CATCHING IT FROM BOTH SIDES
Edward Said‘s latest idiocy is getting slammed by Norman Geras and Brad DeLong. Norman takes to task this statement,
It is surely one of the intellectual catastrophes of history that an imperialist war confected by a small group of unelected US officials was waged against a devastated third world dictatorship on thoroughly ideological grounds having to do with world dominance, security control and scarce resources, but disguised for its true intent, hastened and reasoned for by orientalists who betrayed their calling as scholars.
fisking it virtually word for word. Brad comments on the piece as a whole, making note of several instances of rhetorical sleight-of-hand and half truth.
Some days, an anti-Semitic defender of terrorists just can’t catch a break.
Said is tried and true and consistent, isn’t he? In various college fora I’ve encountered, “Orientalist” is a more scandalous charge than “Anti-Semite.” I suspect my experiences are not you unique.
I hear you Matthew. That “Orientalist” schtick is getting old. Has Said even had a single creative thought since then?
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