Howard Zinn - Historian who made history. (Caption couresy of Dave Zirin of the Nation Magazine.)
Howard Zinn was my kind of guy: a humanitarian activist historian. He changed the way we look at history—not from a prospective of the establishment, but through the eyes of those who struggled against it. He was anti-war and pro-people—the average kind, not the wealthy and powerful. He railed against the dark side of capitalism—the kind that enslaves and demeans American people.
Howard Zinn was my kind of guy: a dissenter, a bucker (is that a word?) of convention, and a questioner of the status quo. He stood for standing up to authority. He said, “Civil disobedience is not our problem. Our problem is civil obedience.” (Love that.) He also said that without dissent there is no change to the balance of power in our society. Consequently, dissent doesn’t disrupt, it equalizes. Or at least gets people’s attention.
Howard Zinn was my kind of guy: a writer, teacher, and orator. His words inspire. His books make you think. His most famous book is A People’s History of the United States—over 2 million printed—and which sells more every year than the previous year. If you haven’t already read it, check it out. You will be the wiser and better for it. There was also a documentary made about his book, The People Speak, produced by Josh Brolin and Matt Damon (that aired on the History Channel last month). This is a spiffy little book (about 80 pages) that presents “American voices, some famous, some little known.” Excellent reading—and not just because Mark Twain is in it.
Howard Zinn was my kind of guy: a patriot who wanted to teach America about itself. He didn’t flinch in revealing the bad side of the American experience, not as a condemnation but as a way to learn about and improve the situation. He thought it was impossible to be a neutral or passive citizen, because as such you were “collaborating with whatever is going on.”
Howard also seemed liked a really great guy—decent, kind, and generous (and devoted to his wife!)—the kind of person you’d want to have over for dinner. First because you know he wouldn’t complain if the cooking wasn’t all that delectable and second, you’d want him do all the talking because he was so intelligent/informed/interesting and affable. [Except maybe I would mention to him about my AAPS Movement (Average Americans Protecting Society). I think he would approve.]
America has lost an authentic voice of the people. But his words and deeds will live on and continue to inspire generations to come.
P.S. Here’s a “Yikes” comment Howard made in The Nation magazine earlier this month:
“I think people are dazzled by Obama’s rhetoric, and that people ought to begin to understand that Obama is going to be a mediocre president —which means, in our time, a dangerous president—unless there is some national movement to push him in a better direction.”
