Millions of small acts

"I wonder how the foreign policies of the United States would look if we wiped out the national boundaries of the world, at least in our minds, and thought of all children everywhere as our own."  ----  Howard Zinn

Yesterday, at 87, Howard Zinn, the civil rights and anti-war activist, historian, author and political science professor at Boston University from 1964 to 1988, collapsed in Santa Monica, CA, where he was due to give a lecture.

I first learned this today from an article in the on-line Guardian (one of the best English-language sources, IMO, of the news that is never, or barely, reported in the so-called "mainstream US media").  To be sure, Zinn's death is being reported in the US.  It could hardly be avoided.  For example, here is a report from the Boston Globe, discussing one of his best-known books, "A People's History of the United States: 1492-Present."   The book is considered revolutionary because it is credited with "legitimizing to the greater public the experiences of people whose stories previously had not been told, including women, laborers, Native Americans, and other minorities."  Because Zinn's book focuses on American history from the perspective of the underprivileged, it has been much criticized, especially by those of the political right.  No doubt, those same individuals will once again leap to criticize, even now, as his family lays him to rest.  But his words remain with us, nonetheless.  They are worth a thoughtful read.

With Zinn's death, we have lost yet another of the "Greatest Generation," those who lived through much of the turmoil of the twentieth century ... and drew lessons from their mistakes.  Lessons which too many of us who remain here either have not learned or not taken to heart.  But it is never too late to do so because this particular member has left us a rich legacy, not only in his words but also in his actions.  In 2004, the film, "You Can't Be Neutral on a Moving Train," documented his life and times.  It is very powerful.  You can find a YouTube trailer here.

Zinn never considered his view of history as anything other than a subjective one, and not "benignly" subjective at that.  But then, what history is truly objective?  "Official" written history has always been in the service of money, status and power.  We see current history skewed in news headlines on a daily basis or through biased commentators who become instant "experts" on everything under the sun merely by virtue of appearing before a television camera.  Historical bias has been the rule from the days of court historians, who knew exactly which side their bread had better be buttered on (heads could literally roll), to today, when university chairs are endowed by corporations, often with an agenda.  Zinn, however, was among the first to give voice to the American dispossessed and he had an even larger perspective.  In his anti-war agenda, he spoke for the world's dispossessed.

Rest in peace, Professor Zinn.  May your legacy bear fruit and continue long after you!

*****
"We don't have to engage in grand, heroic actions to participate in the process of change.  Small acts, when multiplied by millions of people, can transform the world."  ----  Howard Zinn