"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."
We'll miss you, Howard!
wow what a quote! Been feeling unbelieveably cynical lately. Yet, this quote gave me a chill, and my eyes were watering. beautiful
As the legendary activist and author discussed in one of his final interviews, he wants to be remembered for “introducing a different way of thinking about the world,” and as “somebody who gave people a feeling of hope and power that they didn’t have before.”
so now that the initial shock has worn off, and i've had time to really reflect, it's hit me just how much of a big deal this really is. i know there are plenty of us who respected and admired him.
it's such a huge loss.
there are no dissidents of the next generation, that are anywhere near as influential as he was.
he's not being replaced.
"“Civil disobedience is not our problem. Our problem is civil obedience. Our problem is that people all over the world have obeyed the dictates of leaders…and millions have been killed because of this obedience…Our problem is that people are obedient allover the world in the face of poverty and starvation and stupidity, and war, and cruelty. Our problem is that people are obedient while the jails are full of petty thieves… (and) the grand thieves are running the country. That’s our problem.”
— Howard Zinn
i was thinking about you last night. such a great man of truth and conviction. you spent your whole life trying to make the Country a better place and you never gave up. you are really missed.
"once we decided, at the start, that our side was the good side and the other side was evil, once we had made that simple and simplistic calculation, we did not have to think anymore.
then we could commit unspeakable crimes and it was all right.”
one thing i have....i have books upon books of what's wrong with this planet, what's wrong with society.....and i have read them to the point where i can tell you what's wrong with this place, i can point out all the flaws of society. that's nothing special.
what was so great about zinn and his writing.....he showed us what we can as individuals do to change it.
I saw this thread at the top of the board again, and my first knee-jerk thought was "Oh no! Howard Zinn's dead"... quickly followed by "Oh yeah, I've known that for ten months."
:?
93: Slane
96: Cork, Dublin
00: Dublin
06: London, Dublin
07: London, Copenhagen, Nijmegen
09: Manchester, London
10: Dublin, Belfast, London & Berlin
11: San José
12: Isle of Wight, Copenhagen, Ed in Manchester & London x2
I saw this thread at the top of the board again, and my first knee-jerk thought was "Oh no! Howard Zinn's dead"... quickly followed by "Oh yeah, I've known that for ten months."
:?
classic. that was my first thought too.
hear my name
take a good look
this could be the day
hold my hand
lie beside me
i just need to say
Comments
wow what a quote! Been feeling unbelieveably cynical lately. Yet, this quote gave me a chill, and my eyes were watering. beautiful
As the legendary activist and author discussed in one of his final interviews, he wants to be remembered for “introducing a different way of thinking about the world,” and as “somebody who gave people a feeling of hope and power that they didn’t have before.”
http://dandelionsalad.wordpress.com/2010/01/28/remembering-howard-zinn-legacy-personal-philosophy-world-today/
http://dandelionsalad.wordpress.com/2010/01/28/howard-zinn-obamas-first-100-days-2009/
Howard Zinn
"If the gods had intended for people to vote, they would have given us candidates."
Howard Zinn
it's such a huge loss.
there are no dissidents of the next generation, that are anywhere near as influential as he was.
he's not being replaced.
"“Civil disobedience is not our problem. Our problem is civil obedience. Our problem is that people all over the world have obeyed the dictates of leaders…and millions have been killed because of this obedience…Our problem is that people are obedient allover the world in the face of poverty and starvation and stupidity, and war, and cruelty. Our problem is that people are obedient while the jails are full of petty thieves… (and) the grand thieves are running the country. That’s our problem.”
— Howard Zinn
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXLuNza-q-c
Awesome
then we could commit unspeakable crimes and it was all right.”
Civil disobedience is not our problem.
Our problem is civil obedience.
— Howard Zinn
take a good look
this could be the day
hold my hand
lie beside me
i just need to say
what was so great about zinn and his writing.....he showed us what we can as individuals do to change it.
his message was hope.
:?
96: Cork, Dublin
00: Dublin
06: London, Dublin
07: London, Copenhagen, Nijmegen
09: Manchester, London
10: Dublin, Belfast, London & Berlin
11: San José
12: Isle of Wight, Copenhagen, Ed in Manchester & London x2
I love this video too....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Arn3lF5XSUg&feature=related
classic. that was my first thought too.
take a good look
this could be the day
hold my hand
lie beside me
i just need to say