Sadly, I did not know who he was before I read this post and the accompanying article. It seems that there are few that have ever contributed as much to humanity's understanding of itself than this man. For those of you who knew him, or, knew of him, take some solice in this: the announcement of his death has made his work known, at least, to one new person (myself). I will definitely read The People's History, making this man's life's work continue on, even as his existence has ceased.
I had to laugh here. Not that I am happy anyone died, but don't read anything he wrote as an accurate account of history. His version of history is so slanted and is way beyond the liberal left of today. If you would like an accurate version of our history, please read material from the Heritage Foundation or the Hillsdale Academy. However, since I don't know where you are as far as politics and I do not know whether you actually want a true account of history, or more of a fictional story... I can't say don't read it. I can say this because it is very true. If you like Michael Moore and what he writes then you would probably like the writing of Howard Zinn. In fact when Moore first started coming out, Zinn wrote wonderful reviews for the the back of Moore's books.
Postmodern philosophy tells us that there is no single truth. There is no correct perspective on the events of the past. Was George Armstrong Custer a hero or a villain? It depends. However, we still need to come to some understanding of where we've been and where we're going. Hence politics.
Oh, man, do I ever agree. And with the rise of qualitative research methods, we've seen this point supported by the works of Moustakas, Glaser and Strauss, and many others. Discovering phenomena by examining them from the points of view of the participants--rather than the "objective" point of the observer--has tremendous value.
Maryland Mom "I had to laugh here. Not that I am happy anyone died, but don't read anything he wrote as an accurate account of history. His version of history is so slanted and is way beyond the liberal left of today. If you would like an accurate version of our history, please read material from...the Hillsdale Academy." California Grandpa The Hillsdale reading list includes Christopher Columbus' memoir, "The Four Voyages," and of course omits Zinn's wonderful "People's History of the United States," or, as best I can determine, anything negative about ol' Chris. Columbus writes, of the Arawak people he first encountered, "They willingly traded everything they owned... They were well-built, with good bodies and handsome features... They would make good slaves and fine servants... With 50 men, we could subjugate them all and make them do whatever we want... [If their Majesties wished] "I will bring as much gold as they need...and as many slaves as they ask... Thus the eternal God, our Lord, gives victory to those who follow His way..." Zinn, of course, tells the truth about Columbus' rape, pillage, and subjugation of the Arawaks.
Is that so? The article made it sound so interesting. If by "accurate," you mean a perspective you agree on, I'm not interested. If Zinn is as you describe him, I'm not interested in him either. I don't want politics, I want history. I enjoy seeing different perspectives on it. My political viewpoints are as follows: none. For more information, please see John 18:36, 1 John 5:9 and Daniel 2:44. Honestly, I think its immature to summarize an individual's entire way of thinking by placing them on a one-dimmensional spectrum of left-right, or allowing such a designation to decide your ideology for you. Michael Moore is a joke. But so are the people he goes after. I don't take any one medium, reporter or commentator too seriously, which is why I am interested in reading different perspectives.
