Said's Orientalism

"Orientalism" that Said raises as a novel idea is nothing new to a student of Queens College. I can name at least a half a dozen classes, from anthropology to psychology, and everything in between, that have raised this similar issue about how everything is socially constructed. I'm sure everybody in the class has heard similar themes about how its always "The West" that has caused injustices all over the world and how the world would probably be a better place if "The West" did not exert their influence all over the planet. Despite not being too original, Said does add in a somewhat novel idea, though a perspective I have not heard of, namely the idea of how the authors normally focuses on the external view of the Orient. Said contends that the Orientalist is always situated outside the text and does not truthfully know what is going on inside of the Orient, just as an observer and passerby. This is an interesting little tidbit of information, and solidifies his argument as well.