Brian Stryker / The Daily
Edward Said talks with attendees of his lecture at its following reception.
Said spoke in Kane Hall last night on topics including the U.S.-led invasion
of Iraq and the Israeli military incursions into the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
by Brian Turner
05/09/2003
Before a capacity audience in Kane Hall last night, Edward Said, an outspoken
supporter for Palestinian nationalism and a renowned scholarly critic, accused
the United States of “imperialistic arrogance” and “inhumane”
policies in the Middle East.
An author of more than 15 books and formerly a supporter of the Palestine Liberation Organization, Said’s life is as full of accomplishment as it is controversy.
He said the American media offers “prepackaged cliches.” He labeled claims by President Bush “rubbish.” He likened the United States to an oversized, overpriced sport-utility vehicle.
In response, Said received cheers and a standing ovation.
“Who assigned us, the U.S., the role of bringing democracy to Iraq?” asked Said. “Every American needs to ask that question.”
Said was originally scheduled to speak on behalf of the Danz Lecture Series, but after a request from the Danz family and fellow sponsors, the speech was switched to the Walker-Ames Lecture Series. As prominent members of the Jewish community, the Danz family said it did not want to be misrepresented by welcoming Said in its name, according to Yvette Moy, lecture coordinator for the Danz and Walker-Ames lectures.
Tickets to the free event were available to the public two weeks ago, but all 700 hundred of them were given away within three hours. Members of the Danz family also attended the lecture.
“Mr. Said is highly respected in his writings, he is extraordinarily well-known and the controversies surrounding his past do not lessen his standing in the academic community,” said Gerald Baldasty, professor and chair of the Department of Communication. Baldasty is also co-chair of the Danz and Walker-Ames faculty selection committee.
In early biographical accounts, Said claimed he spent most of his life as a Palestinian refugee, but a publication in Commentary magazine accused him of fabricating his childhood. Said revealed in recent memoirs that he was born in Cairo, Egypt, to the son of a wealthy Palestinian businessman.
“The fact that Mr. Said has lied about his background seriously discredits his academic reputation,” said philosophy professor Marc Lange. “He should not be invited to sow anti-Semitic views in the name of the highest academic honor at the UW.”
Said’s critically acclaimed book, Orientalism, examines the way Islamic and South Asian culture is perceived by Western society. Written in 1978, the book has since shaped scholarly debate and revolutionized the study of the Middle East. Said is also professor of comparative literature at Columbia University and the past president of the Modern Language Association.
“It is unfortunate that when we speak out as a community, people look for ways to discredit us,” said Atefah Naeemi, a member of the Muslim Student Association. “(However,) people still want to see him even if they do not sympathize with his views.”
Carrying Israeli flags and handing out fliers, a small group of demonstrators gathered outside of Kane Hall to protest Said’s arrival.
“Said is just another person who wants to blame the Jews for conflict in the Middle East,” said Eric Hasson, president of Huskies for Israel.
Hasson said he feels that Said is not qualified to speak on U.S. policy in the Middle East because he is a professor of comparative literature. Citing Said’s fabricated life story, his prior support of the Palestian Liberation Organization and accounts of him throwing rocks at an Israeli military outpost, Hasson said inviting Said reflects poorly on the UW.
“Said is here under the auspices of academic freedom, which gives him too much credibility,” Hasson said.
Following his presentation, Said answered questions from the audience. One of the members asked how peace can be obtained in the Middle East.
“To solve this conflict,” said Said, “the U.S. must join the rest of the world’s resolutions for peace in the Arab world.”
Israeli supporters protest lecture
by Kyle Arnold
05/09/2003
As a crowd gathered in anticipation of last night’s Edward Said lecture
in Kane Hall, protesters gathered peacefully outside near the crowd to show
their support of Israel and dislike for Said’s opinions.
About 20 protesters held signs claiming that Said had to lie to gain support for his pro-Palestinian cause.
“Said has fabricated his entire life story,” said Huskies for Israel president Eric Hasson. “He isn’t a Palestinian refugee. He was born while his parents were visiting Israel.”
Hasson said the purpose of the protests was to peacefully and respectfully show their dislike for Said, not to gain attention through disrespectful behavior.
Members of Huskies for Israel were also present inside the Said lecture, according to Hasson. He said that opposition inside was just as respectful as opposition protesting outside.
“When we have had pro-Israeli speakers, protesters are so disrespectful that they don’t let presentations continue,” said Hasson. “We want to show that we are respectful of other views as well.”
A lecture last week by Ra’anan Gissin, senior adviser to Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, ended early due to disruptions.
As an alternative to the Said speech, Huskies for Israel staged their own presentation on being an Israeli in the United States.
Members of Alpha Epsilon Pi, the Jewish fraternity, joined Huskies for Israel in their protests against Said.
Former UW doctorate candidate Larry May and his wife, Ruth May, a former registrar for the UW-Bothell campus, also joined Huskies for Israel. They said they protested against Said for other reasons.
Larry explained that while on a trip to Israel in November, there were three suicide attacks against Israelis.
“I was in Israel and experienced what effects suicide bombers had on the Israeli people,” he said. “I want to show my support for a peace in Israel in a constructive manner.”