Howard Zinn on War

I, admittedly, have not read the work yet. When I opened the copy I received I was surprised to see that Dr. Zinn autographed this copy to “Jessica” in 2002. Thanks!

Most people still think of patriotism as inherently conservative or right-wing and denoting only positive and supportive attitudes towards one's country. Or in other words, patriotism itself is an expressed opposition to dissent and to critical discourse. This popular understanding of what it means to be a patriot amounts to nothing more than jingoism. When it comes to war this is the only definition permited by media and (most) Americans to be openly and safely expressed. A good, patriotic American fully "supports the troops", supports the march to war, and continues their support for the war, no matter what, until victory is declared at which time we are then to cheer for our troops and praise our leaders. But moral problems can arise if you manage to think. There are questions... One issue that arises, or at least *should* for us Americans, is that of democracy. What does that mean? How does that fit into popular expressions of patriotism? And what about war? Is it always such a good idea? How much do you know about war? The causes, it's history, it's cost. Reading Howard Zinn can only help improve one's understanding and this collection of essays serve as a good introduction to Zinn's work while expanding the reader's knowledge of history and the phenomenon called war.

This is a collection of essays and op-ed pieces previously published in books, magazines, newspapers, etc. America is primarily the country of interest here, though other Western powers are related as well. That said, this is an excellent collection. Energetically all of Zinn's writings stem against the massive tides of bureaucracy, imperialism, racism, big business, atrocities, irony, patriotism and militarism. He adeptly argues against the hypocricy of the past and the present in what I felt to be anticipation of a truly just future. His ultimate point being the need "to achieve justice, with struggle, but without war." Most the writings are concerned with World War II and Vietnam, be it policies, battles or each wars place in history. WWI, Korea, Gulf War I, Kosovo and Yugolsalvia are also written about. As well, modern politics is engaged throughout and then illuminated in the final chapter, titled Beyond Machiavellianism which includes two expansive and frightening essays on U.S. Foreign Policy and the notion of a "just war" versus and "unjust war." This is a call to common sense, pacifism and equality. Zinn presents all of his arguments against a morality that speaks to accountability, responsibility, hope, truths and the imperative of the citizenry to inform themselves and not senselessly accept our leadership's habits or predelictions. A good introduction to Zinn.

In this collection, Howard Zinn, a reputable historian and political activist, has compiled numerous essays and articles regarding the hypocrisy of global foreign policy and the lunacy/horror of war. Zinn's analysis digs through the surface rhetoric and explanations given by governments in regards to the wars and imperialist tendencies that fuel the power of these nations. He exposes the deeper truths that guide nations' foreign policy agendas. His article, Aggressive Liberalism, illustrates the two-sidedness of American foreign policy, citing the numerous acts of unchecked aggression that the U.S. has unleashed on smaller, weaker nations. One of the most interesting thoughts expounded by Zinn is the belief held by many Americans that the U.S. is seeking to improve the interests of these occupied nations through the use of American imperialism. However, Zinn doesn't overtly slam the "American way of life," or the institutions of America. Rather Zinn makes his statements through careful study and cites irrefutable evidence supplied by history in supporting his claims. Although Zinn is a dissident that sticks in the craw of more conservative America, his essays and article provide much food for thought, regardless of ones position on the political spectrum. This collection will certainly fuel discussion on a variety of topics.

I am a great admirer of Zinn's brand of radical politics as well as his revisionist history. Here he collects a series of his anti-War essays into one slim but excellent volume. Never have I seen the case for pacifism made so well, recommended to readers of all political stripes, even if you disagree with Zinn's notions you'll find the book insightful and easy to read. I especially enjoyed the WW 2 parts, since this is typically viewed as a 'good war'.Zinn is despised by traditional historians, especially conservative ones, mostly for daring to hold unorthodox views, as a rule such talk seems ill founded. However he is also criticized for the sloppiness of his scholarship, and I was disturbed to find an example of that here, Zinn says:"Bombing Ethiopia in 1935, Mussolini's son-in-law Count Ciano described the explosions as an aesthetic thrill, having the beauty of a flower unfolding."The quote that Zinn refers to is from Vittorio Mussolini, Mussolini's SON (who wrote a book called Flying Over Ethiopian Mountain Ranges) and not Ciano, here is the actual quote:"one group of horsemen gave me the impression of a budding rose unfolding as the bomb fell in their midst and blew up. It was exceptionally good fun"In a sense, this does not detract from Zinn analysis, since he was commenting on something that was actually said, and making a point about how fascist regimes glorify war. The point is still valid, even if Zinn has attributed the quote to the wrong Mussolini relative. It is disturbing in that it displays certain sloppiness with the facts and a relative unfamiliarity with prominent figures of the period.