Blue Mass Group

Reality-based commentary on politics.

RIP Howard Zinn

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http://www.boston.com/news/loc…

One of my fondest memories of Howard Zinn was when I ran into him and his wife in the lobby of the Washington Square Hotel in NYC in 2004. I made a point of telling him how his book inspired me to study history in college.

I was always jealous of my friends who went to BU and were lucky enough to have him as a professor. I would always make it a point to attend his lectures and would occasionally see him around town during summers in Wellfleet.  

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  2. About thirty years ago while I was in my college, I did a political organizing internship in which I had to “parachute” into Boston University and create an instant campaign against an anti-progressive ballot initiative.  The goal was to recruit and turnout a committed volunteer base for the state-wide campaign.   I had 60 days and, at first, I knew so little about BU, needed a map to learn my way around.  To young to remember Howard’s leadership in the anti-Vietnam War movement, I had read news reports in high school about his battles with John Silber, so I sought out Howard Zinn to see if he’d help me get jump started.  Did he ever.

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    p>I cold called him and he welcomed me in, I was 10 percent through my pitch about why I was here and what I needed.  He stopped me, immediately rattled off 5 names of student activists and gave me their phone numbers.  He then invited me to give a 2 minute pitch before 3 of his intro classes–the classes with 300 students.  In a matter of two days I was off and running with a volunteer staff that tabled in the student union, funneling hundreds of volunteers into the campaign.  

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    p>It certainly is an honor to say–no matter how brief or small of an experience it was for Howard or I–that I worked side-by-side with Howard Zinn to advance the progressive cause of improving our way of life.  

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    p>Thank you Howard for your help, may you rest in peace and my thoughts are with your family.

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    p>  

  4. Zinn was a real treasure and a uniquely independent thinker.  Fortunately, his legacy will live on  as many American high schools use his A People’s History of the United States in class.  Mr. Zinn, you will be sorely missed.

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    p>BTW, belongs on the front page.  

  5. “Read ‘People’s History of the United States’, that book will f***-n blow your mind,” — Good Will Hunting

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    p>…how do you like them apples?

  6. From The Nation:

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    p>

    I’ ve been searching hard for a highlight. The only thing that comes close is some of Obama’s rhetoric; I don’t see any kind of a highlight in his actions and policies.

    …

    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.

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    p>http://www.thenation.com/doc/2…

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    p>Man if I wrote that it would get 0’ed!

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