Edward Said, possibly the most widely known Palestinian intellectual died at the age of 67 - he had been suffering from leukemia.
He was Professor of Comparative Literature at Columbia Univ.
http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=22&ItemID=4249
Edward Said passes away
What a loss of such a fine man.
It’s worth remembering for all of us, perhaps, that he was Christian and came from a Christian family. Put together all the despotic Muslim monarchs/dictators together, and Edward Said probably did far, far more for Palestinians than all of them.
Here’s a quote from his last article in Egypt’s Al Ahram, titled, “Dreams and delusions”:
Palestinian scholar Edward Said dies, BBC, 25 September 2003
The renowned Palestinian-American academic Edward Said has died in New York after a long battle with leukaemia. He was 67. Mr Said was a tireless spokesman for the Palestinian cause in the West and a fierce critic of Israel.
Born in Jerusalem, he made his name as a writer and academic in the United States, where he spent most of his adult life. He is the author of a hugely influential book, Orientalism, published in 1978.
As a professor of comparative literature at Colombia University in New York, Mr Said engaged with a huge range of subjects, including classics of English literature such as the works of Jane Austen. He was also interested in music, but it was his writings on the Middle East that established his wider reputation.
In Orientalism, he argued that the entire Western academic discipline of oriental studies was based on imperialist and racist myths about the Middle East.
Mr Said took a hard line against Israel, accusing the Jewish state of displaying xenophobia towards the Arabs. When Yasser Arafat signed the Oslo peace accords with Israel, Mr Said criticised the Palestinian leader for, as he put it, “collaborating with military occupation”.
Many Israelis saw Mr Said as an unreasonable and unreliable critic.
There even were suggestions that he had over-dramatised his own background in order to enhance his credentials as a Palestinian spokesman. But the BBC’s Justin Webb in Washington says that for the Palestinians - particularly in America where their cause has never been as popular as in other parts of the world - Mr Said was a supremely articulate advocate whose presence will be greatly missed.
In recent years, Mr Said’s most high-profile intervention in the politics of the Middle East has probably been his collaboration with the Israeli musician, Daniel Barenboim.
A gifted pianist himself, Mr Said and gave joint recitals with Barenboim in the West Bank and elsewhere as part of a campaign to get Arab and Israeli musicians playing together.
Re: Edward Said passes away
sad indeed. he will be missed.
although i always seemed to get the feeling of incompleteness from his name.
Edward Said.
Edward Said What?
His full name was Edward Wadie Said. Wadie was his father's name.
And i think, in Edward Said's case, his surname was pronounced the same way as the Pakistani 'Saeed', not the English 'said'.
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Nadia_H: *
His full name was Edward Wadie Said. Wadie was his father's name.
And i think, in Edward Said's case, his surname was pronounced the same way as the Pakistani 'Saeed', not the English 'said'.
[/QUOTE]
:).
i guess the humour was misplaced given the situation.
take care.
Ohh.. only yesterday I read his interview in DevlSSues, Netherlands where he spoke about why he thinks, Pure Ethinicity is a Delusion.
Ah well,...
Very passionate guy. He will be missed.
Re: Edward Said passes away
Havent read much of this very articulate writer, but from what little I have read I know he wil be missed for his views.
May he RIP.
A distinguished Professor of my Alma Matar. I spent many bagged lunch afternoons at his talk which always ran over the time limit. The man had substance :)
I have seen three threads on this guy? who is he..never heard of him. Well anyway..hope he rests in peace.
Well if he was nice to his family, wife and kids then I'd call him a great man
He is a Columbia prof and I think lebanese/middle eastern origin. Prof of English.
Its indeed sad to see someone so brilliant die without embracing the truth.
For those who would like to know more of Edward Said here are a few links to his publications and lectures.
Myth and misinterpretation of ‘the orient’
Give us back our democracy
‘We’ know who ‘we’ are
oh my word. that truly is sad. i didnt even know. he made a great contribution to raising the truth about palestine. its really very sad.
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*Originally posted by Matsui: *
I have seen three threads on this guy? who is he..never heard of him. Well anyway..hope he rests in peace.
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You should know who teaches at your own college shouldnt you?
He will be sorely missed. I love reading his stuff.