In Memory of Howard Zinn

[nogodsnomasters85]

Howard Zinn, renowned and beloved university professor, scholar, and activist, has just passed away from a heart attack at the age of 87.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/01/27/howard-zinn-dead-author-o_n_439350.html
He was a tireless activist defending civil rights, human rights, and fighting against war, imperialism, and class oppression. Also, a prolific scholar and beloved university professor, and author, most famously, of the celebrated "People's History of the United States." I wish we had a lot more like him, we lost a great one, tonight. Rest in peace.

Here's brief bio for anyone who is unfamiliar;http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howard_Zinn

If you haven't read "People's History", do yourself a favor. He has also written several other excellent books.

 

[Oh my god. it's Robby!]

Howard Zinn = hero

 

[JoyDiv007]

I've read People's History, great book. He'll be missed.

 

[bagface]

i read people's history my freshman year in high school...it had a huge impact on me and i owe a lot of who i am to that book. really sad news. i always dreamed of seeing him lecture. that'll never happen now

 

[Anaesthesine]

Very sad news indeed.

He was an invaluable thinker, and will be missed.

RIP.

 

[MunchyBrain]

What a legend. RIP.

 

[dothewatusi]

RIP. His voice will be missed.

 

[Morning Star]

Zinn was a very important figure in modern labour (or labor) history. His death comes so soon after a number of influential left-wing figures who have died quite recently - Chris Harman, Nina Fishman, Daniel Bensaid, Jyoti Basu.

 

[Happy Maudlin]

Nooo! I have such respect for him. His memory will endure. He is one of my heroes and I state that in all sincerity.

 

[MunchyBrain]

Zinn was a very important figure in modern labour (or labor) history. His death comes so soon after a number of influential left-wing figures who have died quite recently - Chris Harman, Nina Fishman, Daniel Bensaid, Jyoti Basu.

I hope Chomsky is getting his 5 a day!

 

[nogodsnomasters85]

I hope Chomsky is getting his 5 a day!

No shit. I'll be devastated when that happens. I don't even want to think about it. He's only six years younger than Zinn was.

A fantastic lecture; "Three Holy Wars"
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[nogodsnomasters85]

Another excellent lecture; "On Human Nature & Aggression."


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[MunchyBrain]

I just found out that Colin Ward and John Rety died recently as well. All the wrong people are dying...

 

[nogodsnomasters85]

I just found out that Colin Ward and John Rety died recently as well. All the wrong people are dying...

Colin Ward is news to me. What bothers me most is not just the idea of losing someone so great like Zinn, or, god forbid, Chomsky, but that I don't see anyone filling the void. I see people who are impressive in certain regards, or crusaders devoted to peticular issues, but there really isn't any equivalent. Somebody needs to be able to pick up the torch.

 

[JoyDiv007]

Read this in my paper this morning. What an idiot, I never read anything by Zinn in high school or college even.

http://blog.cleveland.com/letters/2010/02/howard_zinns_a_peoples_history.html

 

[nogodsnomasters85]

Read this in my paper this morning. What an idiot, I never read anything by Zinn in high school or college even.

http://blog.cleveland.com/letters/2010/02/howard_zinns_a_peoples_history.html

That guy sounds like an asshole, not to mention that he's totally misrepresenting Zinn's book and taking quotes out of context. I read "People's History" near the end of High School, but on my own, not as part of the curriculum. I considered him, Chomsky, William Blum, and others to be the antidote to the bullshit I was being taught. Oh, and if you haven't read James Loewen's "Lies My Teacher Told Me", it's also a very good palliative for a public education.

 

[MunchyBrain]

Colin Ward is news to me. What bothers me most is not just the idea of losing someone so great like Zinn, or, god forbid, Chomsky, but that I don't see anyone filling the void. I see people who are impressive in certain regards, or crusaders devoted to peticular issues, but there really isn't any equivalent. Somebody needs to be able to pick up the torch.

Yeah, Ward is genuinely a massive loss to anarchists in the UK, his book Anarchy In Action was the first anarchist book that lots of my friends read. It was the first one I finished, haha. To be honest, I'd say he's just as important as Chomsky over here.

 

[nogodsnomasters85]

Yeah, Ward is genuinely a massive loss to anarchists in the UK, his book Anarchy In Action was the first anarchist book that lots of my friends read. It was the first one I finished, haha. To be honest, I'd say he's just as important as Chomsky over here.

I must admit I'm only peripherally aware of the British radical scene.

I'm aware of Colin Ward, I think I've read some pamphlets, "Anarchy in Action" was on my list of books I haven't gotten around to reading yet, which is about a mile long. I'm presently neglecting Kurzweil's "The Singularity is Near", which I don't think you'd like very much.

For me, it started with Emma Goldman's "Anarchism & Other Essays." I was curious what Anarchism was about, and it sort of confirmed, or defined, rather, a lot of ideas and observations that I'd had for a long time. From then I went on to Bakunin, Kropotkin, lesser lights like Rocker, Malatesta, and Bookchin, and, eventually, to Chomsky.

 

[Anaesthesine]

For me, it started with Emma Goldman's "Anarchism & Other Essays." I was curious what Anarchism was about, and it sort of confirmed, or defined, rather, a lot of ideas and observations that I'd had for a long time.

Wow, you started with Emma Goldman - there's a name you don't hear much anymore.

Every single time I find myself in Union Square (and I find myself there quite often) I think of her.

 

[Morning Star]

To be honest, I'd say he's just as important as Chomsky over here.

Really? Not to diminish Ward's contribution to anarchism in Britain, but I think a comparison to Chomsky is over-reaching a bit.