I would like to comment on Sufia Khalid’s recent piece in The Daily Free Press regarding Saudi Arabia (“Saudi Arabia: A world away – but not that far,” Feb. 28, p.7). First I would like to say that everything she said is absolutely true; as a Saudi citizen studying in the United States I’m overjoyed to finally read some positive writing about my homeland, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Though Sufia and I may be called “biased” for having lived in Saudi Arabia, a large number of those who claim to be Middle Eastern “experts” have learned what they know from books and the internet. But I’m sad to say that these sources do about as much as books on karate or bodybuilding do to help you complete a karate lesson or a bodybuilding session. I am very impressed with The Daily Free Press for being the voice of students, whatever they wish to discuss on campus. A friend of mine from Boston College who read the column was impressed at how “liberal” our paper is, something I greatly respect at the Free Press.

And for those who still don’t believe that Saudis aren’t evil and that Saudi is a desert land with camels and oil rigs in our backyards, you are welcome to contact me any time and it would be my pleasure to arrange a tour of my country to those interested, because by studying here in the United States I serve as an ambassador to my country, as all of you Americans should be to the United States of America.

Yamen S. Al-Hajjar SMG ’07