Well, one could hardly call Said's talent a wasted one. He has, after all, as I think someone said, perhaps it was Nadine, created a new discipline or disciplinary focus, no small feat. And much of the view point(s) works its way across several disciplines. The scope of Said's effect on academic disciplines is comparable, to my mind, to that of E. P. Thomas, the British social historian. Not as great but in that league.
As for what he would say about your assertion regarding the failure of "Islamic states", I would guess he would argue differences. Which states did you have in mind? What particulars in the histories of those states did you have in mind? Why did you call them "Islamic", that is by some religious category, rather than some other category, economic, political, social? Etc.
As for whether Said dealt directly with Lewis' argument, I've already made my points. He finds them not credible for lack of evidence.
As for whether he agrees with Lewis' conclusions, I doubt it. I think he would argue Lewis' question is the wrong one, though I'm not at all certain what he might consider the right one.
As for what he would think of the UN report, I'm sure we'll see reasonably soon. He's, obviously, not one to stay silent. We do know what he thinks of Arafat. |
