History In Review
Book Review: A People’s History of The United States from Prepare Radio on Vimeo.
A People’s History of The United States 1492-Present -Written by Howard Zinn and published by Harper Collins 2003 current edition. 688 Pages
Headlines June 29, 2009 the US forces are Officially pulling out of every major city in Iraq. “BP PLC and China National Petroleum Corp. won the right to develop Rumaila, the largest Iraqi oil field in today’s licensing round, as the war-torn country seeks to more than double production over the next six years.” Was it all about the oil? Surly not. The reason we went to war with Iraq was because Osama Bin Ladin had two Planes flown into the New York twin towers, one into the Pentagon and he tried to even send one into the White House but the passengers brought the plane down (Dick Cheney clip that says it was shot down.) We were in Iraq to bring the Iraqi people freedom while defending our own.
We are at war against terrorists. That is what we have been told by our radio, our TV and especially from our politicians.
History is written and controlled from the point of view of the person writing it. Now, what if we got our history from the perspective of the people living it and not from a government seeking to justify its every action. Think about this, Bin Ladin attacked us, so we attack Saddam Hussein (bull-shit)? 3,000 died in the WTC. Over 5,000
U.S. troops dead, over 100,000 Iraqis are dead. So, tell me, who is the terrorist? I’ll answer that. Those lying thieving Bastards in Washington, that’s who.
History written by the conquered not the conqueror. History without political agenda or personal interest. For this kind of history, you would have to go to the people on the flip side of history. This book sets sail with us in a Pre-America Bahama Islands 1492 with Christopher Columbus.
Arawak men and women, naked, tawny, and full of wonder, emerged from their villages onto the island’s beaches and swam out to get a closer look at the strange big boat. When Columbus and his sailors came ashore, carrying swords, speaking oddly, the Arawaks ran to greet them, brought them food, water, gifts. He later wrote of this in his log:They…brought us parrots and balls of cotton and spears and many other things, which they exchanged for the glass beads and hawks’ bells. They willingly traded everything they owned,,,,They were well-built, with good bodies and handsome features….They do not bear arms, and do not know them, for I showed them a sword, they took it by the edge and cut themselves out of ignorance. They have no iron. Their spears are made of cane…. They would make fine servants…. With fifty men we could subjugate them all and make them do whatever we want.
Columbus went on to have every Indian slaughtered on Hispaniola now called Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Then we leave Columbus and continue our voyage, and instead of wind, our sails are filled with the voices of American Indians instead of only pilgrims, soldiers instead of Generals, peasants instead of statesmen. Beaten and bruised suffragettes weary from working long hours for little pay. Broken and bleeding factory workers, most under 18, protesting against 16+ hours hr work days in extremely dangerous conditions. Slaughtered by military intervention at the behest of corporations. 1999 WTO protest they actually tried to make it illegal for a government to pass a law that would prohibit commerce super rich business owners passing laws for nations. Do we like living in a corporate run world? You
wouldn’t know if you only listen to the media that’s for damn sure.
Howard Zinn, the author of this masterpiece, lives in Auburnidale, Massachusetts. He is a historian, playwright, and social activist. He was a shipyard worker and air force bombardier before attending college with the GI Bill and receiving his PhD from Colombia University. He has taught at the all-black Spellman college in the 1960′s where he encouraged his students to stand up for equality. He has also taught at Boston University and has been a visiting Professor at the University of Paris and the University of Bologna.
I highly recommend this book. He has given us a history of America from the point of view of its politically and economically exploited citizens. The History in this
book is the history that has been omitted from public and private education for centuries now. Like so many before me, Dr. Zinn has motivated me to take a stand. I
hope you read this book A Peoples History of The United States by Howard Zinn. It’s time to take action. God Bless.