15,000 Saudi Students

acutejamacutejam Posts: 1,433
edited September 2006 in A Moving Train
Coming soon to a school near you!

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/wire/sns-ap-saudi-students,1,3698174.story?coll=sns-ap-nation-headlines

While I have concerns, I think the positives outweigh any percieved negatives. I think it just stands as awesome that 15,000 Saudi's would want to come to America to study -- I wonder how many we send that way, how many US students study in the middle east? I think it's great that our kids get to rub elbows with so many cultures at our schools.

I think for the most part those 15,000 will to some extent become goodwill ambassadors for us, but it's not guarenteed.

http://article.nationalreview.com/print/?q=NzI3MTAzMmI0ZTUyODI2NTcyYzNmN2M0NjU4NTg4MDg=

And I quote:
...verdict is out on whether experience with, and even long residence in, the United States (or for that matter, in Europe either) mitigates or enhances Islamic extremism. ... it is by no means clear that resentment is not the more common reaction for those who are relatively educated, not poor, and have some exposure to America.

That is, for many traditional Muslims, the openness, candor, and occasional randiness of American society create conflicting passions. Hand-in-glove with a visitor’s curiosity and desire to dress, talk, and read freely seems to arise a commensurate disdain for what is often termed "Western decadence."

And even more disturbing, such conflicting passions of desire and shame at that desire, when coupled with an apologetic academic culture -- steeped in multiculturalism and ready to offer America’s foreign critics ample ammunition for their displeasure -- often result in a strange sort of irrational anger.

Initial exuberance at America’s openness often was followed with deep uncertainty whether our rejection of traditional repression was healthy -- especially in the permissive campus landscape of risqué female fashion, open homosexuality, easy mixing of the races and religions, atheism, sexual promiscuity, and drug use.

... perhaps better that travel from the Arab Middle East is made problematic -- if only to remind everyone concerned of the consequences of their hatred that still emanates from the Middle East. Many Americans are not convinced that our magnanimity with the Islamic world wins praise as liberality, rather than earning contempt for our perceived weakness.
[sic] happens
Post edited by Unknown User on

Comments

  • jlew24asujlew24asu Posts: 10,118
    "The U.S. State Department sees the exchange as a way to build ties with future Saudi leaders and young scholars at a time of unsteady relations with the Muslim world. "


    I would like to think this is true and hopefully it works.
  • I went to school with some middle easterns and believe me this arent the guys that hate us. Acutually these Saudis are all probably rich and can afford to come to US universities. Its the poor Saudis the ones that hate our guts and are the ones trhat are being brainwashed in the local madrasas to hate America. The rich Saudis come to cities like Boston and go fucking wild, they ride expensive cars, hook up with as many women as they can a spend all kinds of money. I know I might be stereotyping but I saw a lot of that during college.


    I dont think they give fuck about America, hence they dont care if terrorist from their country start blowing things up in America.
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