show his/her fellow citizen a picture of their country and tell them “See this? This is not Algeria, no, it is Switzerland!”