‘People’s History’ author Howard Zinn dies at 87 – Washington Post
January 28, 2010 by John Allen · 7 Comments
A great, honest and incredibly genuine American scholar died today. A veteran of World War II where he served in combat as an Army Air Force bombadier, Howard Zinn is probably the greatest “people’s historian” this country will ever have.
His book, “A People’s History of the United States” is an absolute must read for any serious progressive or populist American academic. It will literally change your life if you read it. If you have never read it, buy it and read it. Trust me, you will never be the same after you finish the book.
In a piece entitled ‘People’s History’ author Howard Zinn dies at 87 , the Washington Post does a fine job of telling the story of a great and humble academic who told American history the way it actually happened to real, humble and hard working average Americans of all time periods. And what made him even better is that he lived so much of that history himself.
Here is a powerful paragraph from that piece:
“War continued his education. Eager to help wipe out the Nazis, Zinn joined the Army Air Corps in 1943 and even persuaded the local draft board to let him mail his own induction notice. He flew missions throughout Europe, receiving an Air Medal, but he found himself questioning what it all meant. Back home, he gathered his medals and papers, put them in a folder and wrote on top: “Never again.”
You did tremendous good in your life Professor and you did it without losing your integrity. You simply told the truth; you loved your country that much. May you rest in peace.
שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל, יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ, יְיָ אֶחָד
Shema Yisrael Adonai Eloheynu Adonai Ehad
CWO3 Tom Barnes, USCG (Ret.)
Howard Zinn, an immensely influential enemy of our Republic, has passed away. I prefer not speak ill of the recently deceased, but I can’t ignore it either. A prolific writer and a history professor at Boston University, he helped root generations of unwitting Americans in marxist principles.
Zinn’s warm demeanor and charisma often disarmed the young and naive, who digested his palatable anti-Americanism. Few radicals have done as much to warp minds, promote revisionist history, and transform generations as Zinn. His vile and popular history book, A People’s History of the United States, stands as a blueprint for politically correct history.
John Silber, former Boston University president, once referred to Zinn as an example of a professor who poisoned the well of academia. I couldn’t agree more. He may be gone, but he left a legacy that will take years to destroy, and we will destroy it!
No you won’t. Howard Zinn was a great American. You have apparently read nothing he wrote. John Silber, as everyone who worked at BU knows, was a moron.
The warped minds are the neocons and the “Good Germans” in this country today.
FLYBOYS
World War-I gave us the flyboys
Who flew by the seat of their pants.
Many would never return from war
While others survived by chance.
Their planes were mostly canvas and wood
Gasoline, bullets, bombs and poison gas.
Every pilot carried his own pistol
Wearing leathers, scarf and goggles of glass.
Aviators had no Parachutes
To escape their burning plane.
Many were forced to jump to their death
Or self inflect a bullet to the brain.
Blimps where known as battleships of the sky
The roar of their engines gave reason for fear.
They flew so high they were hard to shoot down
Hiding above clouds till their targets drew near.
Tracer bullets for the first time were used
In the guns of airplanes to set blimps a fire.
The skies became man’s highway of death
With duty and honor their driving desire.
How many Flyboys have we lost since then
Those days of the Great War and more?
Where do we get such brave souls of chance
Who rise from the rest in the battles of war?
By Soldier For The Lord
Tom Zart
Most Published Poet
On The Web
You can hear all of Tom Zart’s 350 poems
of love, war, faith and more 24-7 on web radio at
http://internetvoicesradio.com/Arch-TomZart.htm
Tom Zart ARCHIVES:
PEARL HARBOR
Sunday, December the seventh
In the year of 1941,
While most of Hawaii still slept
Came the planes of the Rising Sun.
Waves of bombers and fighters flew
From the decks of the Japanese ships.
While our planes were still on the ground
“Banzai” was spoken from their lips.
The winds of war had been blowing
Across the oceans of our earth
Though not till Pearl had been bombed
Did we realize what freedom’s worth.
Wars are fought and won on two fronts
At home and on the battle line.
Both are equally important
When war consumes our heart and mind.
The attack brought us World War II
With death, pain and separation.
All who had served were well aware
Of their sacrifice for nation.
OKINAWA
Okinawa was to be our last stop
Before we invaded Japan.
The largest landing of the Pacific war
As our soldiers ran across the sand.
At first our marines were scarcely opposed
But on the fifth day hell they found.
A solid wall of human resistance
Firing their weapons from caves in the ground.
Air power and big guns had little affect
On their cliff forts carved deep in the limestone.
It took man against man to root them out
As flying bullets pierced flesh and bone.
Kamikaze pilots crashed their planes
Knocking out transports and war ships.
As the Imperial air force struck our fleet
Cries of fear and hate spewed from lips.
One hundred, ten thousand Japanese
By the end of the battle were killed.
Over twelve thousand Americans died,
Before, just our flag flew over the field.
MIDWAY
It was June the 4th 1942
As I was floating in the ocean alone
The ship I had sailed on, sank to the bottom
And I thought I would never again, see home.
The Japanese fleet had steamed in from the east
With the intentions of capturing Midway.
Though they were stopped by American war ships
Whose guns, bombs and torpedoes planes saved the day.
All night long, I watched the fireworks of war
And on the second day we turned up the heat.
As big bombers from Hawaii dropped their loads
On Japanese ships who soon chose to retreat.
An imperial pilot came floating close by
Who had been chewed on by the beasts of the sea.
I couldn’t help but feel passion for this is man
Who had answered his call just like me.
When it was over, I was plucked from the deep
By men in a lifeboat just after the dawn.
For two days I had watched the battle for, Midway
Now it’s quiet and the enemy has gone.
D-DAY
D-Day raised the curtain on the conflict
That fore shadowed the end of Hitler’s dream.
The largest joint combat landing ever
Though the blood from both sides flowed like a stream.
When their boats hit the sand, their ramps went down
And all within paid a visit to hell.
They jumped out to do good for their country
And to kill the enemy without fail.
They fought the Germans, tides, winds and the waves
In conditions not easily foreseen.
By night the battle was in our favor
With bravery, valor, death, and men who scream.
The corpses littered the beach for five miles
Though heroism had carried the day.
With literally thousands dead or wounded
Those who were left were determined to stay.
They faced great odds and chose not to protest
And won the war that put evil to shame.
Most came home, married and raised their babies
But those who could not we recall with pain.
By Soldier For The Lord
Tom Zart
Most Published Poet
On The Web
You can hear all of Tom Zart’s 350 poems
of love, war, faith and more 24-7 on web radio at
http://internetvoicesradio.com/Arch-TomZart.htm
Tom Zart ARCHIVES:
He did a better job than those who locked up mineta