--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In the Islamic world, the U.S. is seen in…" description: "\"In the Islamic world, the U.S. is seen in two quite different ways. One view recognizes what an extraordinary country the U.S. is.The other view is of ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/133/edward-said-6412_army_in-the-islamic-world-the-u-s-is-seen-in_2001823.jpg" --- # In the Islamic world, the U.S. is seen in two quite… ![“In the Islamic world, the U.S. is seen in two quite different ways. One view recognizes what an extraordinary country the U.S. is.The other view is of the official United States, the United States of armies and interventions. The United States that in 1953 overthrew the nationalist government of…” quote by Edward Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/133/edward-said-6412_army_in-the-islamic-world-the-u-s-is-seen-in_2001823.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/133/edward-said-6412_army_in-the-islamic-world-the-u-s-is-seen-in_2001823.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/133/edward-said-6412_army_in-the-islamic-world-the-u-s-is-seen-in_2001823.jpg) > “In the Islamic world, the U.S. is seen in two quite different ways. One view recognizes what an extraordinary country the U.S. is.The other view is of the official United States, the United States of armies and interventions. The United States that in 1953 overthrew the nationalist government of Mossadegh in Iran and brought back the shah. The United States that has been involved first in the Gulf War and then in the tremendously damaging sanctions against Iraqi civilians. The United States that is the supporter of Israel against the Palestinians.” [Edward Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-said/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote highlights the dual perception of the United States in the Islamic world: as a powerful nation and as an intervening force with a history of military and political actions that cause suffering. **In simple terms:** Two views of the US: powerful nation and intervening force. Key Takeaway Recognize both admiration and criticism of US actions. Themes politics history foreign policy perception power Mood critical reflective analytical Type observational historical political When to use this quote - diplomatic negotiations - human rights advocacy - media analysis - educational curricula - public opinion surveys Key Concepts imperialism interventionism regional conflict colonial legacy Questions to Reflect On - How do these contrasting views affect US‑Middle East relations? - What role does media play in shaping these perceptions? A Different Perspective The quote may oversimplify diverse opinions within the Islamic world and ignore positive US contributions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Army](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/army/) [Civilians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilians/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Gulf war](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gulf-war/) [Intervention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intervention/) [Iran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/iran/) [Islam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/islam/) [Islamic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/islamic/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [Palestinian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/palestinian/) [Patriotism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patriotism/) [Sanctions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sanctions/) [United states](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united-states/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [The other view is of the official United States, the United States of armies and interventions. The United States that in 1953 overthrew the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-said/the-other-view-is-of-the-official-united-states-the-united-states-of/) [Edward Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-said/) > [The United States that has been involved first in the Gulf War and then in the tremendously damaging sanctions against Iraqi civilians. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-said/the-united-states-that-has-been-involved-first-in-the-gulf-war-and/) [Edward Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-said/) > [On Aug. 19, 1953, Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh of Iran became the first victim of a C.I.A. coup. Ten months later, on June 27,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-kinzer/on-aug-19-1953-prime-minister-mohammad-mossadegh-of-iran-became-the/) [Stephen Kinzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-kinzer/) > [The only good thing I can say about the deal with Iran is that it brought the Arab states and Israel closer together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-netanyahu/the-only-good-thing-i-can-say-about-the-deal-with-iran-is-that-it/) [Benjamin Netanyahu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-netanyahu/) > [ They \[root causes of terror\] come out of a long dialectic of U.S. involvement in the affairs of the Islamic world, the oil-producing world,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-said/they-root-causes-of-terror-come-out-of-a-long-dialectic-of-u-s/) [Edward Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-said/) > [In the Islamic world, the U.S. is seen in two quite different ways. One view recognizes what an extraordinary country the U.S. is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-said/in-the-islamic-world-the-u-s-is-seen-in-two-quite-different-ways-one-3/) [Edward Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-said/) > [ If you look at the curricula of most universities and schools in this country \[USA\], considering our long encounter with the Islamic world, there… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-said/if-you-look-at-the-curricula-of-most-universities-and-schools-in-this/) [Edward Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-said/) > [In the Islamic world, the U.S. is seen in two quite different ways. One view recognizes what an extraordinary country the U.S. is. Every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-said/in-the-islamic-world-the-u-s-is-seen-in-two-quite-different-ways-one/) [Edward Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-said/) > [ \[Roots of terrorism\] come out of a long dialectic of U.S. involvement in the affairs of the Islamic world, the oil-producing world, the Arab… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-said/roots-of-terrorism-come-out-of-a-long-dialectic-of-u-s-involvement-in/) [Edward Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-said/) > [In addition to declaring and destroying all of its weapons of mass destruction, Iraq must end its support for terrorism. It must cease the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/in-addition-to-declaring-and-destroying-all-of-its-weapons-of-mass/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [The medieval Islamic world, from Central Asia to the shores of the Atlantic, was a world where scholars and men of learning flourished. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prince-charles/the-medieval-islamic-world-from-central-asia-to-the-shores-of-the/) [Prince Charles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prince-charles/) > [“In the Islamic world itself also there is a great crisis in he modern established universities precisely because the systems from the West have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seyyed-hossein-nasr/in-the-islamic-world-itself-also-there-is-a-great-crisis-in-he-modern/) [Seyyed Hossein Nasr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seyyed-hossein-nasr/) > [“Khomeini espoused a militant religious doctrine rejecting not only the Middle Eastern political order, but also the contemporary international system since both perpetuated an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/efraim-karsh/khomeini-espoused-a-militant-religious-doctrine-rejecting-not-only/) [Efraim Karsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/efraim-karsh/) > [I think for most Americans, knowledge of the Islamic world was pretty slight before 9/11, and then it was thrust upon us in one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-p-campbell/i-think-for-most-americans-knowledge-of-the-islamic-world-was-pretty/) [Thomas P. Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-p-campbell/) > [Anyone who follows the Middle East and Islamic world in general can't deny it is often a very violent place, that a band of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-engel/anyone-who-follows-the-middle-east-and-islamic-world-in-general-can-t/) [Richard Engel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-engel/) ## More by Edward Said > [Beginning is not only a kind of action. It is also a frame of mind, a kind of work, an attitude, a consciousness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-said/beginning-is-not-only-a-kind-of-action-it-is-also-a-frame-of-mind-a/) [Edward Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-said/) > [It's very hard, for example, to justify the thirty-four-year occupation of the West Bank and Gaza. It's very hard to justify 140 Israeli settlements…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-said/it-s-very-hard-for-example-to-justify-the-thirty-four-year-occupation/) [Edward Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-said/) > [ \[9/11\] was bloody-minded destruction for no other reason than to do it. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-said/9-11-was-bloody-minded-destruction-for-no-other-reason-than-to-do-it/) [Edward Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-said/) > [Look at situations as contingent, not as inevitable, look at them as the result of a series of historical choices made by men and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-said/look-at-situations-as-contingent-not-as-inevitable-look-at-them-as/) [Edward Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-said/) > [I was one of the first people in the Palestinian world, in the late 1970s, to say that there is no military option, either…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-said/i-was-one-of-the-first-people-in-the-palestinian-world-in-the-late/) [Edward Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-said/) > [Take a young man from Gaza living in the most horrendous conditions - most of it imposed by Israel - who straps dynamite around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-said/take-a-young-man-from-gaza-living-in-the-most-horrendous-conditions/) [Edward Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-said/) > [ \[One task of intellectuals is\] to break down the stereotypes and reductive categories that are . . . limiting to human thought and communication. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-said/one-task-of-intellectuals-is-to-break-down-the-stereotypes-and/) [Edward Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-said/) > [I have never known what is Arabic or English, or which one was really mine beyond any doubt. What I do know, however, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-said/i-have-never-known-what-is-arabic-or-english-or-which-one-was-really/) [Edward Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-said/) > [Every single empire in its official discourse has said that it is not like all the others, that its circumstances are special, that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-said/every-single-empire-in-its-official-discourse-has-said-that-it-is-not/) [Edward Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-said/) > [ The just response to this terrible event \[9/11\] should be to go immediately to the world community, the United Nations. The rule of international… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-said/the-just-response-to-this-terrible-event-9-11-should-be-to-go/) [Edward Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-said/) > [Since when does a militarily occupied people have the responsibility for a peace movement?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-said/since-when-does-a-militarily-occupied-people-have-the-responsibility/) [Edward Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-said/) > [Refuse to allow yourself to become a vegetable that simply absorbs information, pre-packaged, pre-ideologized , because no message.. is anything but an ideological package…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-said/refuse-to-allow-yourself-to-become-a-vegetable-that-simply-absorbs/) [Edward Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-said/) > [No cause, no God, no abstract idea can justify the mass slaughter of innocents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-said/no-cause-no-god-no-abstract-idea-can-justify-the-mass-slaughter-of/) [Edward Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-said/) > [What we must eliminate are systems of representation that carry with them the authority which has become repressive because it doesn't permit or make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-said/what-we-must-eliminate-are-systems-of-representation-that-carry-with/) [Edward Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-said/) > [Part of the main plan of imperialism... is that we will give you your history, we will write it for you, we will re-order…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-said/part-of-the-main-plan-of-imperialism-is-that-we-will-give-you-your/) [Edward Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-said/) [Explore all 97 Edward Said quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-said/) ## More Army quotes > [There are no more worlds to conquer!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/there-are-no-more-worlds-to-conquer/) [Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) > [Every army in the history of the world has always had some deserters, usually much greater than we have today, because once again every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-hilferty/every-army-in-the-history-of-the-world-has-always-had-some-deserters/) [Bryan Hilferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-hilferty/) > [It is the rule in war, if our forces are ten to the enemy's one, to surround him; if five to one, to attack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/it-is-the-rule-in-war-if-our-forces-are-ten-to-the-enemy-s-one-to/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [The surprise of an army is now next to an impossibility. ... 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