In Memory of Edward W. Said- Zaineb Istrabadi, Ph.D.

For anyone who may be interested:
An article from a Turkish online newspaper, written by a friend of mine, remembering Mr. Edward Said.

In Memory of Edward W. Said

...clip...
This remarkable man was a mesmerizing teacher, lecturer, and prose-writer; literary, music, and cultural critic; classical pianist; human rights activist; and foremost spokesman on behalf of the oppressed Palestinian people. He was also a husband, father, colleague, and friend.
...clip...
He is perhaps best known for his book Orientalism which changed the course of Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies in the West, but he also wrote several books on the Arab-Israeli conflict in which he tirelessly and primarily addressed his American readers explaining that the Palestinians were the “victims” of a systematic policy on the part of the Israeli government from 1948 to the present to evict them from their homes, shattering their lives and societies. Yet he understood the fears of most Israelis given the history of Jews in Europe, but felt that nothing could justify their occupation of a people who had historically done them no wrong
...clip...
Edward Said also wrote tirelessly about the Arab and Islamic world. He himself felt that even though born into a Christian family, he very much was part of Arab-Islamic civilization. It distressed him that Arabs and Muslims, and that Islam itself were presented in negative terms in the mass media and he wrote many articles criticizing their portrayal in newspapers, magazines, and film. His book Covering Islam, which is somewhat overlooked despite its importance and relevance even today twenty years after he wrote it, was written as a result of the coverage of the American news media of the Iranian hostage crisis in 1979. Islam was presented as the religion of uncivilized barbarians, fanatics, misogynists and killers, and these representations carried over into films and other television programs. He not only was critical of these representations but also explained why it is that these erroneous portrayals were made and why they continue to be made as an aspect of support for American foreign and domestic policy. Never has hostility towards Islam, Muslims, and Arabs been higher than at this moment despite the availability of accurate information. He would sometimes shake his head saying that “things” have gotten worse not better over the years.

...clip...

The rest of the article here at:

http://www.zaman.com/default.php?kn=4350


Edit for spelling. Sorry, but I was edumakated in an amerikan publik skool :silly:

And please thank your friend for a well-written, moving piece on one of the most under-appreciated minds of our age.

eom