I have been thinking about the death of Edward Said over the last few days. Said lost his battle against leukaemia last Thursday aged 67.
His death is both a loss to scholarship and to the Palestinian people. He was one of the major figures responsible for helping broadening the West’s understanding of the Islamic world. His 1978 book – [u”>Orientalism[/u”> – helped change the out-dated and narrow preconceptions of the Western world toward the Islamic world. A Palestinian exile living in the United States, he was an outspoken figure, a true public intellectual. He was often in conflict with his fellow Palestinians, Israel, the Jewish community, both the right and left, academia and the media.
His greatest advocacy was reserved for his attempts to further peace between Israel and Palestine. He opposed violence and terrorism, derided the Arafat regime for its corruption and support of terrorism and Ariel Sharon for his criminal attacks on Palestinian civilians and homes. He was a fighter for truth and justice and a believer in the potential of humanity. The Palestinians will perhaps never have so articulate, spirited and forceful advocate for their freedom.
