Edward Said & Salman Rushdie [1986]

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Published 2023-05-15
In 1986, Edward Said and Salman Rushdie sat down to talk at the ICA. Professor Said launched his book After the Last Sky: Palestinian Lives at the ICA and discussed his and the collective Palestinian identity, exile, return and the right to return. Much of what they discussed played out the following year, during the First Intifada.

Reshared on Monday 15 May 2023.

Time stamps:

00:00 - Intro by Salman Rushdie
03:13 - Rushdie reads 'The Earth is closing on us'
04:34 - The first part of Said's book
05:46 - The Palestinian experience
07:49 - Part two of Said's book; inside/outside
08:45 - Inside Palestinian-ness
09:28 - Cult of physical strength; a letter
11:02 - Invasions of the interior
12:15 - Zionism and historical context
12:50 - Part three: Exile
13:25 - What happens to landless people?
17:00 - Palestinians in New York
19:12 - Ability to publish work in US
20:21 - Treated like a diplomat of terrorism
22:25 - To be a NYC Palestinian in Palestine
24:28 -What is/is there a Palestinian nation
26:44 - Codes of being
34:30 - Tell the story from the beginning, again
37:14 - The unheard voices of Palestinian women
43:13 - Anti-zionism not antisemitism
48:55 - To be a non-muslim Palestinian
52:06 - After The Last Sky, turning inward
54:54 - Audience questions begin
55:37 - 'If you speak to Jewish audiences what do you tell them about the future of Jews in Palestine?'
1:01:23 - 'Have you developed a system to succinctly discuss this topic when asked?'
1:04:03 - 'Justice/morality/where/who is the court that hears it?'
1:08:28 - 'Less people are recognising this grievance, how can your idea of communication change this?'
1:11:07 - The fate of Arafat and Palestinians
1:12:49 - 'Self determination or, moreover, عودة (eawda, return)'
All Comments (21)
  • @vaidphysics
    "They treat me as some sort of ambassador of terrorism" ... Edward Said on when he is invited for media debates. Since 1986 till 2023, it seems nothing has changed in the media discourse. Every Palestinian voice in the western media is treated exactly the same way ... "But do you condemn Hamas"
  • @myad09
    Amazing interview, still amazingly relevant today.
  • @zmacdoom
    Thirty eight years have gone past this conversation, it feels as if Dr. Edward Said is talking about today.
  • @Inmyowndamnwords
    How is it possible that there isn't one comment on such an interesting conversation?
  • @heinzbraunschweig9130
    What a Blessing to have this Talk reminded to us These days or even hours, thank you! - Justice is Not to be found, maybe forgiving but that requires admitting all Injustice, Not to Name sin
  • @rational-public-discourse
    Thank you ICA for bringing up this very informative interview from the past. It is important to have us Americans view the kind of information that our corporate run society has kept from us. If we were not fed programs like professional(fake) wrestling or cartoons or dim-witted sit-coms or all of the other garbage that most Americans have consumed which helps to explain our ignorance of the world, it would be a different world -- a more humane, peaceful, and civil world.
  • @W.Khairi
    Really love the intellectuality and soothing sensation of Dr saeed's voice
  • @mahnazqaiser3371
    A perpetually tragic situation,so well articulated by these fine gentlemen.
  • @srothbardt
    I like both of these gentlemen. I’ve read them both.
  • @fawaziaali6814
    It's too bad that a wonderful man like Edward W Said has passed away but Salman Rushdie is still here!
  • @brucekellett440
    8 minutes in and Rushdie is still talking....please when will you let Said talk?
  • @EsamBaaio
    One of the greatest intellectuals of the middle east and arab world in the last centery.