The Younger Generations of America Holding
Howard Zinn Readings to Fight Censorship
Author: Astri Rahayu
Author: Astri Rahayu
Ø INTRODUCTION
This paper discussion critical review from Howard Zinn’s article was
“Speaking Truth to Power with Books.” In spite of the advances of ultra
conservative thoughts and deeds a breath of freedom and fresh air emerges from
American colleges and universities. It really does show that many of the
younger generations get it and are effectively challenging right wing forces of
ignorance and control. In organizing a Howard Zinn read-in at Purdue
University, students have cultivated what is described as an “imaginative and
defiant response to the corporate attack on our students and our schools.”
There's a long tradition in America of people power, and no one has done
more to document it than the historian, Howard Zinn. Listen to this paragraph
from his most famous book. Quote: “If democracy were to be given any
meaning, if it were to go beyond the limits of capitalism and nationalism, this
would not come, if history were any guide, from the top. It would come through
citizen's movements, educating, organizing, agitating, striking, boycotting,
demonstrating, threatening those in power with disruption of the stability they
needed.” This related to the
literacy
by Chaedar Alwasilah (2012:150)
in his book
"Pokoknya
Rekayasa
Literasi".
It’s explained
that
literacy
is not
only
mental ability
and
literacy
skills
but
also
related to the
social
and
political
issues
and
it is
related to the
Howard
Zinn's
thoughts on
political social
real
part
of the
literacy.
There are some critical
reviews about “Speaking Truth to Power with Book”. The first, Howard
declaration
stating
in his article
"Speaking
Truth
to Power
with
Book"
that the
book
was able
change
one's life,
should
we
should
seen
in terms of
the context
as well.
Whether
the book
was true
fact
or
not?
While
the second
was that he
was also
taking
an
ideological
choice
in the
writing
of history,
the fact
that it emphasizes
the fact
that
he
likes
and skips
the others.
So
what's the difference
Howard Zinn with Morison?
Actually,
Zinn nothing more
than
a boxer
from a different
ring if
Morrison writes from the perspective of the winners, Zinn was the mouthpiece of
the losers.
Ø SUMMARY
When I see the history of Columbus, I can get much information
about from the craft hand from Howard Zinn. We could see that statement was “I am persuaded about the importance of
books simply by my own experience” (Howard Zhin: 1982). Book is the
history. This has give influences for every reader. The craft hand from his
finger that down in the earth could make the reader will be someone has new paradigm
about “Christopher Columbus”. This was the passage of Howard Zinn.
That’s my view; there is a speech stating that history
is always written by the winners. I believe, this is a myth that until his
death January 20, Howard Zinn tries to break. When we read a book and then the book can change our lives, maybe it's true. But in my view, if we read a book, we not only see the climax alone but we also have to see whether the entire context of the reading is true or not?
Is the book to provide information that is true or not? This course deals with the relationship of text, context, and the reader. As in the book “The Cultural Analysis of Text” by Lehtonen (2000) explains that the relationship between text, context, and the reader in the formation of very closely
related meanings. Though dependence, but
the text, context, and readers are not identical and can’t be studied in
the same way. While
about Howard Zinn’s ideological choice
in the
writing
of history,
the fact
that it emphasizes
the fact
that
he
likes
and skips
the others this connected with
definition from Antoine Destutt de Tracy
(1757-1836), he said that ideology was a
collection of ideas or sciences about ideas.
Ø MAIN BODY
This is
harsh criticism of Samuel Elliot Morrison by Zinn at the Harvard historian who
wrote the seminal book Christopher Columbus. That’s true, not the least Morison
lying about atrocities Columbus. He even called the sailors have committed
genocide on Indian Arawaks. However, Zinn wrote, the facts listed on one page
later he is buried in hundreds of other pages that exalts the greatness of the
sailors. The decision to better tell a heroism and neglect the fact of genocide
suppression occurs in Arawaks Indians is not a technical requirement mapmaker
style, but purely ideological choice. An ideological choice to justify what has
happened, concluded Zinn.
If Morison
is a politician and not a scholar, this ideological choice would not be so
serious. But precisely because of this fact is told by an intellectual, so the
implication is so deadly. We are taught as a moral imperative that sacrifice,
even so inhumane, it is necessary for progress. Morison said calmly as if that
really was a massacre on ethnic Arawaks, but little fact was not comparable to
the service and heroism of Columbus for us. Sense is then reproduced in the
classroom teaching of history, and the student handbook.
Departing
from the disapproval then Zinn wrote different versions of history; history
from the point of view of those lost, aka the loser. Be it tells the story of
the discovery of America from the perspective of the Indians Arawaks, of the
Civil War as experienced by the Irish in New York, about the first World War
seen from the Socialist party, and of the conquest of the Philippines by black
soldiers on Luzon.
The
weaknesses character that Zinn was a legend for young radicals. Mentioned his
name, I tend pair with Noam Chomsky, Michael Moore, and maybe my professor,
John Raines from Temple University and to cite row critic, often looks like a
grumpy handyman, who ironically from the global north. But instead he is
without shortcomings. I have one less thing I love about writing styles Zinn:
absence of some references and footnotes.
There are so many hard facts that he should
give a note where he got it, but the info is absent. Zinn's just say at the end
of his book that he told all based on the experience of teaching and of the
books which he lists at the end of the page. Perhaps this is what makes it not
been seriously considered in academic circles.
But, the
strengths in this paper are the first;
he was
honest
in expressing
her
partiality.
Zinn
definitely not
as naive
they
were
talking
about
objectivity
in the
narrative.
He
siding,
and
warns
the reader
from the outset
of
his position.
The first
chapter of
the book
is very
confessional
and
on
page 11
of 729
pages
the
People's History, he wrote that:
“If history is to be creative, to anticipate a possible
future without denying the past, it should, I believe, emphasize new
possibilities by disclosing those hidden episodes of the past when, even if in
brief flashes, people showed their ability to resist, to join together,
occasionally to win. I am supposing, or perhaps only hoping, that our future
may be found in the past’s fugitive moments of compassion rather than in its
solid centuries of warfare. That, being as blunt as I can, is my approach to
the history of the United States. The reader may as well know that before going
on.”
This is
the second thing
to note
from
a Howard
Zinn:
he
refused
consequences
emphatic
definition
Andersonian
nation!
Nation
is not
and
does
not
even
ever
be
a
community.
Ø CONCLUSION
Finally,
I hold the article entitled “Speaking Truth to Power with Book”, if widely read
and taken seriously, would subvert certain values that apply globally as well
as the institutions that make up these values. Between values, goals, prevision,
desired results, events and actions, as well as with regard to these matters are
matters relating to takeovers and power usage. The power as a perversion of the
truth or facts. “Power” suggests a
process by which the people will participate in making decisions for themselves
or someone else and binding them to abide even by force if necessary (Lasswell and Kaplan 1950:75).
In my view that also, even more influential in the
long run than Howard's anti-war writings and actions was his enduring
masterpiece, A People's History of the United States, a book that literally
changed the consciousness of a generation. Here he developed with care, lucidity,
and comprehensive sweep his fundamental message about the crucial role of the
people who remain unknown in carrying forward the endless struggle for peace
and justice, and about the victims of the systems of power that create their
own versions of history and seek to impose it. Later, his "Voices"
from the People's History, now an acclaimed theatrical and television
production, has brought to many the actual words of those forgotten or ignored
people who have played such a valuable role in creating a better world.
A
People's History of the United States began with a retelling of the first meeting of indigenous
peoples in the Caribbean by Christopher Columbus
expedition. About Zinn's view of the
first meeting was very different from
the traditional account of the popular historical figure, where Columbus described
as, enlightened peaceful explorers who, after
"finding" he was in a new land,
made friends with the natives. Drawing
from Columbus's own journal and other
writings of contemporaries, Columbus as agents of conquest
exposes the lust
for gold and other
resources that also have the desire to torture and killed others to
achieve these goals.
This is the main point of this paper that Zinn on History of society
deviate from what was preceded it. Zinn went on to state that much of what was
presented to the students as "history" in the past was in fact
prepared agenda focused on maintaining the strength of the social elite.
Columbus and his motivation is the first clash of values that occurred in the
New World. In his writings, Columbus noticed that the population of the Bahamas
peaceful, accommodating and did not have the elements organized to defend
themselves. In the mind of Columbus, these factors made native people ripe was conquered
by Spain and other European countries.
We can see, for example Howard was brave
to present the mistake from the history of Columbus. He was explained that the
Columbus was wrote the wrong history. Christopher
Columbus not super hero! But Killer
and he did rape before he travelled to America Continent. Many things that Dr.Zinn
was explained in his book “The peoples of
the United States”, indeed there was parents from a student in USA send
letter to Dr.Zinn that he was communism because Howard Zinn could gave negative
effect for their children. Howard Zinn also gave some provocation to him
students in University of Boston for changed and fighting to the chief in the university.
So,
Howard's writings and his prominent presence in protest and direct resistance were
a major factor in civilizing much of the country. Howard's dedicated activism
continued, literally without a break, until the very end, even in his last
years, when he was suffering from severe infirmity and personal loss, though
one would hardly know it when meeting him or watching him speaking tirelessly
to captivated audiences all over the country. According to Chaedar Al-Wasilah (2012) in his book “Pokoknya Rekayasa Literasi” said
that Literacy is a
reflection of the mastery and appreciation of culture. Reading and writing are
always present in the culture system (beliefs, attitudes, ways, and purpose of
culture).
Whenever
there was a struggle for peace and justice, Howard was there, on the front lines,
unflagging in his enthusiasm, and inspiring in his integrity, engagement,
eloquence and insight, light touch of humor in the face of adversity,
dedication to non-violence, and sheer decency. It is hard even to imagine how
many young people's lives were touched, and how deeply, by his achievements,
both in his work and his life. While Zinn's A People's History of the United
States was an important text for understanding the history of underrepresented
populations; the fight for the right to teach this history is never separate
from the fight to improve the material lives of students, teachers, minorities
and workers around the world.
Finally, to be hopeful in bad times is not just foolishly romantic. It is based on the
fact that human history is a history not only of cruelty, but also of compassion,
sacrifice, courage, kindness. What we choose to emphasize in this complex
history will determine our lives. If we see only the worst, it destroys our
capacity to do something. If we remember those times and places and there are
so many where people have behaved magnificently, this gives us the energy to
act, and at least the possibility of sending this spinning top of a world in a
different direction and if we do act, in however small a way, we don’t have to
wait for some grand utopian future. The future is an infinite succession of presents,
and to live now as we think human beings should live,
in defiance of all that is bad around us, is itself a marvelous victory.
REFERENSI
Alwasilah, A Chaedar. 2012. Pokoknya Rekayasa Literasi. Bandung:
UPI.
Lehtonen, Mikko. 2000. The Cultural Analysis of Texts. London: SAGE
Publications.
Howard Zinn. Speaking Truth to
Power with Book.
0 Comments