The passing of Mahmoud Darwish has understandably prompted profound grieving among the Palestinian people as well it should. Not only a poet, Darwish was both a member and a frequent critic of the PLO, eloquently voicing the sentiments of many of his countrymen in his criticism while expressing their frustration at the continued state of exile in which many find themselves. There is, however, something to learn from this outpouring of grief at the death of a poet and something which Saudis, in particular, should take to heart. Many have said that we are in something of a post-literary society. Indeed, technology has conspired with some of the best of the world's creative minds to usurp the role of literature in society and replace it with TV, movies and now the Internet. The word was once the focal point of learning, entertainment, art and cultural endeavors. Even the advent of radio did not change that fact, though it widened its reach. Movies and TV, however, have given prominence to the image, however, and the respect which was once the due of writers and poets has been whittled down. TV and movies have taken us into an era of superstardom, transferring the respect society once had for writers of true talent and intellect to vapid personalities whose “accomplishments” will quickly fade with time. Darwish, then, in some ways is a window into a richer past, a holdover from a society that valued its writers more than anyone else. That his passing has brought such mourning is a monument not to his popularity but to the voice he raised on behalf of his fellow Palestinians. While there are still Palestinian poets who will take up the mantle, it will be difficult to follow in the footsteps of a writer who did not grow up in a world of satellite dishes and DVDs. __
