Page stopper - Saudi Students Studying in the U.S.
An article that I was reading in Time Magazine this week struck home, close to my heart. I read it twice.
It was focused on increasing understanding betweens Saudis and Americans. The articles talks about how after 9/11 relations between the two countries were tense and limited because three fourths of the 9/11 hijackers were from Saudi Arabia. Today, over four years later, the U.S. and Saudi governments are looking forward. They are focused on increasing country relations by creating more interaction through sending Saudi students to university in the U.S. Currently there are over 6,000 Saudi students all across the U.S. and that number is supposed to triple in the next years.
I personally was happily surprised to read this article and find out that exchanging individuals -allowing Saudis to experience the U.S. and Americans first hand as well as Americans to experience and learn about Saudi people and culture- was the focus and that there are now more Saudi students in the U.S. than pre 9/11.
I was also impacted by the significance of the interaction between the American and Saudi students, "his roommate...invited him to sit on a rug spread on the floor and dine with a bunch of Saudi students by digging into communal pans of rice and meat." These students are experiencing each others cultures first hand and building relationships that will last a lifetime.
It is great to see the governments focusing on meaningful programs like this that will bridge cultural understanding and increase peaceful interaction between countries.
Time Magazine. March 20, 2006. Article: Coming Back to School. pg. 63.
5 Comments:
I read it too ... interesting perspective for sure. I sincerely hope one day AIESEC can make pathways into Saudi, perhaps the most misunderstood country in the Arab world.
I read it too ... interesting perspective for sure. I sincerely hope one day AIESEC can make pathways into Saudi, perhaps the most misunderstood country in the Arab world.
Time Magazine is as much a garbage pail as the bucket under my kitchen sink. Don't trust what you read. This story about "cultural exchange" is nothing more than a ploy to lull the public into thinking that everything is fine, no one hates Americans and that the US government is only interested in being friends with and bringing peace to the Arab/Muslim world.
Let me make a couple suggestions for you in your quest for gathering information and news:
http://www.democracynow.org/
http://www.counterpunch.org/
Have a look-see and then re-think what you read in Time Magazine or the Times or any other crap rag owned by media conglomerates.
"Crap rag" or not, there are more Saudis studying in the US now and interacting with American students.
I actually met a few Saudis in plain ol' Eau Claire, Wisconsin a few weeks ago...at a bar of all places.
Granted they weren't strict muslims and therefore probably not considered a typical Saudi, they still answered many questions that I had about the middle east and especially Saudi Arabia...questions that I had about their country despite already participating in the Salaam program and learning many things firsthand.
What goes on in Saudi Arabia is still a mystery to many Americans, and the fact that more are here, on their own personal salaam programs, can only serve to help better our mutual understanding.
Everybody going to another country and culture has their chance to learn that no matter what religion you believe in, what nationality you have, what color of skin you were born with, we are all human beings with hopes and dreams that are not so different from each other. More people from Saudi Arabia in the US is a great thing, it gives a chance for exchange and better understanding.
One thing I do think though, is that politicians are often more interested in Saudi Arabia's oil than other things there. Their reasons for good relations with Saudi Arabia are not the ones I would love to see behind their actions towards Saudi Arabia.
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