Why do we have to be a military superpower? Why can't we be a humanitarian superpower? Howard Zinn More Quotes by Howard Zinn More Quotes From Howard Zinn The Constitution. . . illustrates the complexity of the American system: that it serves the interests of a wealthy elite, but also does enough for small property owners, for middle-income mechanics and farmers, to build a broad base of support. The slightly prosperous people who make up this base of support are buffers against the blacks, the Indians, the very poor whites. They enable the elite to keep control with a minimum of coercion, a maximum of law--all made palatable by the fanfare of patriotism and unity. Howard Zinn support law people When we organize with one another, when we get involved, when we stand up and speak out together, we can create a power no government can suppress. Howard Zinn together-we-can speaks-out government If we have learned anything in the past ten years, it is that these lovely things about America were never lovely. We have been expansionist and aggressive and mean to other people from the beginning. And we've been aggressive and mean to people in this country, and we've allocated the wealth of this country in a very unjust way. We've never had justice in our courts for the poor people, for black people, for radicals. Now how can we boast that America is a very special place? It's not that special. It really isn't. Howard Zinn mean country past Nations are not communities and never have been. The history of any country, presented as the history of a family, conceals the fierce conflicts of interest (sometimes exploding, often repressed) between conquerors and conquered, masters and slaves, capitalists and workers, dominators and dominated in race and sex. And in such as world of conflict, a world of victims and executioners, it is the job of thinking people, as Albert Camus suggested, not to be on the side of the executioners. Howard Zinn jobs country sex The cry of the poor is is not always just, but if you don't listen to it, you will never know what justice is. Howard Zinn cry poor justice We need to decide that we will not go to war, whatever reason is conjured up by the politicians or the media, because war in our time is always indiscriminate, a war against innocents, a war against children. Howard Zinn time war children Whenever I become discouraged (which is on alternate Tuesdays, between three and four) I lift my spirits by remembering: The artists are on our side! I mean those poets and painters, singers and musicians, novelists and playwrights who speak to the world in a way that is impervious to assault because they wage the battle for justice in a sphere which is unreachable by the dullness of ordinary political discourse. Howard Zinn artist justice mean We've never had our injustices rectified from the top, from the president or Congress, or the Supreme Court, no matter what we learned in junior high school about how we have three branches of government, and we have checks and balances, and what a lovely system. No. The changes, important changes that we've had in history, have not come from those three branches of government. They have reacted to social movements. Howard Zinn lovely government school Protest beyond the law is not a departure from democracy; it is absolutely essential to it. Howard Zinn truth law meaningful When a social movement adopts the compromises of legislators, it has forgotten its role, which is to push and challenge the politicians, not fall in meekly behind them. We who protest...are not politicians. We are citizens. Whatever politicians may do, let them first feel the full force of citizens who speak for what is right, not for what is winnable, in a shamefully timorous Congress. Howard Zinn roles challenges fall The problem in this world is not civil disobedience...th e problem in this world is civil obedience. Howard Zinn obedience problem world Because of the control of the media by corporate wealth, the discovery of truth depends on an alternative media, such as small radio stations, networks, programs. Also, alternative newspapers, which exist all over the country. Also, cable TV programs, which are not dependent on commercial advertising. Also, the internet, which can reach millions of people by-passing the conventional media. Howard Zinn media discovery country In the United States today, the Declaration of Independence hangs on schoolroom walls, but foreign policy follows Machiavelli. Howard Zinn independence united-states wall What matters most is not who is sitting in the White House, but "who is sitting in" - and who is marching outside the White House, pushing for change. Howard Zinn what-matters white house Memorial Day will be celebrated ... by the usual betrayal of the dead, by the hypocritical patriotism of the politicians and contractors preparing for more wars, more graves to receive more flowers on future Memorial Days. The memory of the dead deserves a different dedication. To peace, to defiance of governments. Howard Zinn memorial-day betrayal memories George Orwell said, "Whoever controls the past controls the future," by which he meant that history is incredibly important in shaping the world view of the next generation of people. Howard Zinn views people past Since war itself is the most extreme form of terrorism, a war on terrorism is profoundly self-contradictory. Howard Zinn terrorism self war Capitalism has always been a failure for the lower classes. It is now beginning to fail for the middle classes. Howard Zinn middle failing class Terrorism has replaced Communism as the rationale for the militarization of the country [America], for military adventures abroad, and for the suppression of civil liberties at home. It serves the same purpose, serving to create hysteria. Howard Zinn military home country What most of us must be involved in--whether we teach or write, make films, write films, direct films, play music, act, whatever we do--has to not only make people feel good and inspired and at one with other people around them, but also has to educate a new generation to do this very modest thing: change the world. Howard Zinn play writing people
