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Letters to the Editor
Remembering Edward Said
With a new look at the Palestinian case, the Palestinian scholar, the late Edward Said, could build this look and increase the consciousness internationally. Many who read and studied Said consider this look as an addition to human sciences.
Said explained the Palestinian case to the whole world where he used to travel to fight for Palestine, and succeeded in changing the way people have looked at it as not only a political case among countries, but a different dimension that represents a humane issue that defending it is a natural human obligation.
Said lived only 12 years in the invaded Palestine of his 68 years of life. However, the Palestinian case lived in his heart and was mixed with his thoughts all his life until he became the main representative of the Palestinian case wherever he was seen in the world.
Edward Said moved to Cairo after the invasion of Palestine in 1947 where he lived his teenage years. He also lived in Lebanon for a short period of time before settling down in the United States where he studied and became a Comparative Literature professor at Columbia University for the last 40 years.
It is hard to look at Edward Said as only a school professor who had some interests in world politics and the Palestinian case. Through his thoughts and writings, which exceeded 20 books translated to more than 26 languages, Said was more of a humanistic philosopher than a scholar. Looking at his work, we will find that he looks through the common similarities among cultures and civilization.
Said has a variety of innovative work of philosophy, literature, music and political analysis. At the same time, he was one who could be accepted to different people from different religions and ideologies through his basic explanation of how human values are and how humans are related. He had the ability to solve the most complicated theorems that have always been damaged and misdirected by politicians and those who support the mainstream propaganda.
Many of us were shocked to know that Said was suffering from leukemia at the beginning of the 1990s which might force him to be not as active as usual. The way he was treating the disease depended people's respect to Said around the world. He lived with the disease and produced, despite the disease, "A Memoir." "A Memoir" talks about his own experience in life where he mixed his personal, nationalist, and internationalist feelings. "A Memoir" is considered to be a dictionary of biographies in international literature.
We lost Edward Said Thursday Sept. 25, but he gave us the thoughts that have enriched human consciousness. Although he is now absent, he is within us mentally and intellectually.
Adam Marx
First-year student
Marketing
Responding to "American Dream"
I was deeply troubled by Mr. Jansma's letter that criticized Americans for, in his words, a misuse of time and a search for status items. He then goes on to say that Europeans love time and take vacations. This may come as a surprise to him, but Europeans also like to buy things and property and do have social classes just like the U.S. does. And America in turn, does take vacations and enjoys the time of their lives, often by the purchase of recreational goods that Mr. Jansma denounces so much. My mother emigrated to this country wanting the American life which was that of financial prosperity and happiness, all of which she worked hard for and achieved. Is she one of those shallow American whores you describe? Currently she can spend up to several hours a day sometimes tending her beautiful garden and lawn. She says that creating something beautiful relaxes her and yet someone dares have the audacity to say that such simple, pleasant experiences are nothing more then analogies to her being a prostitute? I imagine the feeling she gets is similar to others after completing work on their car or adding a deck to their home.
I would also like to comment on the fact that genocide and war are not exclusive to American civilization or, as this may be a shock to you, white, land-owning males in general. Where is your condemnation for the Mongol hordes that butchered millions of ethnic Chinese all to get more pasture for their horses? How come you have not protested the horrible actions of the Zulu kingdom when it conquered and wiped out over 300 of its neighboring tribes in brutal conquest? The point is that this problem of war is not pigeonholed into one race or nation, but all peoples of the Earth are guilty of these crimes in their past. For too long, people have dwelt on the past and never looked to the future. I never killed any Native Americans or enslaved people to work on a plantation. Are you going to charge me for those crimes? That's the harsh truth of history. And as any keen observer can see, it's still going on in places like Rwanda and Mindanao. As for giving the innocent Natives alcohol, where is the anger for giving the colonists tobacco, peyote and cocaine? Those drugs are just as devastating.
Do you think that it is wrong and immoral to work hard and then use that money you earn to buy things that increase quality of life or make you happy or content on some level? You say that they are superficial things. I care to disagree. I think it's part of the American and world culture and the American dream. If you think that a majority of French people selflessly do not seek material wealth or friendship, then you are mistaken. There is absolutely nothing wrong with working hard to get stuff. I like stuff and I'm sure you do too. In America, the dream has always been life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. We, in America, even minorities, experience far more liberty then a vast majority of the rest of the world. We have the luxury of being able to pursue our happiness, whether it is found working hard and buying that new Navigator or big house, or taking a vacation with the family. Personally, I think a fast car is fun to drive and a big house certainly doesn't sound bad. I doubt it would sound bad to anyone else. If it makes one enjoy the time of their life, then what's wrong?
The last part of your letter said that our nation still tramples on minorities and women. I agree that the playing field isn't balanced, but answer me this question: Do you think there is a reason why millions of people emigrate here annually? I doubt it's so they can get oppressed. Perhaps they heard the news that America is still a land of opportunity. Success can be found here for those who strive to look for it. And for your information, have you ever seen how fat your average Samoan is? I'd enjoy reading how you stereotype them, just like you've done to Caucasians and Americans in your letter. God Bless America.
Ryan Buckmiller
Sophomore
Economics Major
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