By Hadi Al-Faqeeh
Young Saudi men and women have made great accomplishments in different parts of the world and reflect the true image of the Saudi people, who are nice and kind.
Saudi security officers defend our country on the borders and sacrifice their lives so that the Saudi people can feel safe and secure in their homes. To those officers, I say thanks from the bottom of my heart. As far as I am concerned, you are all heroes.
Unfortunately, there is a negative image of Saudi youth promoted by some Arab and global media. However, many young Saudis have made great achievements in different parts of the world. For example, hospitals in many different countries see the work being done by Saudi male and female doctors on a daily basis. Around 4,000 Saudi doctors, male and female, are being trained in the United States. In fact, the Kingdom ranks sixth globally in terms of the number of doctors who are trained in US universities and hospitals. Moreover, 80 percent of Saudi doctors are trained at the 10 best universities and medical centers in the US, such as Johns Hopkins, the Mayo Clinic, Harvard and the Cleveland Clinic. Isn’t that something to be proud of?
Do you know how many Saudi nurses work night shifts in ICU and leave their children at home to perform their duties? Saudi nurses stand for hours in operating theaters when surgeries are being performed and spend a long time with elderly patients. Isn’t that something great?
Let us take factories as another example. Working in them are talented and competent Saudi engineers who are specialized in oil, petrochemicals, mining, etc. Another example is Saudi pilots working for Saudi Arabian Airlines. They always smile from inside the cockpit and fly us around the world.
Then there are Saudi female teachers who wake up early in the morning and head for school. Some of those teachers work at remote schools and have to travel for long hours on the road. Our universities have young talented professors who hold higher degrees from prestigious universities. Isn’t that something great?
What about Saudi security officers who stand in the rain to organize the flow of traffic, and who serve pilgrims during the Haj season, and who fight terrorists? Shouldn’t we be proud of them?
Then there are Saudi male and female volunteers who work to serve their country and set an example of patriotism inside and outside the country. Us to US and Hand by Hand are two foundations run by Saudi students in the United States. They depict the real and true image of Saudi people who are known to be magnanimous, caring and helpful. Isn’t that something great?
Saudis all over the Kingdom are nice and kind. They will welcome everyone to their homes. There are countless examples of Saudi students in the United States, Britain, China, Canada, Australia and other countries who reach out to the needy and the sick and to Saudi newcomers. Isn’t that something to be proud of?
Countries all over the world suffer from high divorce rates and Saudi Arabia is not an exception. Let us focus on the positive stories and the righteous and dedicated parents who care about their children. I have seen Saudi fathers taking care of their children while their wives go to college. I have seen Saudi mothers who take care of their children so that their husbands can go to college. Saudi husbands and wives respect one another. Isn’t that something great?
We are bound to have different problems and we currently have many but that is normal in life. However, we are working to solve these problems.
If you want to know the common features of Saudi youth that set them apart from other nationalities, I can tell you. They are: magnanimity, kindheartedness and lending a helping hand to others no matter what. Aren’t Saudis great?
