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PDF versionHoward Zinn: Small acts multiplied by millions
by John Dear SJ on Feb. 02, 2010
There is a basic weakness in governments, however massive their armies, however vast their wealth, however they control images and information, because their power depends on the obedience of citizens, of soldiers, of civil servants, of journalists and writers and teachers and artists. When the citizens begin to suspect they have been deceived and withdraw their support, government loses its legitimacy and its power. We have seen this happen in recent decades all around the globe. It’s the history of the Philippines, Indonesia, Greece, Portugal, Spain, Russia, East Germany, Poland, Hungary, and Romania. Think of Argentina and South Africa and other places where change looked hopeless and then it happened. Remember Somoza in Nicaragua scurrying to his private plane, Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos hurriedly assembling their jewels and clothes, the shah of Iran desperately searching for a country that would take him in as he fled the crowds in Tehran, Duvalier in Haiti barely managing to put on his pants to escape the wrath of the Haitian people.
And it is the mark of enlightened citizens in a democracy that they know the difference between law and justice, between what is legal and what is right. It is the mark of wise men and women to know what is important and what is unimportant. The flesh of Vietnamese men, women and children, the blood of young American soldiers, the anguish of parents grieving over lost children -- that is important. The papers and paraphernalia of the system that selects people for war -- these are unimportant. Let us hope that our country will become wise. But until it does -- indeed, in order that it should -- we as its citizens must act in the wisdom of our own conscience.
On the other side are formidable forces: money, political power, the major media. On our side are the people of the world and a power greater than money or weapons: the truth. Truth has a power of its own. That age-old lesson -- that everything we do matters -- is the meaning of the people’s struggle here in the United States and everywhere. A poem can inspire a movement. A pamphlet can spark a revolution. Civil disobedience can arouse people and provoke us to think. When we organize with one another, when we get involved, when we stand up and speak out together, we can create a power no government can suppress.
Perhaps it will take a combination of factors to end war. It will become intolerable for the people and impractical for the Establishment. And the crucial factor making it impractical will be, as it was for the Soviet Union in Afghanistan and the United States in Vietnam, that the citizens of warmaking nations will no longer tolerate the deaths of their offspring and the theft of their national wealth. There is still time to make this twenty-first century different from the last century. But we must all play a part.
Last week, we lost one of the great original voices in the nation, 87-year-old historian and peace activist Howard Zinn. His was a unique voice -- of truth, clarity, wisdom, sanity, humanity. He was the first of his kind, and his history lessons influenced millions.
A combat veteran of World War II, Howard Zinn taught political science at Spellman College and Boston University and authored dozens of books. A long-time activist, he addressed peace rallies, wrote countless essays against militarism, and repeatedly committed civil disobedience against war and landed in jail.
Howard ZinnBut it was his breakthrough, two-million-copy-selling masterpiece, A People’s History of the United States, that opened the door for many to embrace a new vision of peace. In this classic work, he told not an “alternative” history of our nation, but the real history -- the story of the movements that resisted slavery, oppression, sexism, racism, greed, the story of ordinary people who changed the country. It is a history that few knew about it, much less taught.
We’ve all been told that history is the story of the rich, the powerful, the warmakers. Howard Zinn taught us that true history is the story of the nonviolent, the peacemaking, the resisters who struggled for justice and peace, from Jesus to Dr. King. With this truth, we know that each one of us can make history, as Howard himself did.
“People, when organized, have enormous power, more than any government,” Howard wrote in his book, A Power Governments Cannot Suppress. “Our history runs deep with the stories of people who stand up, speak out, dig in, organize, connect, form networks of resistance and alter the course of history.
I knew Howard for more than 20 years through our friend Jesuit Fr. Daniel Berrigan. Howard wrote a chapter for my 1996 book of essays in honor of Dan, Apostle of Peace. There, Howard told in detail the story of their famous January 1968 journey to Hanoi, where they suffered under U.S. bombs and received three U.S. airmen who had been held as prisoners of war. Later in Boston, in 1970, Howard hosted Dan while Dan evaded FBI agents hot on his trail. Like Dan, Howard took bold risks for justice and peace. He practiced the lessons of history he taught.
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“Of course Dan violated the law, but he was right,” Howard wrote about Dan’s “Catonsville Nine” action.
Over the years, I met him on various occasions -- at events and gatherings -- and I invariably found him friendly, warm, and kind. He always encouraged my efforts to make peace. Last month, I sent him my new book, Daniel Berrigan: Essential Writings, which I knew he would enjoy.
That warm smile, shock of tousled hair, the truth that he spoke so casually -- Howard was an original. He belonged in that rare pantheon of original voices who despite long odds somehow keep the disparate parts of the movement moving -- Amy Goodman, transforming the media through “Democracy Now;” Michael Moore, transforming film through documentary; Paul Farmer, transforming medicine through his preferential option for the poor; Helen Prejean and Kathy Kelly, transforming charity work into powerful advocacy for justice and disarmament; Martin Sheen and Susan Sarandon transforming celebrity into activism; Joan Baez and Pete Seeger, transforming music into political action; Thomas Gumbleton, Joan Chittister, and Daniel Berrigan transforming church routine into steadfast peacework; and so many others.
Howard laid the groundwork. He showed us that the purpose of academic work and research, in his case, history and political science, is to help the global grassroots movements of social change for justice and peace. He taught us the past, precisely that we might all work to create a new future.
“The challenge remains,” he wrote.
“Look for a peace movement to join,” he told students last November in a talk. “It will look small, pitiful and helpless at first, but that’s how all movements start.”
Over lunch in Santa Fe a few years ago, Howard told a group of us that after a lifetime of studying the history of U.S. social movements, he had come to a conclusion. He said every major movement for social change in our history was hopeless. Here, I thought, was a discouraging word.
Hopeless from the beginning, hopeless through the middle, hopeless up to the very end -- people laboring toward a hopless goal. But then, like a bolt out of a blue sky, a breakthrough. The key, he said, was that ordinary people kept at it despite all evidence. Ordinary people doing their small acts for justice every day -- here was the key. Over time peaceful acts add up to something big. What the powerful fear most, he said, are the grass-roots movements that won’t go away.
So our job is not to give up, give in, or go away. Take action, speak clearly as you can, and trust the lesson of history -- a kind of holy principle in the nature of things. Truthful, nonviolent movements are destined to win.
“Small acts, when multiplied by millions of people, can quietly become a power no government can suppress, a power than can transform the world.”
Over these last painful years, Howard became a true prophet to the nation. He preached that we mustn’t depend on governments to abolish war -- national and economic interests are too entangled in militarism. He preached a radical inclusiveness, where we regard the world’s children as our own. He preached the end of war isn’t just desirable; it’s necessary for the survival of the world. With that, Howard joined a long legacy of prophetic visionaries who reclaimed the imagination for a disarmed world.
How abolish war? he asked.
In his 2005 commencement speech to Spellman College, where he began his academic career in 1956, he encouraged the graduates to look beyond government chicanery and media deception. He told them to trust the resiliency of truth -- and trusting truth, work toward building a world we can be proud of. “My hope,” he said, “is that your generation will demand that your children be brought up in a world without war.”
Howard did his part by giving us hope and vision. He’s gone from us now. Now it’s our turn. Let’s do what we can for a future of peace. And like Howard, let’s never give up.
****
To contribute to Catholic Relief Services’ “Fr. John Dear Haiti Fund,” go to: http://donate.crs.org/goto/fatherjohn. John’s latest book, Daniel Berrigan: Essential Writings (Orbis), along with other recent books, A Persistent Peace and Put Down Your Sword, as well as Patricia Normile’s John Dear On Peace, are available from www.amazon.com. For further information, or to schedule a lecture, go to www.johndear.org
Howard Zinn was my hero. I
Howard Zinn was my hero. I live in Larchmont in Westchester County and I have contributed many pieces over the last 14 years to local newspapers. Many of those pieces and facts are directly related to the inspiration and work of Howard Zinn. I plan on contributing another piece paying homage to him. Thank you Dr. Zinn for a job well done
Thank you, John, for this
Thank you, John, for this tribute and re-cap. You remind us of the importance of continuing to ask the hard questions.
I was introduced to Howard
I was introduced to Howard Zinn as an older undergraduate student at a Jesuit university. Not only was Zinn a WWII combat veteran, he was part of a crew who flew bombing missions over Europe, primarily Germany. I was born in Germany in 1942 and endured those bombing raids which traumatized me and my mother and brother. It was reading Zinn that was so helpful, along with years of very good therapy, that helped me immensely overcome the impact of those war years. I already knew that war was not the answer from my personal experience. This article is an excellent summary of the life work of an outstanding human being who questioned his part in the war, the war itself and accurately defined the causes of war in general. Truly a prophet. Like a previous comment, I too have used Zinn's knowledge as it relates to war and non-violence to inform others of the futility of using war to solve our differences.
It is sad, that only three comments have been posted in response to this article about the work of this wonderful man.
The Reverend Father John
The Reverend Father John Dear, SJ, here confesses: "Last month, I sent him my new book, Daniel Berrigan: Essential Writings, which I knew he would enjoy."
The most essential writings of the Reverend Father Daniel Berrigan, SJ, we can read at this moment in our history, is the prophetic Night Flight to Hanoi: Daniel Berrigan's War Diary With Eleven Poems, in which Father Berrigan is accompanied by Zinn, and serves as the latter's Boswell along that historic, near hopeless, nonviolent journey for peace and reconciliation.
Still available is several editions on amazon from a few dollars to over one hundred dollars, it serves as essential portrait of each great and human being.
Anyone for a night flight into Iraq?
I'm sure the North Vietnamese
I'm sure the North Vietnamese government was happy to greet Zinn and Berrigan. After all, they were only peace loving agrarians interested in peace and freedom for all (except, of course, their own people, South Vietnamese, Cambodians etc.). But, frere charles, who will you meet with in Iraq? The war is over except for those who want to re-start the whole thing by bombing women and children in the marketplace.
Mr. Moody, Read the book. The
Mr. Moody,
Read the book.
The Popes have condemned our invasion and occupation of Iraq.
Hey, how about those WMD's? How about those links to 9/11?
None on both counts.
Dude,
Let's do a Night Flight to Gaza sometime!
But, Mr. Moody, surely you
But, Mr. Moody, surely you understand that bombing women and children in the marketplace is no worse than American or Western military forces killing terrorists. The first group is just trying to protest and drive out the second group who are "imperialist", "oppressive" "invaders" from the West.
It is not possible to find consistency in the "progressive" movement, because there isn't any. That is the direct result of a movement based on emotions and feelings, not on logic and reason.
International trade is the
International trade is the most effective means to reduce war. Where there are economic ties, there is a strong motivation not to go to war. Money speaks.
Take China as an example. There was a time when Communist China used to be considered a potential enemy of the U.S. Now that both countries are heavily invested in each other, it would be economic suicide to wage war with each other. So now we are friendly trade partners.
Howard Zinn was a guest on
Howard Zinn was a guest on Bill Moyers Journal this past December. The discussion centered around a documentary directed by Matt Damon of selections from his People's History of the United Sates. The collections are read by actors, poets, and writers, and present a vivid documentary of the people's history. Moving to say the least, and all dealing in eternal truths. Thank you, Howard Zinn for being the prophet and teacher you were. Rest in Peace.
Peace and blessings.
Dear Robert Moody: you miss
Dear Robert Moody: you miss the point entirely......homicidal violence and enmity knows no political boundaries. The class war waged by the human "alpha" wolves(aka the greedy who lust for power and dominance over others) is never over, be they capitalist elites (oligarchs,plutocrats,corporatists), communist "nomenclatura" or socialist bureaucrats, until they are relegated to ash heap of history, where they truly belong. The "them" vs. "us" argument(also known as Neanderthalic tribalism) holds no water in this regard.....the Christian's sole duty is to love as Christ loved, live as Christ lived and, if necessary, die as Christ died - loving one's enemies. It's really that simple......your side's murder is no more righteous than any other side's murder....period.
Pace e bene,
Jan
About 18 months ago,
About 18 months ago, wandering through the shelves of new acquisitions in our Public Library Main Branch, I came across Zinn's People's History of the United States, and stood there in the aisle for an hour reading the book. I was blown out of my mind. I had never heard of Howard Zinn, and thought the book was just out. I started telling friends about this amazing new book I had just discovered. For quite awhile I met no one who knew either the book or Howard Zinn, but then I began to run into people who had known him for years. I still didn't know how deeply he was involved with the peace movement, although I'm part of a group called the Center for Peace and Non-Violence. And I didn't realize how old he was until I read his obituary the other day. I feel like I wasted a lifetime not knowing that books like his were available. Unfortunately I bought the book, which means I probably won't get around to reading the whole thing unless I come down with something that keeps me in bed for awhile, but I feel like I have this little jewel of truth in my house.20
The process for Howard Zinn's
The process for Howard Zinn's canonization should start immediately.
Coming from your typical
Coming from your typical mindless mainstream America, I began reading Zinn in small doses during the Reagan era. Even four or five pages. I found him very challenging; his insights upended much of my sociopolitical conditioning: Honor authority, obey all laws, get along, be successful. In essence, a mix of Catholic tradition and the Protestant work ethic which, while giving lip service to peace and social justice, generally railed only against abortion, sloth, and radicalism. But Zinn was like a tiny pebble in my shoe - mildly annoying but not enough to discard. His remarks nagged at me.
Then in western Mass in 1986, at my alma mater, UMass-Amherst, I went to a teach-in held by Sixties' firebrand, Abbie Hoffman. The teach-in was decent; but then escalated as we drifted over to the Student Union ballroom and Abbie unleasehed an incendiary speech. As he itemized the lurid and vicious history of the CIA's undermining of legitimate governments, the audience's moral outrage soared. Incidentally, Hoffman's speech coincided with a fledgling movement to stop CIA recruitment on campus. After the speech, several score marched to a nearby university building, ironically called the Office of Public Information; the Administration Building we'd originally headed for was chained as we approached. After a high-spirited, sixty of us were arrested and jailed.
Six months later, after umpteen organizing meetings, fifteen of us chose to be tried in Northampton on trespassing charges based on our occupation. Amy Carter, then a Brown student, was also a defendant. Then I really encountered vintage Zinn. Calmly and eloquently, he addressed a conventional middle-class jury about civil protest and social change. As he spoke, the jurors' distrust and revulsion of "lawbreakers" softened palpably. To this day, I'm convinced the trial, masterfully run by veteran activist attorney Leonard Weinglass, was largely swayed by Zinn's mesmerizing testimony. As an "expert witness" in history, he filled in whole chapters of critical American history that have been buried. A measured and compelling antidote to the common propaganda.
Now that Zinn's gone, the torch of social change has passed to us. The flame, a vision of a more just and peaceful world, he valiantly carried throughout his life - both in academia and at the barricades. Let us proudly bear it still.
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