The People Mourn.

[asdjrocky]

Howard Zinn was my hero.

I do not use the word lightly here. The man changed my life, and in doing so, completely changed the direction of my life.

Just today I was in a used book store looking for a copy of People's History because I had given away yet another of my copies.

I gave my daughter his book when she was 12. Today she's a far better, and smarter person for it.

He's won arguments for me all of my life and this world will be less without his voice and his unblinking truth.

Howard, the People mourn you tonight.

Thank you for helping to shape who I am today.

RIP Howard Zinn.

Your voice will be missed.

[BootinUp]

1. not familiar with his work

but from a quick google I see that I should be. RIP Mr. Zinn.

[asdjrocky]

4. Read him.

If you were within a few feet of my I'd find one of his books and give it to you now.

[intheflow]

53. Here's a good link to some of his recent writings:

http://www.zmag.org/zspace/howardzinn

[omega minimo]

2. Honor him

by dropping that chip off your shoulder. :thumbsup:

[asdjrocky]

5. I'm nothing like Howard.

I'm more like one of the brave people he wrote about. You know, the muckrakers.

Did you really feel the need to come into this thread and be snarky? Really?

[omega minimo]

7. Merely

pointing out the value of being integrated with one's values, in order to constructively share them with others.

[BrklynLiberal]

3. A very heartfelt and touching tribute to a great man who will be missed.

[latebloomer]

6. I am so sad about this.

He was a national treasure. I used to hear him on Democracy Now and always appreciated his wisdom.

[asdjrocky]

8. Yeah.

I loved his voice. I loved the way he sounded when he talked, not to mention the truth he told.

[PSzymeczek]

59. Loved his columns in

The Progressive.

[bobbolink]

9. I know a high school student whose history teacher taught ZINN a few years ago.

She was very affected by it and it still remains with her, now that she has graduated.

I'm really glad there are a few teachers with the smarts and spine to use Zinn.

I felt a pang of sadness when I read of his death. We all must go, and the older we get, the more we see our heros pass on, but...damn....

:patriot:

[asdjrocky]

10. You can't stay the same after reading Zinn.

Thanks for checking in Bobbo.

[abq e streeter]

63. glad to hear that--I also have a friend who has assigned various chapters of People's History

to his U.S. History and Government classes...and in a high school in an affluent and fairly conservative area of the city. He's also shown his kids Outfoxed ( documentary about Fox "news").

[niyad]

11. k and r

[leftstreet]

12. K&R

[That Is Quite Enough]

13. K and R. A true loss for people everywhere.

[Stephanie]

14. I met him once, briefly. He was very TALL.

A big man, in every respect.

[asdjrocky]

20. You are so lucky.

I've shaken hands with candidates -many, many of them- as well as Senators and Congress members. I've played with rock stars and introduced the Temptations to 5,000 screaming people.

I've gotten to do some really cool stuff in my life, but meeting Howard Zinn would have been the highest of high points.

Thanks for checking in and sharing.

[jonnyblitz]

27. that's exactly the first thing i noticed when i saw him in person,

how damn TALL he was.

[EFerrari]

29. On television, everyone appears to be the same height.

So when you meet someone you've seen only on camera, it's a little odd. Cindy Sheehan is a head taller than I am and Cynthia McKinney a head shorter.

I wish I had met Howard Zinn but out of all the things I've managed to miss in my life, I'm glad to listening to him and reading him wasn't one.

[QC]

15. He changed the way I see the world.

He even shaped the dissertation that I would write years after first reading him.

[asdjrocky]

21. And I'd wager you're not the only person to say that.

Howard will never really die, not with all of the lives he changed.

[QC]

23. It's hard to read him and not be changed.

Back when this was a liberal site, he was much admired here.

[jonnyblitz]

26. I haven't been so bothered by a famous person's death in a

long time as I have with his. I didn't even watch the state of the union which i was actually planning to do despite whatever issues i have with Obama. I have been watching the documentary "you can't be neutral on a moving train" instead. :(

[QC]

28. Yes, I got weepy tonight, and I almost never do that for public figures.

We have lost a truly great American.

[asdjrocky]

31. Me too QC, and that just doesn't happen to me often.

As I was reading the words people wrote about him tears were streaming down my cheeks.

It surprised me what a blow it's been.

[PSzymeczek]

60. I downloaded

the BitTorrent of "You Can't Be Neutral on a Moving Train" in his honor.

[jonnyblitz]

61. my version is a torrent version as well. nt

[Stephanie]

30. "Back when this was a liberal site"

So true! It's hard to drop by here these days, I'm finding the water is warmer elsewhere.

[QC]

41. Oh well, you and I are just not pragmatic and post-partisan, I guess.

We're not hip.

[G_j]

16. in mourning also

Rest in Peace dear Howard.

[dave29]

17. RIP

.

[QC]

18. KICK!

[Lydia Leftcoast]

19. One of the grand old men of the American political scene

We can at least know that he lived a long and productive life.

[MrMickeysMom]

22. I'm with you...

:grouphug:

[Eyerish]

24. K&R

[Bozita]

25. Move over, Studs. You've got company.

Howard was a living legend.

So was Studs Terkel.

[Duer 157099]

32. He led a long and productive life and touched so many others

He will be missed and he is appreciated and his words and books will live on.

[Goldstein1984]

33. Gone when we need people like him the most

I also keep giving away my copies of "A People's History of the United States," then I replace them.

He recently published "A Young People's History of the United States." My grandchildren are only 4 yrs, 3 yrs, 10 months and 2nd trimester, but I grabbed multiple copies of the two-volume set to ensure they get an earlier start in real history than I did. The set covers the period from Columbus to the War on Terror.

I asked my daughter, who doesn't really read anything complex about history (She's a technical person), to read the books. She came back and told me that she would rather not have known what she just learned. I told her that that was why she needed to read Zinn.

Professor Zinn, you will be missed much.

[asdjrocky]

34. Your second paragraph really made me smile.

Never too early to get them started on the truth.

I sincerely thank you for check in.

[Goldstein1984]

35. It is never too early

And thank you for the recognition of Howard Zinn.

I think Howard Zinn may be ignored among historians for the same reason Tom Paine is ignored among the Founders--failure to accept the santized and orthodox interpretations of history and current events.

Again, thanks.

[asdjrocky]

43. Thanks for checking in Goldstein.

Weren't we just talking about Mr Zinn?

The man will always be a giant.

[Goldstein1984]

65. Yes, we were talking about Zinn and a few others

And I worry that there may not be people to replace Zinn and Chomsky.

Time will tell, I guess.

[ConsAreLiars]

36. He not only stripped away the veils, he walked the walk.

Not just ripping off the masks, he fought every day. Some as a teacher, some as as a rabble-rouser (that's a word Corps use to describe awakened humans), and doing things that were absolutely just and moral by any measure but could have landed him in prison for years according to statutes in place and the priorities of the government then in power. I know. this first hand.

[Name removed]

37. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Hekate]

38. One of the greats, for sure. RIP, Howard Zinn. nt

[mahina]

39. We are less without him

that is for sure true. What a warrior. Aloha Howard, you did good work.

[Kitty Herder]

40. K&R

[marmar]

42. Zinn, Chomsky ....... My heroes too.

nt

[earth mom]

44. RIP Mr. Zinn.

:cry:

[BlancheSplanchnik]

45. He's been on my list of must reads for a while....

and so sad to say I haven't gotten to it yet.

[Lorien]

46. Zinn opened a lot of eyes. Matt Damon was his neighbor as a child

and his famous monologue in "Good Will Hunting" was inspired by Zinn's writings.Damon says “My mother had read me the passages about Columbus,that two years after Columbus discovered America, more than 100,000 Indians were dead. And I wondered, ‘How is this guy so celebrated that we take a day off from school to bask in his greatness?’

Personally, I'd love to see Zinn's "people's history" as required reading in High Schools-but I doubt that would ever happen.

[asdjrocky]

47. I had just learned that about them being neighbors.

It's funny, but Matt was always one of my favorite actors, and Zinn was always my favorite non-fiction writers.

I'm so glad they got to work on "The People Speak" before we lost Howard.

[upi402]

49. "People's History" and Labor History - required reading in school

not going to happen, sadly

[asdjrocky]

50. Imagine, the first release of People's History was only 5,000 books.

It was the People who really made this book what it is today.

Just as Howard thought it should be. All respect to you too and thanks for checking in.

[upi402]

48. That was a sweet post OP

kicking some respect now
:patriot:

[Echo In Light]

51. "There is no flag large enough to cover the shame of killing innocent people."

[asdjrocky]

54. I just posted that quote as an op a little while ago. Thanks for that. nt

[intheflow]

52. I gave my son his book when he was in college working on his B.S. in Education/History.

The "People's History" book. I couldn't believe he hadn't been assigned it during all his coursework! Makes me wonder about his college's education/history program. Now a high school teacher, he regularly asks me for material recommendations to augment his coursework. And I regularly refer him back to Zinn.

R.I.P., Howard Zinn. You changed the way millions of Americans view history. You were a true patriot. :patriot:

[L0oniX]

55. K & R ...a national treasure.

[defendandprotect]

56. It will be very lonely with him . ..

I understand he has a daughter -- Myla? -- who may be writing/speaking?

My daughter brought Zinn and Chomsky to my attenton --

Haven't read everything of Howard Zinn's but read or watch his videos whenever

I can!

[David Zephyr]

57. And I mourn with you and "the people"

Howard Zinn turned the teaching of history on its head and heralded men and women long lost in obscurity who deserve our admiration today for their sacrifices on our behalf.

I loved this man. I still give his Opus "People's History of the United States" out at the holidays and then wait for the reactions. It always gives me joy.

For Howard!

K&R

[PSzymeczek]

58. My copy's in storage.

I need a new one.

[bertman]

62. Nice eulogy, Rocky. He will be missed, but not forgotten. I still pick up my copy of

A People's History and just turn to a random page and start reading, knowing I will learn something I need to know, or be reminded of something that has slipped from my awareness.

[democratus]

64. Thank you Mr. Zinn

You helped me to understand things.

RIP

[donheld]

66. He did that for me too

I recommend Peoples history to anybody I can.