fear of the other

within the discipline of Middle East Studies, a phenomenon (or sub-discipline) known as Orientalism emerged in the late 70's. A Palestinian scholar by the name of Edward Said made great contributions to the discipline, to the point of questioning the legitimacy of the West's stark perpetual claims about the East. Thus many critics and scholars have debated his views expressed through his writings, though his position was indeed one of validity. Said is an example of a Palestinian Arab who CHOSE to leave the East and make a life for himself in the West. What he did from that point forward not only showed what kind of motivated educated person he was, but inspired others to explore his teachings and unconventional perspectives, the world of the other.

Shortly before I left for Israel, my friend Gage told me about a class he had taken in this discipline, and recommended I read Edward Said's popular book entitled "Orientalism". I skimmed a copy, which at the time overwhelmed me, but upon my arrival in Israel I enrolled in a course entitled "Orientalism and the Bible Lands: From Napoleon to Hollywood". I am now finishing my research for that course, which has really made me think about many global cultural issues in a different light than I may have otherwise. Consider what you know about the Middle East, and how much of it is based solely on what you've learned from the media, particularly Hollywood's over-romanticization of the East and the stereotypes it has created.

Throughout the school year, we read numerous excerpts from popular works of literature, travel writings by people who had visited the Middle East, and watched film clips from movies which typified (or stereotyped) the Orient. In addition, the course focused on the portrayal of "the Bible Lands" with a strong emphasis on Christianity, being the primary religion of the British "occupiers" or "owners" of the land. This in and of itself brought up interesting debates among students who were religious (or not so religious) Jews, myself being the token Christian in the group, and a handful of more secular students studying the Middle East or literature in general. I remember getting into an "argument" with a "Jewish" woman (claiming her Jewish roots though quite secular) about the legitimacy of Edward Said's writings. This discussion erupted after our reading of "Zionism from the Standpoint of its Victims" from Said's famous work "The Question of Palestine". Though I myself am very Pro-Israel, I raised the issue (as per Said's claims) of Zionism as terrorism (such as Menachem Begen episode, etc). The woman was appalled by my statements, and began yelling during our round-table discussion, going off about Edward Said having the gall to make such claims. I later noted that Said's legitimacy should not be questioned, though often candid and abrasive in his stance against Zionism, he had every right to publish such works, himself being more educated than anyone sitting in our classroom.

While I do not subscribe to all of Said's claims (and I was not necessarily arguing in favor of his stance), his writings are so heavily debated that they really make people think. I believe that so many people are so absorbed in their own viewpoints that they do not take the time to even listen to someone else's opinion. Granted there are a lot of distorted opinions out there, but a legitimate PhD scholar / professor / author / expert in his discipline such as Palestinian-born pro-Palestinian scholar Edward Said should be accepted as such, if not respected for his contribution to the discipline of Middle East Studies. I also think that people's fear of the other, and lack of knowledge about cultures other than their own, contribute a great deal to their perception of the world. Truthfully, I really admire Said for getting out of Palestine and traveling the world, exploring all it had to offer, and making a life for himself - ultimately settling in the West. We have the best opportunities for education and LIFE, better than (I hate to say it) parts of the East. What are you afraid of? Explore the world, academically or through other forms of cultural immersion, to gain a broader understanding of our diverse world.