My Saudi Students

[Redleg]

Some of you also referred to the lack of woman's suffrage and other restrictions. These are government policies, not necessarily the attitudes of the people. When some of you discuss the US, you distinguish government policy from the people. You should do the same for the Saudis.

Hmm - it seems you are wanting a standard applied that you yourself often don't apply when discussing political issues.

How many Saudi women and men in my school? Two women and nine men. A better ratio than the number of women to men in the US Senate.

And that some how makes the ratio better?

Keep in mind that the situation was very different in 1995. There were no Saudi women studying here at all then. The behavior of men towards the female US teachers was very disciminatory. In ten years, things have changed a lot. People's attitudes about Saudis and other Middle Easterners are often based on simplistic, outdated stereotypes, based mostly on hearsay and firmly-fixed opinions.

Care to guess what my first hand experience with dealing with the Saudi male in Saudi Arabia was? Or how about the numerous times I conducted training with Saudi officers in several service schools? Or how about several other first hand accounts from people who have returned from doing military missions in Saudi Arabia?

What you are seeing Tachikaze is a bubble. Find out the social-economic status of your students, and you might discover the validity of your point.

It's the practice of governments to present an image of an enemy that is alien and unfamiliar to their citizens. They emphasize the differences, and ignore the similarities. They do not want to us identify or sympathize with them.

Saudi Arabia is a long time ally of the United States. (an ally who uses us completely for their own benefit - same as we do them)

The US government began a war with Iraq, and supposedly with terrorists, and reinforces this alien image of Iraqis and other peoples associated with them, such as Saudis. There is sometimes truth to the pictures they draw, but they are exaggerations that support their agenda.

So far one of the few statements you have stated that I agree with.

The Saudis could have remained in isolation. The government could keep its students within its borders, insulated from foreign contact. Yet, it is actively sponsoring programs to do the very opposite, exposing young men and women to Western values, pop culture, and vices.

This is not a new program by the way. Back in 1983-1987 I went to college at a school that had several Saudi's and other Middle-East students. In fact most of them were very likable as individuals, I enjoyed visiting with several of them on occassion.

These young men and women are not as alien as certain people would like you to believe.

Correct, I have absolutely no problem with Saudi's or anyother individual, but don't attempt to fool yourself nor me with your comprision. You are most likely dealing with the upper echelon of the social-economic class of Saudi society. A bubble does not mean its false nor does it mean its true.

[Tachikaze]

What you are seeing Tachikaze is a bubble. Find out the social-economic status of your students, and you might discover the validity of your point.

I'll bet the number of Saudis that fit in the "bubble" I'm seeing is much larger than the bubble the Al Qaeda members occupy.

People in the US are much more willing to generalize the tiny terrorist bubble than the bubble of my students. They seem to be predisposed to believe the negative images of Saudis, and Arabs in general, than the positive ones. The government reinforces and feeds this.

One of my students comes from a farm. I don't know his economic level, but he is certainly no urban managerial type.

[Redleg]

I'll bet the number of Saudis that fit in the "bubble" I'm seeing is much larger than the bubble the Al Qaeda members occupy.

I would hope so.

People in the US are much more willing to generalize the tiny terrorist bubble than the bubble of my students. They seem to be predisposed to believe the negative images of Saudis, and Arabs in general, than the positive ones. The government reinforces and feeds this.

Speak for yourself - I don't generalize Saudi's nor Arabs. I weigh the actions of the individual more then the content of the group. Your making the same generalization of Americans that you believe is happening toward another group.

Hello Pot meet Kettle.

One of my students comes from a farm. I don't know his economic level, but he is certainly no urban managerial type.

You might want to ask what type of farm, and where he falls in. You might be surprised.