07 October 2012

Howard Zinn – Excerpts



Howard Zinn [24 Aug 1922 – 27 Jan 2010] was an American academic historian, author, playwright, and social activist. A political science professor at Boston University from 1964-88. He wrote more than 20 books, which included his best-selling and influential A People's History of the United States. Zinn was born to a Jewish immigrant family in Brooklyn. Zinn joined the Army Air Force during World War II and was assigned as a bombardier in the 490th Bombardment Group, bombing targets in Berlin, Czechoslovakia, and Hungary. In April 1945, Zinn dropped napalm bombs on Royan, a seaside resort in southwestern France. The anti-war stance Zinn developed later was informed, in part, by his experiences.

Here are some Zinn excerpts:


A People’s History of the United States by Howard Zinn, 1980 -- Excerpts
Declarations of Independence by Howard Zinn, 1990 -- Excerpts

Everyone could share the routine but necessary jobs for a few hours a day, and leave most of the time free for enjoyment, creativity, labors of love, and yet produce enough for an equal and ample distribution of goods.

Zinn: Crash of 1929



The rule of law does not do away with the unequal distribution fo wealth and power, but reinforces that inequality with the authority of law. It allocates wealth and poverty, in such complicated and indirect ways, as to leave the victim bewildered.


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