Stereotypes should open discussions rather than make us dumb judges. That is, they can join us instead of dividing us, if we want to.
Because, you know, they are not exactly lies, but rather a hyperbolized idea of one aspect of anything, like a culture, for example. Thus, if outsiders are willing to ask and so are you to tell, stereotypes can be a great source of profound questions and answers, realizations, and discoveries about other countries.
Some days ago, someone asked me what kind of stereotypes people had about my country. Well, I have never lived or been abroad for a long time, and though, the answer came quickly to my mind. I'm Colombian. The heaviest stereotype about us is that we are whether cocaine consumers or cocaine dealers (or both, but no none).
It's heavy. Yes, it is. Even if, in this case, of course, this stereotype is a lie: not all Colombians are cocaine lovers, for sure, but as I said before, it does show a disturbing reality in Colombia, a fact that should not be muted by saying "no, it's only a stereotype."
Colombia has carried that weight for almost one hundred years when European ships brought illicit drugs to this continent. Before that time (1930's), coke leaves (not cocaine) were already a very popular consumer item in these lands, so to speak. However, its use was (is) way too different from that of cocaine.
Native communities have been using coke leaves for millennia in the form of hayo* or mambe** as to obtain extra energy, counteract the altitude sicknes, listen to their elders with sharpen ears, etc.
In this fashion, when cocaine traffickers started using colombian ports as stopovers in order to reach Northamerican ports, they made a huge discovery. Colombia had the perfect climate and soil so as to grow the plant.
With these two conditios met (a blooming drug trafficking business + a proper soil to grow coke) it was only needed one third condition to be met: a corrupted state that allowed the business to flourish. And we did have it!... In short, Colombia met all requirements as to become the worldwide capital of cocaine, which is different from all Colombians love cocaine.
The outlook is not very encouraging. As I hinted above, cocaine traffic is pretty much the most profitable business of the Colombian authorities, and one of the biggest ones of the USA, after weapons, wars, and who knows what else. The best we, ordinary citizens can do, is not to get trapped in stereotypes, and get to know each other before uttering any judgement.
*you call hayo to the dried coke leaves for consumption
**you call mambe to the dried coke leaves made powder and mixed with yarumo leaf ashes, for consumption
The two graphic works I used to accompany this article were made by Juan Andrés Botero, a great artist, friend and cousin from Quindío, Colombia.
I wrote this article in response of @whatamidoing 's question in the Cross Culture Community What kind of stereotypes do people have about your country?