http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/28/us/28zinn.html

__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

Initial reaction: Who?

After reading:

Most of the mainstream texts are already slanted to the left. Why would you want something even more biased?

I admire his honesty.

__________________
Whoever said there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes never had a cheap Jaguar.

83 300D Turbo with manual conversion, early W126 vented front rotors and H4 headlights 401,xxx miles
08 Suzuki GSX-R600 M4 Slip-on 26,xxx miles
88 Jaguar XJS V12 94,xxx miles. Work in progress.
99 Mazda Miata 183,xxx miles.

He wrote a great short essay in the early 90's on history and objectivity, called "Objections to Objectivity". It appeared in Z magazine and in a later anthology of his, 'Declarations of Independence'.

__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

I think you should do some research for yourself on this matter, or at least stop taking everything given to you by talk radio and Faux News as gospel.

The content of textbooks has been controlled by the state of Texas for so long that there is a distinct right wing bias to math books.

__________________
Remember, it's not just a car. It's an Adventure.

But now you're an expert on him.
No they're not. They're slanted to the right. Prove me wrong.

__________________
Te futueo et caballum tuum

1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K

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.

__________________
1987 300D, arctic white/palomino--314,000 miles
1978 240D 4-speed, Euro Delivery, light ivory/bamboo--370,000 miles
2005 Jeep Liberty CRD Limited, light khaki/slate--140,000 miles
2018 Chevy Cruze diesel, 6-speed manual, satin steel metallic/kalahari--19,000 miles
1982 Peugeot 505 diesel, 4-speed manual, blue/blue, 130,000 miles
1995 S320, black/parchment--34,000 miles (Dad's car)

What I find interesting is that his approach was such that I have found other people who didn't share his views be willing to read his work. The more intelligent folk at least appreciated his intelligence and sincerity.

__________________
MBlovr
'59 180 Dad's original
'59 180 Dad's 2nd one
'67 250SE Dad's last one
'59 220 SE My first one
'62 220SE Coupe second one
'89 190E 2.6 5spd third one
'06 E350 4matic (sold)
'10 E350 4matic

Exactly. I'll admit there were times I wanted to throw the book out my dorm window ... but for the most part, I was able to settle into it and accept it as a different but still insightful perspective. I did not feel that he forced me to agree with his feelings, rather, just asked that I consider them. Too few people take that approach to sharing their views.

__________________
1987 300D, arctic white/palomino--314,000 miles
1978 240D 4-speed, Euro Delivery, light ivory/bamboo--370,000 miles
2005 Jeep Liberty CRD Limited, light khaki/slate--140,000 miles
2018 Chevy Cruze diesel, 6-speed manual, satin steel metallic/kalahari--19,000 miles
1982 Peugeot 505 diesel, 4-speed manual, blue/blue, 130,000 miles
1995 S320, black/parchment--34,000 miles (Dad's car)

I suspect that textbooks in common usage for the decades prior to Zinn had generally a pro national, pro American POV that ran pretty deep.

That's not a bad thing but some balance and self-criticism can be a good thing.

__________________
Te futueo et caballum tuum

1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K

Just what I found in a few minutes of searching:

http://www.onenewsnow.com/Perspectives/Default.aspx?id=277712

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,421084,00.html

Source: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/may/22/rock-the-ignorance-1836/

http://headlines.agapepress.org/archive/7/afa/242003e.asp

__________________
Whoever said there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes never had a cheap Jaguar.

83 300D Turbo with manual conversion, early W126 vented front rotors and H4 headlights 401,xxx miles
08 Suzuki GSX-R600 M4 Slip-on 26,xxx miles
88 Jaguar XJS V12 94,xxx miles. Work in progress.
99 Mazda Miata 183,xxx miles.

No wait, you found sources who claim that textbooks in America have a liberal bias? Has the press been notified? I don't deny that many people fervently believe that there's a liberal bias to textbooks. And more of that sort of thing was likely out and about starting in the late 60s early 70s when people had ample opportunity to witness some less than unfailingly wonderful aspects of our national behavior.

If you look at textbooks during the years of Zinn's education, I suspect that many, most, were skewed to the right. I remember the red, white, and blue nationalism with commie fear and loathing that I encountered in schools in the 60s (HS grad class of '70).

The author referenced in your first link thinks that all references to Reagan should be reverent and filled with accolades. Oddly enough, others don't think that the appropriate route to go.

When I said 'prove me wrong,' that was sorta tongue in cheek because it's all subjective. I mean, there were some on the hard right who thought Reagan was a socialist. About half of the populace trends towards full on wacko (a rough estimate).

__________________
Te futueo et caballum tuum

1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K

I have had Howard Zinn's Peoples history of the United States on the reading list for a while now.

I think I might go see if I can find it at the book store today.

nice, reputable, unbiased sources.

__________________
"The law, in its majestic equality, forbids the rich as well as the poor to sleep under bridges, to beg in the streets, and to steal bread."

Shameless, again!

I think I understand the POV of his critics somewhat but I appreciate Prof. Zinn. The teary eyed fondness for the wonderful legacy of all things European American needed a bit of deflating when Zinn happened along.

The lust of Columbus and gang for fast wealth has been a sorry legacy for America through the centuries. Just go in, rip it up and don't let the whining of the damned natives slow you down.

The last paragraphs of that piece are sorta in line with what I'm starting to feel:

One of Professor Zinn’s last public writings was a brief essay, published last week in The Nation, about the first year of the Obama administration.

“I’ve been searching hard for a highlight,” he wrote, adding that he wasn’t disappointed because he never expected a lot from President Obama.

“I think people are dazzled by Obama’s rhetoric, and that people ought to begin to understand that Obama is going to be a mediocre president — which means, in our time, a dangerous president — unless there is some national movement to push him in a better direction.”

__________________
Te futueo et caballum tuum

1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K