Edward Said dies

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It's mainly because of Sa'id that the term Zionist has become a slur....so it's pretty ironic that within the context of this discussion, you would call me a "Zealot", another word once meant to describe Jews, and now commonly used to describe someone in a negative light.

I said good riddens to his lies but I expressed regret for his family.... It was a horrible and tragic way for any man of his age to pass. I never gloated on about how he suffered, nor did I go on and on debating on wether he was an Egyptian... or even attack the factual errors of his work in specific detail. I merely attempted to express my displeasure for the man and leave it at that. I think it's rather telling that you expect me to have compassion for a man who never mourned the death of a single Israeli without first justifying the deaths.

I'll say this much... he was highly influential to the left....though you must realize he meant more to Westerners then he ever did his own people. His legacy was educating Americans of his agenda. He was masterfull at turning the palestinian cause into vogue. The problem is, his version erased some key elements of the story, and made it possible for the Arafats involved to win peace prizes, and the political wing of Hamas to receive aid. His version of the story conveniantly edited out the genocidal goals that the PLO was created to fullfill, instead creating a picture of apartheid....one that doesn't realistically reflect the situation. He also raised funds, and was directly involved with the fiscal transfer of financing for PLO operations, including suicides. I believe his goals were damaging to everyone involved, and I'm of the opposite belief from Sa'id... Palestinians are not animals, and they have the ability to seek their nationalistic goals through other means besides the violence he encouraged, and symbolically took part in.

I have read, and own his books pertaining to the conflict.