State of the Union and Howard Zinn's Death

by Demetria Martinez on Jan. 28, 2010

I was getting ready to listen to President Obama's State of the Union Speech when I came across the heartbreaking news on the Huffington Post that historian Howard Zinn died of a heart attack at age 87. Howard Zinn Dies: Historian, Activist Was Early Opponent Of U.S. Involvement In Vietnam War.

The man who gave us A People's History of the United States will not be here to mentor us as we seek ways to end two wars and urge our leaders to stand up for a social justice agenda.

Now, he speaks to us from the grave, prophetic as always.

According to the Huffington Post article, one of Zinn's last public writings was an essay that appeared last week in The Nation. It was about the first year of the Obama administration:

"I've been searching hard for a highlight," he wrote, adding that he wasn't disappointed because he never expected a lot from Obama.

"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."

Zinn expresses the demoralization many progressives are feeling. We don't understand how a Nobel Peace president can be prosecuting two wars, diverting resources away from efforts that sustain humanity, such as ameliorating hunger and AIDS, slowing climate warming and really helping Haiti emerge from the rubble.

So let's honor Zinn's memory by taking up his challenge, to push President Obama "in a better direction."

The better direction to push

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Jan. 28, 2010.

The better direction to push Obama, and yourself, would be towards conservatism.

Howard Zinn rejected "The

Submitted by cashelguy2 (not verified) on Jan. 28, 2010.

Howard Zinn rejected "The Great Man" theory of history that historical writing should be only about presidents, generals, senators and captains of industry. He believe it should be about people who are ignored in mainstream histories: women, people of color, dissenters, the exploited, those who challenge the status quo. It is no wonder he is so despised by establishment types.

Steve

Please read carefully this

Submitted by frère charles du désert OSB OBLAT (Congrégation de Subiaco) (not verified) on Jan. 28, 2010.

Please read carefully this Lenten season the Reverend Father Daniel Berrigan's Night Flight to Hanoi: War Diary With Eleven Poems and remember within it his astute portrait of the great Howard Zinn, tender and true.

This news is to weep, but thanks for receiving it so gently through my fellow New Mexican Ms. Martinez. God now receives Mister Zinn, and we are left with all his hard and courageous and nonviolent work and writings for Peace. Please see You Can't Be Neutral On A Moving Train. And may God ever preserve most mercifully among us the wonderful and Reverend Father Daniel Berrigan, once fellow traveler with Zinn to Hanoi, serving there as his Boswell.

This news hit my gut. Howard

Submitted by jdog (not verified) on Jan. 28, 2010.

This news hit my gut. Howard Zinn, presente.

I agree with Zinn's

Submitted by Joetx (not verified) on Jan. 28, 2010.

I agree with Zinn's assessment of Obama. I know it's only been 1 year, but Obama WASTED BIG opportunities for REAL reform of health care & the financial system. Obama was never a supporter of a public option, which is the only way to make the medical insurance industry honest. And, instead of pushing to put back in place the regulations/safeguards that prevented financial institutions from playing games with our money & homes, all that was done was to bail them out. Of course, there's TWO wars that our servicemembers are still fighting.

Permit me please a four word

Submitted by frère charles du désert OSB OBLAT (Congrégation de Subiaco) (not verified) on Jan. 29, 2010.

Permit me please a four word retort:

Sonia Sotomayor
Hilda Solis

Howard Zinn is one of the

Submitted by cashelguy2 (not verified) on Jan. 28, 2010.

Howard Zinn is one of the giants of the peace and justice movement of the last century. In an age when too many academics rush to get in on the government and corporate grant gravy train, he was more interested in giving voice to the voiceless and writing about parts of American history others would rather ignore.

Steve

The country will miss

Submitted by R. Dennis Porch, MD (not verified) on Jan. 29, 2010.

The country will miss Howard's great understanding of current history as new issues make themselves known. However, he will continue to speak to us from the grave with his prophetic voice and understanding of history and the human condition.
May he rest in peace and it is time for his students to take over on current issues as he was one that promoted peace and understanding.

R. Dennis Porch, MD

I simply wished to opinion as

Submitted by mantelet (not verified) on Apr. 14, 2011.

I simply wished to opinion as well as claim that we truly experienced studying your website submit in this article.

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