—Howard Zinn (1922–2010)
As the hour for elections draws near, in an era marked by unprecedented human destruction on US soil due to the ruthless petrochemical-military-industrial-complex Gulf Operation, Voters for Peace have discussed what the American public needs to do to defeat corporatization, reminding that the words of human rights defender, Howard Zinn, are as apropos today as when he wrote them and as when they were highlighted in the documentary, "The People Speak."
"This is what we need to be doing," said one VFP member today.
Compassion Over Warfare
The People Speak has since become a movement. Its website is http://www.thepeoplespeak.com/.
The People Speak is a beautiful and moving film inspired by Howard Zinn's books, "A People's History of the United States" that was first published in 1980, and one of the bestselling history books in the United States - and, with Anthony Arnove, "Voices of a People's History of the United States."
The documentary, "The People Speak," (trailer below) shows the rich history of dissent in our history.
It explores why dissent is relevant and urgently needed today.
On Sunday, 5000 Peruvians blocked an oil vessel due to deaths and dying attributed to Big Oil in Peru. As people of the Gulf Coast become more and more sick and more and more die at the hands of the PMIC, will Americans heed the call by Zinn an his followers such as Voters for Peace and Veterans for Peace. Will the People Speak in advocacy for people of the Gulf - and ultimately, people of the entire nation who will eventually be impacted by the PMIC actions?
"Five thousand Peruvians are demanding a direct dialogue, transparent, free and fair between indigenous communities and State authorities and the oil company Pluspetrol according to Indigenous Peoples and Issues Resources (IPIR).
"In support of the strike, over seven thousand people gathered on Monday for a meeting convened by the Organization of Neighborhood of Naute.
"'Community spokesmen denounced the neglect of communities that have seen their lives affected by the continuous leakage of crude oil to its main water source, the Marañón River,' reported IPIR."
Zinn's documentary premiered on December 13th, 2009 on the History Channel, one month before his death. (See: Veterans for Peace salute Howard Zinn (Video0)
After his passing, Veterans for Peace, of which he was a long-term member, expressed that Zinn believed history should "emphasize new possibilities by disclosing those hidden episodes when, even if in brief flashes, people showed their ability to resist, to join together, occasionally to win.
Such solidarity occurred on the steps of the Louisiana Capitol Building Saturday, with residents uniting in one voice, a beginning - but hardly the Peruvian show.
"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," wrote Zinn.
Then, as only Howard Zinn can, he wrote, "The reader may as well know that before going on."
VFP tribute to Zinn included, "This kind of courage, arguably the least common, Zinn frequently brought to bear in his lifelong mission of articulating uncomfortable truths and acting against injustice."
American human rights hero Howard Zinn dies at 87
(video) Howard Zinn Memorial date set honoring hero who taught how to defeat corporations
Copyright Deborah Dupré, Examiner 2010, All rights reserved.
Deborah Dupré, with post-graduate science and education degrees from U.S. and Australian universities, has been a human and environmental rights advocate for over 25 years in the U.S., Vanuatu and Australia. Support her work by subscribing to her articles and forwarding the link of this article to friends and colleagues or reposting only title and first paragraph linked to this Examiner page. Dupré welcomes emails: info@DeborahDupre.com Send Gulf illness news tips to her with your name or anonymously. See her Vaccine Liberty or Death book plus Compassion Film Project DVDs.
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Comments
Howard Zinn had nothing nice to say about the jews, er, I mean Anglo-Saxons. Also, do by "defender," do you mean "writer"? A very great difference. In years of yore there were insidious forces from without (and within, even then, or course) and both the wealthy and impoverished spilt their blood for this land. Not so today. Not so today.
Howard Zinn and the left are perverted in their view of history, what freedom means and most perverted is the way they achieve their goals. You have twisted it up nicely...
Howard Zinn, Stalinist front man.
What in the hell are you guys talking about. We have a spill that is killing people and you aren't fighting to get the word out. If we don't speak out for the people who have been poisoned, this is Genocide.
Get off your collective asses and help these people instead of bantering over Socialism vs Capitalism.
How is Capitalism working out for you guys.
Good God, wake up.
Trisha Springstead RN
I have more respect for Trisha's comment than both the Anonymous cowards above.
She at least shows the courage to name herself, and is completely correct.
There are no REAL MEN these days except the bullies with badges and political positions. And they are not men at all.
Good for you Trisha
Thank You David,
I don't get why everyone is fighting with each other. Goodness Gracious, while I am watching people die from being poisoned by Big Pharma, Monsatan, Our rights being taken away from us to choose to take vitamins and Minerals and Not to buy into Big Oils Lies.
These Durf wads argue with each other over whose right and who is wrong, how about a little compassion for the people who are dying in this mess. If they have any money why don't they send it to the Barefoot doctors so we can help get these people better. I just don't get people anymore, it's getting to where I don't know who the bad guys are and the good guys are. It sounds like you are a good guy along with Tom Termatto, Deboarah Dupre, the Barefoot Doctors and Nurses who want to do the right thing.
I am so sick of the politics in this mess of death and dying and people being poisoned by the environment. I am tired of Human Beings and Animals being collateral damage, while everyone fights with each other. Tolerance for moderate religions have gone out the window.
The freaking Tea Party are Christian Extremists. I really get tired of people trying to shove their concept of God up my ass. Good Buddhists, Christians, and all religions are being affected by the Poisoning of America and the Globe, and we fight over politics. I am just one little nurse in a sea of disease and pestulance and an environmental nightmare, and people fight over politics.
Meanwhile while our Government minds everyone else business, our country is broke and no one has the money to get the detoxification methods we need, to get these people out of harms way and get the help they need. Yikes, has the Collective Consciousness of the World gone MAD.
Thanks and Bless You,
Trisha Springstead RN
Howard Zinn first endorsed 9/11 Truth and all it could achieve for the dismantling of tyranny, then he backtracked. He decided not to speak after all.
Socialists and Anarchists, the people that made our democracy what it is??? Good, now I know who to blame! Anarchists by definition believe in no control, none, zilch, and Socialists believe in control of almost everything! No room for freedom in either, as one will allow the strong, (often a mob), to do as they wish, and the other will tell you to do as they say. All this talk about democracy, democracy, to bad none of these great talents have never been told we are a free REPUBLIC that is suppose to guarantee freedom for us all based on our individualism. So much for that, lets judge everyone based on the people around them, it's what most of you lazy dummies want anyway.
Keep your group think Mr. Zinn, stick it where ever you came up with these fairy tails.
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