Howard Zinn

[tdw]

I see in the press that Howard Zinn (American Historian, author, activist, playwright, intellectual and Professor of Political Science at Boston University from 1964 to 1988), died recently.

Now I know that many of you will not agree with me here and I care not a jot about that but here was a truely great American, your country is the poorer for his passing.

On my first visit to the USA in the early 1980s I picked up a copy of Zinn's "A Peoples History of the United States" and to this day consider it the most important work of American history I've ever read. That is not to say that it is the best history of the USA ever written but for a non American it was an absolute revelation.

For whatever reason I've never gone looking for anything else by the man and had no idea that he was as well known nor as influental as he undoubtedly was. Indeed I had it in my head that APHOTUS was a one off and it was only when I came across an obituary that I found he had written much more than that.

Sure he was left wing, indeed I've seen him described as a marxist but then given that I've been described here , only half jokingly, as a communist, i'll not hold that against him.

In one of his last interviews he said he'd like to be remembered "for introducing a different way of thinking about the world, about war, about human rights, about equality," and "for getting more people to realize that the power which rests so far in the hands of people with wealth and guns, that the power ultimately rests in people themselves and that they can use it. At certain points in history, they have used it. Black people in the South used it. People in the women's movement used it. People in the anti-war movement used it. People in other countries who have overthrown tyrannies have used it."

He said he wanted to be known as "somebody who gave people a feeling of hope and power that they didn't have before."

I can't think of anyone who had such a powerful and benign influence. His historical work changed the way millions of people saw the past. The happy thing about Howard was that in the last years he could gain satisfaction that his contributions were so impressive and recognized.
— Noam Chomsky

Cheers to you Howard. You are one with whom who I most certainly wish I could have a chat at some time.

(quotations came from Wikipedia page on HZ)

[fjon]

Howard Zinn was a stalwart, an important intellectual and a full participant in his times with his uncompromising populist values. He will be missed. Here's a lovely remembrance by Alice Walker.

Alice Walker says goodbye to her friend Howard Zinn - The Boston Globe

[Alibaba]

Howard Zinn.. A peoples History of the United States.

Unfortunatly most americans dont want to hear any alterntives to Land of the Free and home of the Brave.

I have friend who is a History Professor in a local HighSchool. After reading Zinn and USMC General Smedley Butlers book, War is a Racket.com I stated that we americans are Brainwashed. I asked him to read Zinn, Butler, History of the federal reserve bankers and In search of Enemys. After reviewing these books he admitted that he had no Idea of the sinister motives and Covert operations of the US shadow govt.

US History was set up by the Nat Education administration. They print the books and schedule the curricum. They make up the tests.. To Pass History, you have to put down thier correct answer. To Advance in History to teach, you can only teach what you are told to teach. I guess you could discusss Zinn`s book, but you cant use his version of History to pass a test.

After Castro kicked out the Mafia and corrupted Bastita, IKE demanded that Castro return all land to the private owners. Castro asked IKE to return all USA land to the Indians and compensate Africans who were kidnapped from thier homeland and sold into slavlery.

You show me that Ike/Castro memo`s in a History book.?

[xort]

I loved him in "Get Shorty"

[CKH]

Here is a more objective view of Zinn:
"Zinn was a sad and confused man but a man with a message. Here, in brief, is that message: There is nothing wrong in the world that the demise of America will not cure. There is nothing wrong in the world that the rise of communism will not correct. America and its principles are founded entirely on lies, greed and corruption. Communism is the hope of the world. America has done nothing praiseworthy or laudable in its entire history. Communists are to be praised and supported for their goals, and never criticized for their methods. I will use no footnotes nor substantiate any facts in my writings, because context would confuse the issues. Any historical resentment, hostility or jealousy I can resurrect and incite will hasten the end of Democracy and that is my only goal and motivation. High school, college and University teachers can be easily led and will be used to spread my propaganda. They are being used today, at public expense."