The Nazis were the standard bearers of this vision. They never forgot this burden, even when annihilating millions of inhabitants of Europe. The writer of the preceding entry in the Encyclopedia Judaica attempted to explain how this term came into currency in the camps. One notes that the writer, in his definition, made no attempt to avoid the customary Western stereotype of Muslims. This issue also simultaneously gives rise to another question, concerning the dissemination of information.
Information is a powerful tool that can be used to serve the interests of a particular party.
Turning to the question of historical understanding, this is a domain in which we are clearly at the mercy of the West. We do not read Western history from our perspective, but rather from their perspective, just as it is fed to us. That is our fault, not the fault of the West. The history books and references are there for all of us to consult. It is up to us to examine these sources and reinterpret the facts, in the light of careful scrutiny of the subtext of their contents and in the light also of newly discovered information, or information that has not previously been accorded the centrality it deserves.