[Originally published May 2009]
Another aging soldier of the phony left has decided to come forth and show his true colors. According to Howard Zinn, pursuit of accountability for the nightmarishly sinister crime against humanity popularly known as September the 11th, is not only unimportant, but a "distraction" from the "real" crimes of the state currently being committed. Apparently, Howard is disappointed to see such energy being wasted on such a diversion. Many Ameicans are disappointed as well.
They are disappointed to see the author of A People's History Of The United States basically say "forget about 9/11." We're supposed to believe that the same man who would spend hundreds of pages dissecting every detail of 19th century labor strikes, a man who has spent much of his career urging people to be cautious and skeptical when dealing with official historical interpretations of events, harbors absolutely no curiosity about 9/11, and in fact would advise against questioning the government's explanation? Surely most people who have read his work would agree that it's just not possible. It's simply ridiculous. It would be more plausible for Joe The Plumber to have taken control over Zinn's body while answering the question, than for this to be Zinn's true understanding of September 11th. There's really only one possible explanation for this. Zinn is either intellectually bankrupt, or intellectually dishonest.
Comments
a: let a brutha rest in peace
b: zinn is an intellectual giant
c: he was commenting on the lunacy of the 9/11 Truthers as side-tracking the anti-Imperialist activism already losing momentum following the attacks.
d: his point was that an investigation would never reveal anything, that it would be a wild goose chase (as with JFK) and that a national discussion over U.S. foreign policy would be shelved in exchange for a baseless witch hunt
Thanks for your feedback, I'll follow your format in responding.
a. Truth is more important than Zinn's legacy. My intention is not to unduly tarnish the man's name, but to show how he himself had tarnished it shortly before his death, by dismissing a critical examination of the most important event of the 21st century. Also, as noted in the article, this was originally published last year, before Zinn's death.
b. Agreed.
c. Unfortunately, it is the "activist establishment" of which Zinn, perhaps unwittingly, became a part of in his later years, that is the distraction and the "side-tracking" from an accurate understanding of major geopolitical events such as 9/11. Since the "blow-back" theory of the events of 9/11 (anger enough people in the third world, and sooner or later they're going to do something like this) is based on comparatively little facts and suffers from gaping holes, it must be viewed as inferior to the theory that criminal elements within our own government must have played a prominent role. Also, I'm not sure what "lunacy" is being referred to. Is it lunacy to discuss the fact that explosive residue was found at the scene, and has been independently confirmed by numerous physicists? Or is it lunacy to ask why massive amounts of United and American airlines stocks were dumped shortly before the attacks? Asking difficult questions is not lunacy. Quite the opposite, it's sanity. Lunacy is refusing to acknowledge any and all evidence that does not fit into a preconceived worldview. It is precisely the outmoded worldview of Zinn and most of the anti-war movement that led to its ineffectual response to Iraq and Afghanistan warmongering.
d. Of course a corrupt and conflicted federal investigation would never reveal anything, and it is a common misconception that the main purpose of the 9/11 truth movement is to have such an investigation. The primary purpose is education and general public awareness of the true nature of the events. A comparison could be made with the rising numbers of Americans now more concerned with the quality and safety of their food, as a direct result of better education and more light being shed on corrupt practices like genetically modified crops and factory farming. No official expose into bovine growth hormone was necessary for most milk producers to begin abandoning it's use. All that was necessary was a shift in public behavior. Much in the same way, it will be changes in peoples behavior and mindsets that will measure success of the truth movement, not some theater inquiry. As far as a national discussion over U.S foreign policy, well.. that's not taking place anyway, so how could the 9/11 truth movement distract from a national discussion that doesn't exist? Also, without an accurate understanding of the 9/11 attacks, the very justification for this entire Orwellian era, it's difficult to see how any genuine discussion can take place.
"Gnome Chompskee?" What a creative name for a troll!
Louis, I've been enjoying your Examiner articles. We need more people like you with the courage to proclaim the truth as they see it, despite the ridicule of those who prefer to lie to themselves to stay within their comfort zones (which I think was the case with Howard Zinn, who should have known better). I'm trying to do the same on my blog, www.AreWeBozos.blogspot.com (and perhaps at the Examiner, as well).
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