TO THE EDITOR
ON EDWARD SAID
“Earth, receive an honored guest,” Auden
once wrote of Yeats. Last week, the world
laid Edward Said to rest. Said, who was born
in Jerusalem and taught literature at
Columbia University for four decades, died
after a long battle with leukemia.
Progressive communities in Eugene and
elsewhere owe a lasting debt to this man.
First, in his book Orientalism, he developed a
systematic critique of traditional Western
knowledge and views about Asian societies.
He showed that European scholars and offi-
cials presented the East (be it China, India, or
the Arab world) as passive, exotic, and infe-
rior. This Orientalist view enabled Western
powers to justify the subjugation and colo-
nization of the Orient. His scholarship un-
veiled the academic imperialism at our uni-
versities, which have not been the same since.
Said was also the most eloquent American
spokesman for Palestinian statehood. When
he began to lecture and write on behalf of the
cause, many educated people denied that
Palestinians even existed. He told the history
and voiced the aspirations of the Palestinian
people, whom he called “victims of the vic-
tims.” No one, he believed, should be dis-
criminated against based on his or her reli-
gion. Today, even George W. Bush recog-
nizes the Palestinian right to self-determina-
tion.
Finally, he was an independent and a hu-
manist. He advocated writing in alternative
media. An outstanding musician, he taught
music to a group of Israeli and Arab children
with conductor Daniel Barenboim. He be-
lieved that no human being should be
stripped of their land, national identity or cul-
ture, no matter what the cause. By the same
token, he quoted Theodor Adorno’s dictum
that “it is part of morality not to be at home in
one’s home.” I think many Eugene citizens
share that feeling about our country.
These are sad times. The war on Iraq,
racial profiling of Middle Eastern students,
and escalating hate-crimes against Muslims
in America, are partly the result of
Orientalists who spout racist “us against
them” diatribes in government and the media.
That some Oregonians receive a more toler-
ant view in their local paper, would have
pleased him dearly.
Philip Huang
Eugene
DUCKING THE TRUTH
Alan Pittman’s article “Conspiracy
Theories” (9/11) was interesting, even if it
did trail off into an incoherent conclusion. In
his drive to be “objective,” Mr. Pittman sums
up his piece on the most explosive political
issue of our time by posing lamely, “Forty
years from now, will 9/11 questions have fi-
nally been put to rest?”. Wow, think about it.
Good journalism does more than simply
list arguments and counter-arguments. I
found it striking how critics of 9/11 conspir-
acy theories — at least according to Pittman’s
reporting — simply denied the issue rather
than engaging any of its substance. The entire
counter-argument, it seems, is based on the
authority of those making it. If Norman
Solomon says there’s nothing to it, well then
there must not be anything to it — inconven-
ient facts be damned. Didn’t the Pentagon
call it “stupid”? Case closed.
It is Pittman’s choice not to examine this
peculiarity of the debate that dooms his arti-
cle to end in a shambles of pronouncements
over the general nature of conspiracy theo-
ries. Newsflash: There’s absolutely no doubt
that the events of 9/11 resulted of a conspir-
acy. The questions relate to who was in-
volved, and to what extent. Nineteen men
didn’t spontaneously find themselves hijack-
ing four jetliners on the same morning. They,
and others, conspired. While Pittman raises
the issue of American involvement, he for
some reason fails to actually engage it.
Pittman’s pale didactic summation does
nothing more than inform readers of the obvi-
ous. Of course some conspiracies are real and
some are not. The question is not about the
nature of conspiracy theories, but about
whether the leadership of this country is in
fact its greatest enemy. We should not get dis-
tracted by knowledge that elements of our
own government are either orchestrating or
allowing domestic terrorism?
It’s quite telling that EW devotes more re-
sources every single week to Ducks
Illustrated than it did to exploring the stag-
gering possibility that the current administra-
tion is actually orchestrating mass murder
and civil disaster to solidify its grasp on
power.
Tim Shaw
Eugene
WHY BUILD IT?
Regarding the federal building ramp con-
BY DAN CAROL
Apollo’s Appeal
A security strategy to feel good about.
EDITOR’S NOTE: In response to that constant question we’re hearing — “What can I do
to defeat George Bush?” — EW offers a new column aimed at November 2004. The author is
Dan Carol, Eugenean who founded Carol/Trevelyan Strategy Group (www.ctsg.com), the left’s leading
laboratory for political engagement and experimentation. CTSG, with offices in Eugene and Washington,
D.C., is a 10-year-old, 60-person political consultancy specializing in communications strategy,
grassroots and the Internet. CTSG’s clients and partners include Moveon.org, Amnesty International
USA, Working Assets, SEIU, the Drug Policy Alliance, the Natural Resources Defense Council, and Rock
the Vote. Carol started the firm after serving as research director for the Democratic National Committee
during the ‘92 presidential cycle, where he directed staff work on the party’s platform and worked in
Little Rock on the Clinton debate team. As a pioneer of new generation politics and issues marketing,
Carol built the first U.S. Senate website in 1994, led an independent effort to derail Ollie North’s Senate
ambitions, served as a “truth squad” leader at three GOP conventions, and was profiled by the Wall
Street Journal in 2000. When he isn’t annoying the Bushies with projects like Misleader.org, Carol has
taught political science at UO, co-coached fourth grade hoop stars at Edison elementary school, and
assisted school funding campaigns in Eugene. His full “Kumbaya Dammit” rap for progressive reform in
Nation magazine can be read on www.kumbayadammit.com
W
elcome to the progressive no-whining zone. A place you can visit, every two
weeks or so, to connect to smart projects and new pathways to power.
The bottom line: We know 10 times over what’s wrong with George Bush,
weenie Democrats and all that jazz. So let’s stop documenting the dilemmas — and in-
stead begin pouring concrete on a new foundation to make it right.
This time: a national security strategy to feel good about.
Ready for regime change? I bet you are. But it’s not going to happen if we can’t make
the majority of Americans feel safe.
Fortunately, there’ s a new project called The Apollo Alliance that’s baking up a tasty
new recipe for clean energy, national security and jobs, jobs, jobs.
Imagine spending serious money — like George Bush does for tax cut trillions and
4 OCTOBER 9, 2003
Halliburton handouts — on an ambitious 10-year, $300 billion effort for sustain-
able jobs, cleaner manufacturing, youth and urban apprenticeships and
smarter transportation. The program pays for itself with jobs and greater en-
ergy independence in U.S. exports. Revitalizes the U.S. manufacturing base.
Creates three million jobs. Heals labor vs. environmental grouchiness over Arctic
drilling. Fuels the hopeful, can-do spirit that put America on the moon. And maybe
even inspires the right kind of patriotism.
So what’s not to like? In polls, the Apollo initiative is testing off the charts with Joe
Six-Pack voters — the voting block we need to win crucial Rust Belt states like Ohio,
Pennsylvania and Michigan in 2004. On the campaign trail, Democratic presidential can-
didates are offering dueling Apollo-type policy plans. Across the country, high-tech and
environmental leaders like the Sierra Club’s Carl Pope are also joining 17 major unions in
saying yes to the Apollo approach.
S
lowly, but surely, the political wedge that George Bush drove between labor and
environment is beginning to close. That’s good news — because we need Turtles
and Teamsters to march together in 2004 (like they did in Seattle in 1999).
Frankly it still amazes me that neither Bush nor the Democrats in Congress stepped
forward with an ambitious crash effort like this before. It seemed like such a no-brainer
in the wake of Sept. 11th.
Call me nostalgic, but I remember my grandfather sharing stories of how he saved
aluminum foil in World War II. I am inspired by the images of Rosie the Riveter. I believe
we must fight terrorism — but the fight begins when we come together around a shared
vision of hope and optimism — not the fear that fuels the Bush policies.
Sappy I know, but I think the greatest generation is yet to come.
So check out www.apolloalliance.org — there’s a top-flight, 10-point policy plan and a
bottom-up, grassroots strategy for infusing these ideas into the presidential debate in
key primary states like Iowa.
For you policy wonks, imagine big block grants to deficit-starved states, to seed re-
gional strategies without a one-size-fits-all solution, tied to hard targets and caps on
greenhouse gas emissions. But before the laws can change or the money can move, first
we gotta win — and Apollo is the winning (not whiny!) message for Democrats in 2004.