
I realize that anything Edward Said writes has a tendency to lean toward the polemic. I've read blogs blasting him for lying about his heritage, for engaging in liberal indoctrination and for using sloppy research methods. It's not my place to defend Said's personal background, political beliefs or historiographical methodology (though this, in particular, seems solid to me).
The point for me is that before reading this book, I had never realized the methods of culture in creating, maintaining and justifying imperialism. I had already understood how Iranians would hate the U.S. and Britain for reinstating the Shah. Yet, when I realize the power and pull of culture in imperialism, it makes me understand Iranian rage toward Britanny Spears and Diet Coke. (I sympothize with the Iranians on the rage against American pop, though I'm not sure they would approve of my assortment of indie and classic rock)
Said analyzes older novels and demonstrates how works of fiction reinforce stereotypes and create unspoken metaphors among the general population. As he moves to various media, I kept thinking about the role of internet, television and newer "social media" and whether they would really create the "flat world" presented by Thomas Friedman or if they'd simply create a newer neo-liberal form of imperialism.
I realize here that I'm being a history geek. However, I'll take you now to my classroom. Because of Said's book, I can't see it as politically neutral. It goes beyond the content. I view the ethnic make-up of my school and compare it to the teachers and it's sad. I look at the language spoken in the neighborhood and the absolute absence of Spanish on any of our school bulletin boards and I see the remnants of imperialism. When I walk into classrooms, I notice that almost all the people in the novels, the textbooks and on the walls are white.
Our current model of education exists as a blend of the factory system, the need for assimilating immigrants and militarism. All three are strong components of imperialism. As long as we continue in the same system, I have to recognize the imperialism that exists in my own school. It's an agent of socialization and one that I would argue is as strong or stronger than pop culture and social media.
When I keep this in mind, I ask myself: Am I reinforcing stereotypes? Am I inclusive of all cultures? Is my inclusion simply an example of tokenism? Do the books, novels, decoration and other elements of my classroom environment represent the culture of the school's neighborhood? When we do service, am I careful to make sure I am not engaging in another white-man-fix-it task of imperialism?
None of these have easy answers. However, thanks to Said's book, I'm at least willing to ask them.