I'm going to comment as an American. There are many stereotypes about Americans as well. I talked to someone from Italy online. When he found out I was American, the conversation became short and a bit gruff. I asked him what was wrong and he said, "Americans are all the same. I watch Jerry Springer. I know how Americans are."

For anyone who isn't familiar with Jerry Springer, he is a talk show host who invites people to his show to discuss issues. Many are women who have a baby and do not know the father. Some are men who have several different children with several different women. Most come across as ill-educated, low in standard and class and usually dressing very provocatively. They fight and scream at one another. The thing is, this show isn't real. It's fake. They pay these people to come on and act this way, yet many people (even in the USA) believe it's real.

I couldn't believe that someone was claiming to know what an American was by a television show such as this.

The media in the USA used to be a thing to be proud of. Now, as an American, I'm ashamed by most that I see on television. The only thing Americans see about Saudis is that the women wear veils and the men are "in control." What we don't know is the pressure that men have in Saudi--many having to be a sole provider for an entire family of women. What we don't see are the smiles and beauty behind the veil. Who is to show this to us? We have to go out and look for it, on sites such as this, and hear the voices of Saudis unfettered, unrestrained by the media and by governments.

I believe that all human beings are inherently good and that we are capable of great joy and kindness. Perhaps if we all looked for these things in one another, there would be less boundaries to break down. Sometimes, I wonder who puts these boundaries up. I don't. I don't want them there. I want to know my Saudi human beings, and my Chinese human beings and Russians and Koreans and Africans.

Here is a quote that I have always enjoyed. I will leave my comments on this note:

"The world speaks in many languages, but only one voice. The language is not English or Russian or Arabic. It speaks in the language of hope. It speaks in the language of trust. It speaks in the language of strength and the language of compassion. It is the language of the heart and the language of the soul. But always it is the same voice. It is the voice of our ancestors speaking through us and the voice of our inheritors waiting to be born. The small, still voice that says: 'We are one. No matter the blood, no matter the skin, no matter the world, no matter the star...
We are one.
No matter the pain, no matter the darkness, no matter the loss, no matter the fear. .. We are one.'

Here, gathered together in common cause, we begin to realize this singular truth and this singular rule that we must be kind to one another. Because each voice enriches us and ennobles us and each voice lost diminishes us. We are the voice of the universe, the soul of creation, the fire that will light our way to a better future. We are one."
"We are one."

Very nice interesting comments Monomyth!  Thank you for sharing that experience with us, it seems to have made some impression on you as you remember it vividly.  I think stereotypes do impact people as we always remember them and retell these stories to one another.  That tells me that they are hurtful on some level and that we should all strive to avoid them.  As in the poem you qouted, "we are one," so this means we do have the same feeling and they are hurt in the same ways.  People are people. 

Well yes, there are lots and lots of stereotypes based on Saudi Arabia. Having lived in the kingdom all my life and then moving to the UK for university, I have had the chance to share my experiences with the people here about Saudi Arabia. Its really amazing what people think of us. Its a pity that we are known only for those particular things.

The most common ones that I can think of includes:

"....a place where no man has ever seen a woman before."

"....a place where every man has atleast 2 wives"

etc. etc.

But the most important thing is are we doing anything to better improve our image outside? Yes, we are and each and every individual (men/woman) is contributing to it. I personally know alot of Saudi friends here who seem to be the perfect Saudi even though they are thousands of kilometres away from the homeland.

Hi Hishmaj, and thanks for stopping by!  I like your response, however, what is "the perfect Saudi."  Are people so standard that we all know what "perfect" is defined as?   

Hehe ... I'm from Dubai and I've mostly been by women. Women have a tendency to be biased and not say much but if men have any questions ex: "why does she wear a hijab? Doesn't that oppress her?" or "she's in college? are women allowed to be educated in their system?" then they ask it out loud. I prefer such questions being asked so that I get a chance to sweep away any misconceptions that sprout in people's mind. But, if they don't say anything, it means they are closed-minded and don't care.