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Howard Zinn: A People's History of the American Empire

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PurpleDino
Posts: 1513 - Karma: 483
Just wanted to share this with everyone as I'm sure a lot of people have sat through American History classes where you are always taught a one sided story of our history and how we act as a country.  Howard Zinn has a very righteous philosophy on America's war and its government.  Check it out and watch some of the other videos of him being interviewed to gain a deeper knowledge.


May 15 2011 5:18PM
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OGHolliday
Posts: 2390 - Karma: 2,430
I basically read his entire book, piece by piece, last year in my US History class. At first I really enjoyed him, but by the end of the year I felt as if he was over doing it. Almost sounding whiny at times. I still was able to appreciate and and understand all of his ideas, but at times I felt like he wasnt appreciative enough.
May 15 2011 5:22PM
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PurpleDino
Posts: 1513 - Karma: 483
It get's really hard to appreciate what you have in this country when you realize all the bad things that we have done to others.  Should I appreciate the fact that when we work and pay taxes we are funding wars that kill a countless amount of people?  I want to be able to appreciate my country for what it is, but damn is it hard to do when you see both sides of America's history and even what they are currently doing.
May 15 2011 5:32PM
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SeanTom
Posts: 7936 - Karma: 1,747
quality post.
May 15 2011 5:34PM
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fujarome
Posts: 8630 - Karma: 1,561
never read his book, but it's interesting an idea. A fairly obvious one. It's important to understand this aspect of history.


Though i have to say...you have to be an idiot to not realize that people got stomped on when it comes to countries.

And equally stupid to think that this is unique to the United States.
May 15 2011 6:13PM
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spidermanatadesk
Posts: 491 - Karma: 10
inb4 shitstorm




also, lolamerica
May 15 2011 6:18PM
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COskier
Posts: 1066 - Karma: 131
Oh my god! I just entered seventh or eleventh grade and feel the need to share my enlightened world view with the skiing community. A world view that is so obviously unique that nobody else would have posted about this book from 1980 as it has been read/understood by only my history teacher and me.
May 15 2011 6:30PM
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COskier
Posts: 1066 - Karma: 131
Hmmm, that ^ came off about 30% more dickish and condescending than I intended. So, let me just say that Zinn is an insightful historian who has some good points. That being said, his viewpoints aren't particularly more radical or different than those of many other modern historians because the bulk of his positions have become pretty widely accepted.
May 15 2011 6:43PM
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COskier
Posts: 1066 - Karma: 131
God, still condescending. I am trying to be nicer so: super post, friend!
May 15 2011 6:45PM
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PurpleDino
Posts: 1513 - Karma: 483
Around the world his views may be more widely accepted, but still in America I am not seeing it.  If you mention anything anti-government or anti-war you are still talked down upon. 
May 15 2011 6:48PM
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COskier
Posts: 1066 - Karma: 131
Well, I said accepted by historians. As in scholarly folk. I agree with you that the general consensus among the populace is "America, fuck yeah". Of course, I think that is more a result of the bigger problem that the youth pretty much just think whatever Matt Stone and Trey Parker tell us to think. Sort of like how our mothers just do what Oprah tells them.
May 15 2011 6:55PM
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PurpleDino
Posts: 1513 - Karma: 483
Yeah exactly!  Glad you found out I missed the accepted by historians part haha
May 15 2011 6:57PM
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shibby
Posts: 7088 - Karma: -19
I'm not going to read or watch this but seriously what the fuck is wrong with some of you? How can you not love your own country?
May 15 2011 7:06PM
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PurpleDino
Posts: 1513 - Karma: 483
I love my country, and I am patriotic to my country, but I do not love my government.
May 15 2011 7:08PM
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COskier
Posts: 1066 - Karma: 131
You can admit that your country has made a couple errors and still love it. Trail of tears? Not great. Slavery? Our bad. Admitting that we have made mistakes does not detract from our nation. With nations, as with people, it is the douche bags who can't say sorry.
May 15 2011 7:14PM
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COskier
Posts: 1066 - Karma: 131
Shit, I meant:

You can admit that your country has made a couple errors and still love it. Trail of tears? Not great. Slavery? Our bad. Admitting that we have made mistakes does not detract from our nation. With nations, as with people, it is the douche bags who can't admit they aren't perfect.
May 15 2011 7:17PM
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Snowgoner
Posts: 5047 - Karma: 964
i read the book last year in a history class, and while it certainly provided a different view of american history, it definitely wasn't anything i hadn't heard before. it's a decent book, but it got really repetitive after a while. on a side note, i'm pretty sure he passed away last year
May 15 2011 7:52PM
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AOTEAROA
Posts: 2216 - Karma: 15
He did. sad day.
May 15 2011 8:48PM
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spidermanatadesk
Posts: 491 - Karma: 10
I'm pretty sure Team America is a parody of American culture/imperialism, not an advocation of it.
May 15 2011 10:09PM
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spidermanatadesk
Posts: 491 - Karma: 10
Why should one love one's own country?
May 15 2011 10:13PM
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Delphi
Posts: 3748 - Karma: 36
Ugh, Zinn is a fucking amateur...read a real history. Pick up something by Vickers, Bernard Bailyn, or Charles Andrews.
May 15 2011 10:35PM
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COskier
Posts: 1066 - Karma: 131
Obviously, but that doesn't change the fact that the only thing people remember is the song.
May 15 2011 10:38PM
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VT_FLO
Posts: 3806 - Karma: 147
so lick my butt and suck on my balls.


Well we are headed down another sketchy path. The top 1% hold the vast majority of power in the US
May 15 2011 10:41PM
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