I was under the impression half of Orientalism was creating an other to give a opposition to the European "west" idea, not quite so much out of an idea of cultural tolerance.

This is from a whole one lecture thing we had in Geography though (which I can't find my notes on because I'm on a different computer). So I think it was just from Said(??) or something. Anyway it only proves your point. Even if you're glorifying the other, it still can be racist.

I do like how only indigenious groups (and to a lesser extent I think farmers can) can bond with the land. Doesn't matter how many generations of your family/or how long you've lived near/on "the land" you obviously can't derive any sort of spiritual satisfaction from it, to anywhere near the same extent, no matter how important it is to you. Heh look at that, I'm getting bitter now, and so it's probably a good idea to stop rambling :P