I think one has to take into account the era during which Zinn began writing his take on history ... history textbooks were for a long time essentially promotional material for the United States and were written as such. I wouldn't say they were "right wing" because for a long time, that sort of mind-set was the only wing. Zinn's attempt to consider that there may be more than one, flattering version of history was, at one time, somewhat of a breakthrough. I'm a capitalist and I hated People's History ... but at the same time, I do think it was important in shaping a wider consideration of the country's history, the nature of mankind, and as such, the future. I didn't personally share Zinn's beliefs, but I am glad I was forced to read his book in college ... it didn't change my mind on very much, but it gave me plenty to think about, and also made me consider the history of history. I'm young, so by the time I hit school, liberal was all the rage. I thought that was awful. But the America-as-hero attitude projected in history classes before Zinn came on the scene was pretty awful, too. I'm not going to write a dirge or anything, but as a conservative who likes to hear intelligent and passionate analysis from other points of view, I will certainly tip my cap to him.

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