Awriter of books that affected Middle East scholarship, Said continues to inspire people, through his legacy, since his death in 2003. A testament to Said is a series of annual lectures held in his name at Columbia University and Princeton University that feature world-renowned professors. “Said's knowledge, wit and passion for truth will continue to inspire peace activists and genuine scholars,” Tanweer Akram, an economist with Moody's Corporation, wrote shortly after Said's death. “He embodied the best values of Western and Arab civilizations. He used his knowledge for seeking justice.” Born in Jerusalem in 1935, Said lived in Cairo and Jerusalem as a young man and attended boarding school in Massachusetts in 1951. In 1963, Said began teaching at Columbia University; he earned a doctorate in English literature from Harvard University in 1964. With Arabic used at home and English at school, Said was exposed to two worlds, sparking curiosity about how people view cultures. This interest manifested in his writings on perceptions of the Arab world, especially with his groundbreaking work “Orientalism”, published in 1978. “Orientalism” critically examines how Western scholars and authors describe non-Western cultures. The book has influenced how Arab studies are taught in universities around the world and has sparked decades of debate among academics. Through his writings and activism, Said also brought the complexities of the Israeli-Palestinian peace process to the forefront of discussion. Said authored several books on Israeli and Palestinian issues, including “The Question of Palestine”, “The Politics of Dispossession” and “The End of the Peace Process””. He also wrote numerous articles on the peace process and was a regular speaker on the subject, educating Americans and people around the world. As an advocate of a two-state solution, Said wrote on the legitimacy of Jewish and Palestinian claims to the land. In his 1979 article “Zionism from the Standpoint of its Victims,” Said presented arguments supporting the establishment of Israel and for a Palestinian state. An accomplished pianist, Said used his love of music to forge peace between Israelis and Palestinians. Working with Israeli-Argentine conductor Daniel Barenboim, Said helped establish the West-Eastern Divan, a youth orchestra. Based in Spain, the orchestra has members who come from Arab countries, Iran and Israel “to enable intercultural dialogue and to promote the experience of collaborating on a matter of common interest,” according to the organization. This article has been contributed by America.gov
