Search - Howard Zinn :: Artists in a Time of War

Great Lecture - in one CD!

Pokpong Lawansiri | Omaha, NE USA | 05/04/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is the first talk that I have ever listened to by Professor Howard Zinn. The talk was rather short however (less than 1 hour). The talk consists of mainly the role of the artists in U.S. history. The main thesis of his talk is that the artists should not be afraid to "speak for what they believe in". He gave an example of Mark Twain, who was protesting against the U.S. invasion of the Philippines which resulted in the massacre of thousands of civilians (in which, Zinn called it as "the act of terrorism"). I found the talk to be very interesting, very insightful. I would recommend it to everyone that is interested in improving our society."

Excellent analysis post-9/11

FrizzText | 12/03/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"of what has gone wrong in this country, from a leftist perspective, how the media and the Democrats have failed
to respond meaningfully to the Bush administration's "war""

Fighting with the Vampir ...

FrizzText | Wuppertal | 10/07/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Howard Zinn (*1922), American civil rights campaigner like Michael Moore, Noam Chomsky or Arundhati Roy (he got the Lannan price like her), as a Professor 1963 dismissed because of his dedicated fight against the Vietnam war, - he has not yet stopped today to write books and to give speeches.



Some of his most interesting remarks are collected on this CD. So for example his analysis of the pacifist attitude of Mark Twain. This one had protested once about the U.S. invasion in the Philippines which had led to the massacre of thousands of civilians at that time. Also the Russian poet Tolstoy had considerably seized party for the poor smallholders and against militaristic targets.



Of course Howard Zinn nowadays is a vehement opponent of the Iraq war (and all possible expansions direction Iran, north Korea etc.). His efforts have moved to the centre of the talk choice being here on this CD: to encourage artists to take position politically.



Both, the continuous work against the race inequality in the USA and all pacifist flows are based on citizen initiatives and not on the mostly egotistical wheelings and dealings of the politician caste: Artists belonged effectively to the top of such anti-administration-engagements.



Howard Zinn hopes -- via this CD -- to fill more people with enthusiasm for the aim to calm down war situations and to open national horizons in favor of a global humanitarian intellect.



Howard Zinn gave himself impressed very much of a photo at the New York Times recently: It showed Americans who guarded the limit fence direction Mexico with the gun in the hand, sitting on chairs comfortably. (For Europeans: What do they make with the African refugees to Italy and Spain ?)



For Howard Zinn it is embarrassing, with a flag to be supposed to identify himself, which caused, that the Indians were wiped out, Latin America was intimidated, wars were started against the Asians - while the Arabian world reaches the telescopic sights currently now.



Many solo runs, done by artists, on the other hand, provoke Howard Zinn's fire: So the Afro-American poet Langston Hughes has been dazzled little by the usual Washington politics waffle of peace and liberty. Hughes describes the USA sobered up as a "vampire".



Afro-Americans like Condoleezza Rice, Colin Powell or Clarence Thomas are sorted by Zinn as a "service personnel of the rich and powerful". He favors Martin Luther King and Malcom X, James Baldwin and Josephine Baker. I am sure, he also would like to welcome many white artists in this round dance...

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