Submitted by David Thomson(United States), Apr 19, 2003 at 15:42
I adamantly believe that Edward Said is one of the most destructive ideologues of the last forty years. The best one can say about this man is that the damage is probably unintentional. Nevertheless, on a practical basis---Said may very well be greatly responsible for the horrors of 9/11 and the continuation of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. Does my rhetoric seem hyperbolical? Well, it shouldn't. Edward Said is almost certainly the foremost intellectual who ran interference for the totalitarian Islamic radicals. He made it unfashionable and professionally dangerous to rationally discuss the developing crisis of Wahhabi fanaticism. To do so, could jeopardize a scholar's career and place them in a position where they would be perceived as a vicious bigot. Even the brilliant Bernard Lewis was treated in such a despicable manner.
The 25th anniversary of "Orientalism" should be a time of great shame. Columbia University is embarrassing itself by honoring Edward Said's pathetically mediocre work. What does this event tell us about the intellectual abilities of the Liberal intellectual elite? It clearly reveals the harsh fact that their degrees are fraudulent. This scandal must be addressed as quickly as possible. They should no longer be able to con the general public.
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