Interesting article/interview with Edward Said. One of the more striking pieces that is particularly relevant to my current personal experiences:

"What is quite worrisome is the absence of analysis and reflection. Take the word 'terrorism.' It has become synonymous now with anti-Americanism, which, in turn, has become synonymous with being critical of the United States, which, in turn, has become synonymous with being unpatriotic. That's an unacceptable series of equations. The definition of terrorism has to be more precise, so that we are able to discriminate between, for example, what it is that the Palestinians are doing to fight the Israeli military occupation and terrorism of the sort that resulted in the World Trade Center bombing. "

Edward W. Said Interview | David Barsamian | November 2001 issue of The Progressive magazine