Executive Orientalism 13769

In Orientalism, Edward Said argues that Europeans defined themselves by defining Orientals. Said states that the ¨Orient was almost a European invention.¨ Said contends that many Western countries have traditions of coming to terms with Eastern countries in a way that reduces those countries to their role in the Western experience. An orientalist viewpoint has helped define Western identity by being an ¨other¨ that they can compare their culture to. Western culture defines its values as moral and just by defining the Eastern culture as malicious. Although Said wrote this study in 1978, the ideas present are still very relevant today. In my opinion, his theory can be aptly applied to the modern day political atmosphere.

Said´s main argument is that through a history of colonization and imperialism, Westerners have established stereotypes and myths about the people from Eastern countries. These stereotypes are usually negative, and oftentimes dehumanizing. Said focuses on how the stereotypes appear in art and literature throughout history, but these dangerous myths about Eastern politics can also be found shaping American politics. For example, the very nature of the president´s Executive Order 13769 can be partially attributed to an Orientalist mindset as Edward Said defines it. The president drew on myths about people of Middle-Eastern descent to order a travel ban to be enacted, barring people from six countries from entering the US. Specifically, the order used an Orientalist viewpoint to falsely and dangerously perpetuate stereotypes about Muslim people. The president stereotyped all people from these six countries as a danger to the American people to further the divide between ¨us¨ and ¨other.¨ By widening this gap, the president is able to easily misconstrue America as completely distinct and inherently superior to Eastern cultures.

But defining America through separations and bans does not elevate out culture, it does not ¨make America great again.¨ Instead, it transforms America into a place that is stuck in racist trends of the past, unable to move forward. I think that we as a country should do as Said would suggest and open this subject up for discussion and analysis, and through that, we can move forward.