Howard Zinn 1922-2010

My love and respect go out to the family of Howard Zinn--perhaps the greatest thinker of the Twentieth Century. My words could never do his life's work justice, so I ask that you read his books and essays, watch the archived video and print interviews (on Youtube and howardzinn.org, respectively), and see if you are not moved by his passion for equality among all human beings. Following in Thoreau's footsteps, Zinn reminded us all that the greatest form of patriotism is holding your government accountable for its actions.

Zinn never subscribed to violence--not in his actions, nor in his speech. He often smiled while lecturing, never expecting the listener to take his words at face value, but asked that we, as citizens of the United States, educate ourselves, for an ignorant people is a government's wet dream. He believed civil-disobedience to be the greatest way to wake up a government that won't answer to its constituents; the keyword here being 'civil'.

Howard Zinn was one of the greatest patriots of the United States of America. God Bless him, and may he rest in peace, knowing that by taking immediate action against race discrimination, the Vietnam War, and womens' rights, he helped start movements that paved the way for lasting change to take place. He was a pioneer who demanded that his government live up to the ideals set forth in the Constitution, and own up to the rights of all citizens mandated in the Bill of Rights because even though these rights were written by the rich and powerful, they were written for all citizens of the United States of America.

DISSONANCE IS THE HIGHEST FORM OF PATRIOTISM
             -- Howard Zinn

photos credits:
http://www.semnap.org/Images/howard-zinn.png