I get to be as self-indulgent as I want without wasting anyone's time. Guilt-free solipsism -- excellent!

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An interesting essay by Edward Said in The Nation, in which he deconstructs the simplistic concept of "the West" vs. "Islam". His primary point is that these terms are laughably simplistic, and lead us astray when we employ them as if they denote anything that actually exists in the real world. They are abstractions that become freighted with all kinds of Connotations, and have therefore become detached from reality.

Once again, the lessons of Hayakawa's book are enormously applicable. It's so easy -- and so dangerous -- to confuse the map with the territory.
| posted by Alex at 4:36 PM