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Remembering Howard Zinn
I am deeply saddened by the news of the death of Howard Zinn. He was
a longtime columnist for The Progressive, and his most recent piece,
"The Nobel's Feeble Gesture," expressed his dismay about President
Obama getting the Nobel Peace Prize.
Here's an excerpt:
"I think some progressives have forgotten the history of the Democratic Party, to which people have turned again and again in desperate search for saviors, later to be disappointed. Our political history shows us that only great popular movements, carrying out bold actions that awakened the nation and threatened the Establishment, as in the Thirties and the Sixties, have been able to shake that pyramid of corporate and military power and at least temporarily changed course."
It was a "classic" Zinn piece-piercing but playful, saying in no uncertain terms what needed to be said. It's not surprising he was a favorite columnist for many of our subscribers. He was my favorite, too.
On matters of war and peace, he was absolute. In our July 2009 issue, he wrote, "We've got to rethink this question of war and come to the conclusion that war cannot be accepted, no matter what. No matter what the reasons given, or the excuse: liberty, democracy; this, that. War is by definition the indiscriminate killing of huge numbers of people for ends that are uncertain. Think about means and ends, and apply it to war. The means are horrible, certainly. The ends, uncertain. That alone should make you hesitate. . . . We are smart in so many ways. Surely, we should be able to understand that in between war and passivity, there are a thousand possibilities."
What I loved most about Zinn was his sense of humor, which didn't always translate onto the page. I didn't know how funny he was until I heard him speak at our 95th anniversary party six years ago. He was gracious enough to attend our recent 100th birthday bash, too.
When I was a just becoming politicized, I read A People's History of the United States and it blew my mind away. Reading Zinn's book was a rite of passage in my activist circles, and I hope it still is.
It's been nearly twenty years since I've read A People's History, and it is no small thrill to be at a magazine that regularly publishes the work of a peace mongering historian, a World War II soldier who flew bombing missions over Europe but later staunchly advocated for peace. That was thing about Zinn-when he spoke of war, he knew what he was talking about.
Back in 2003 when George W. Bush was gunning for Saddam Hussein, Zinn wrote a cover story for The Progressive called "A Chorus Against War."
This is how it ends:
"If Bush starts a war, he will be responsible for the lives lost, the children crippled, the terrorizing of millions of ordinary people, the American GIs not returning to their families. And all of use will be responsible for bringing that to a halt.
Men who have no respect for human life or for freedom or justice have taken over this beautiful country of ours. It will be up to the American people to take it back."
I would have loved to read what Zinn thought about the recent Supreme Court ruling allowing even more money into our political system. Or what he would have written after hearing Obama's first State of the Union Address. The President's speech hasn't even started yet tonight, but this much I do know: Zinn would have reminded us, as he did over and over, that we need to organize our neighborhoods and workplaces and schools in order to create change, and not leave it up to the politicians.
"Historically, government, whether in the hands of Republicans or democrats, conservatives or liberals, has failed its responsibilities until forced to by direct action: sit-ins and Freedom Rides for the rights of black people, strikes and boycotts for the rights of workers, mutinies and desertions of soldiers in order to stop a war," Zinn wrote in a piece called, "Election Madness" back in March 2008. "Voting is easy and marginally useful, but it is a poor substitute for democracy, which requires direct action by concerned citizens."
Howard Zinn in The Progressive
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Show All"I think some progressives have forgotten the history of the Democratic Party, to which people have turned again and again in desperate search for saviors, later to be disappointed. Our political history shows us that only great popular movements, carrying out bold actions that awakened the nation and threatened the Establishment, as in the Thirties and the Sixties, have been able to shake that pyramid of corporate and military power and at least temporarily changed course."
i beg everyone here at CD who argues endlessly about which politician and which party to support to wake up every morning and re-read these words from Howard Zinn.
"...only great popular movements, carrying out bold actions that awakened the nation and threatened the Establishment, as in the Thirties and the Sixties, have been able to shake that pyramid of corporate and military power..."
That's the truth, brother Howard.
You are missed, but your wisdom and dedication live on.
I discovered Howard Zinn and his writing fairly late in my life, but now I feel like I lost a friend. RIP and thank you
I'm reminded of a poster here who favors the line from the Talmud... "We see the world not as it is, but as we are".
Howard Zinn leaves the legacy, and the tool box, of a master craftsman, a gift that will live on around the world.
Martin Buber also comes to mind when I thinkof Zinn...
"My you acts on me as I act on it".
Nutritious contemplation informing actions
Zinn's departure simply brings to mind the stanza from 'The Rime of the Ancient Mariner':
The many men, so beautiful!
And they all dead did lie:
And a thousand thousand slimy things
Lived on; and so did I.
If the mainstream media would spend a fraction of the time they've wasted on Micheal Jackson, Tiger Woods and just about anything they do, on Howard Zinn's life story of peace and truth, I may even forgive them their transgressions. The rest of the country should know his life's story.
Zinn had an amazingly gentle manner. His touch so light, his voice so soothing, and then, the content of what he said would hit you like a sledge hammer. Liberals warmed to him, and progressives loved him, but he always remained - a Radical!
It's hard to hold back the tears. I will miss him deeply.
"Zinn had an amazingly gentle manner. His touch so light, his voice so soothing, and then, the content of what he said would hit you like a sledge hammer. Liberals warmed to him, and progressives loved him, but he always remained - a Radical!" -- Tom Larsen
Very well said!
Tom, It's been impossible for me to hold back the tears. Tomorrow I pick up the mantle. Today, I mourn.
It's always a devastating loss when a strong progressive/liberal figure passes or retires. Just like I miss Bill Moyers, I will miss Howard Zinn but can only hope that someone or some people can pick up where each of them left off and keep that spirit the same or enhance it. Maybe there is a historian similar to Howard Zinn who shares the same or similar spirit and dedication and isn't just any ordinary historian. That's what Howard Zinn in heaven wants to see.
There is also the element of the focus of Zinn's work being recognition of an embracing, inclusive vision of life. He started working with it before there was an internet - or site like Common Dreams.
I'm an old blue hair and know few young folks these days. There are times when I am struck by the reality that I cannot see, by dint of different experience, the perspective of up and coming young people. It makes me hunker down, live for and treasure the common ground held open by each generation by loving and living shared vision of humanity. That shared vision is what we will always be able to recognize in each other. An accurate accounting of history is a major contribution to that open ground.
A People's History of the United States, even its title is radical -- a PEOPLE'S history. Not of "great men" (and a few token "great women"), not of the glories of war (he knew too well the real horrors), not of presidential power, but of the people that truly made and inhabit this confused and besieged country.
And WHAT a book. Elegantly written, Pithy, Tough, Insightful. Clarifying. Brilliant.
As former posters and the article have indicted it is a life-transforming experience to first read this irreplaceable book written by an irreplaceable man. It was literally a mind-blowing read.
Never got to know Zinn personally, but from the one interview of his I got to see he seemed as remarkable in person as he was in his writing.
My heart goes out to his daughter and remaining family, and to his many fans who are missing him so... sorry, had to dry my eyes... missing him so much today.
Gary
"It's not right to respond to terrorism by terrorizing other people. And furthermore, it's not going to help. Then you might say, "Yes, it's terrorizing people, but it's worth doing because it will end terrorism." But how much common sense does it take to know that you cannot end terrorism by indiscriminately dropping bombs?
-- Howard Zinn, Terrorism and War (2002)
"Some men see things as they are and ask 'why?'
I dream things that never were and ask 'why not?"
Howard Zinn will be etched, held, in my heart forever. A star, campaigner,conscience and treasure of humanity. Where ever you are, friend, may peace, the Gods and all of us, awed by your life, be with you.
Like Joe Hill, Howard Zinn would tell us, "Don't mourn, organize!"
Agitate! Agitate! Agitate!
"The power of the people at the top depends upon the obedience of the people below." -- Howard Zinn
We are the people, let us write some history!
This morning, Democracy Now!, with Amy Goodman, honored Professor Zinn, interviewing Alice Walker, Noam Chomsky, Naomi Klein and Anthony Arnove.
Go to:
www.democracynow.org