Yes, Zinn was a Bombadier, and by his description, he was traumatized by the first hand effects of the war. Such that, he felt sorry for the very Vichy French and Nazi's, who had by that time, exterminated some 6 million Jews, some 2million Poles, some 250,00 gypsies and assorted others, deemed not worth living. He regreted the very American response that liberated Zinn's own people. His emotional reaction to war was so strong, that he actually avoided on a couple occassions bombing Nazi's, whom he claimed "were just waiting for the end of the war." That equates to Treason. What does that make Zinn? At the best, it makes him a traumatized, misguided human being. At worst, it makes makes him a self-hating Nazi co-conspirator. Interesting to note that, had he not lived in the US, his family most assurredly would have been among the several million Ukranians, who were starved to death by Stalin, in Stalin's failed efforts to force the Ukranians to join the "worker's Party". The Ukranians were were a strong, independent people, and many, if not most died horrible slow deaths, defending their country's independance as best they could. Zinn failed as a Ukranian. He failed as a Jew, to live up to his heritage, and the truth of his own history. He defiled his God given intelligence and talents.
Ironglow, I do so appreciate your link to the critique of Zinn's "manifesto." And I hope others will read about Zinn, his philosophy, his connections, with a critical eye. But anyone looking for truth, will easily see what Zinn was all about.
TM7, you could not have made a worst choice, even with your eyes closed, of using Howard Zinn, to prop up your argument. It leaves me wondering, truly wondering.
Oh, I forgot, all those German and Vichy French women, children, babies, and old folks were so busy killing Jews, Poles and Gypsies.... good thing we killed them - in revenge, since Zinn pointed out there was no need to bomb that French town, as the Nazi's war was already lost, and those surrounded soldiers and townspeople posed little or no threat to us.
Just like the napalm bombing of Tokyo right before the war's end - that incinerated 100,000 mostly innocent people, babies, women, children, old folks. Same with the firebombing of Dresden, and the nuclear attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Zinn was there brother, and to his credit he realized the inhumanity of what he had done, unlike many who still try to justify their brutality. In fairness, ALL were victims, bombers and bombed alike.
Zinn asks us to consider alternatives to war. He asks us to 'step outside the box' of gov't and media propaganda and examine things critically and objectively. You got a problem with that?
Maybe some folks are so in love with war and violence, revenge and hatred, they'd stop at nothing.
Go ahead - nuke the Iranians - sow the wind and reap the whirlwind. Just like the Nazis, just like Stalin. Live by the sword. See where it gets you.
Indeed, Zinn stepped out of the box, and he carefully inserted throughout his remaining life, tidbits of socialism into his philosopies, to make it more palatable, for others, to swallow. Arriving at a place before he died, he took his misguided philosopies to their logical extremes, as all Fabian-style socialists have been known to do. I do not not deny that war kills. I am a veteran, and have pondered its consequences often, starting from the first day, learning the M16 at the range, with surprising, tears in my eyes. As many know, Nazi resistance was present throughout Germany and parts of Europe, for OVER 15 YEARS AFTER the end of WW2. Nazi snipers did their utmost to diminish the workings of German, and other governments; they continued to strike fear in the hearts of survivors in marketplaces, transportation hubs, church gatherings. And pockets of Nazi resistence, though greatly subdued, are STILL present today, in southern Germany and Austria. I unwittingly was exposed to them. I saw them. Yes, the Nazis were still there. With the lack of technological weapons of today, yes, bombing was done to the very beginning of Allied occupation. As to revenge, I cannot say, but I visited memorials of Dauchau and Auschwicz, and heard the cryptic, haunting stories by Germans, who, yes said they didn't know, but had suspected, that soap they had received, had a "strangeness" to it, with a look of horror on one old, sad face, I didn't question more. Germans had bought Hitler, hook, line and sinker. And they suffered a fools painful end. French resistance did not number largely, as the French tended to be opportunists at that time. but those that resisted, as all who fight, realized that friendly fire and demise was possible, even likely at that time.
Has any Dictator actually backed down or changed his world view resulting from nonviolent negotiation? Despite best efforts, somewhere, a line has to be drawn. For dictators, the end justifies the means ALWAYS. Please keep this in mind. Those, who are willing to sacrifice freedom for security, deserve neither. And, as history has shown, for those who give up freedom, the security never really arrives either. Just remember, Hitler was a socialist, along with Stalin, Mussolini, and Castro. And yes, there are many kinds of racists, the hardcore Zionists among them. I don't abide in any of them.
