“A Man who Jiggle the World”

Name: Niyati Wulandari

NIM: 14121320252

“A Man who Jiggle the World”

Introduction

Shock, did not believe, curious, and think over. That are my feeling after read the article who the writer is Howard Zinn that the title “Speaking Truth to Power with Books”. Amazing Howard Zinn is a man who makes the world jiggle. Not only that, but also Zinn was open world eyes, make all people in the world woke up from their slept, Zinn slaps repeatedly history, change and make a new history. How come? All of that Zinn did by book. It is the effect of literacy; because of literacy Zinn can do all. It is amazing just from one book Zinn can jiggle the world moreover Zinn has written more than 20 books, possibility Zinn can make a new world. New world where people aware for history.

To easier comprehend about my paper explain about what, there are three topics that will be explain, first is several basic points that Zinn wrote on Columbus, whom we ridiculously perceive as the hero or the discoverer of America. Second is three points on Columbus that are neglected in Zinn’s article. Third are basic points that can be concluded from Zinn’s article.

Summary

In summary Howard Zinn makes the world jiggle. Because in this article “Speaking Truth to Power with Books” Zinn wrote Christopher Columbus is not discoverer of America, because of that Zinn get letters from his country even the world. It is the fact the power of book, just a book can changed everything even there is statement “this book changed my life”. There are several basic points that Zinn wrote on Columbus, whom we ridiculously perceive as the hero or the discoverer of America. First Zinn showed who founding father of United States is not Christopher Columbus. Second Zinn can show who Columbus are, such as torturer, killer, ravisher, colonizer, genocide in Indian Arawaks and many crimes that did by Columbus. Third is Zinn rejecting about Columbus the hero, Columbus the great discoverer, Columbus the pious Bible reader.

Critique

There are three points on Columbus that are neglected in Zinn’s article:

First is Zinn not publishing who founding father of United States. In Zinn’s article just explain Columbus who does not founding father of United States furthermore Zinn refuse the founding father of United States is Columbus without who founding father of United States truly, whereas in facts about who the first discoverer America that is Muslim. Moreover 70 years before Columbus arrived in America, he thought mainland china, that is muslim from China, named is Ceng Ho (Zheng He) arrived in America. As historian Zinn absolutely know about this facts but why Zinn does not publish it? As we know Zinn is a Jewish, if Zinn publish who founding father United States is Muslim, maybe Zinn will be killed by his group (Jews).

Second is Zinn’s statement is not publish the resources. Zinn just judge Columbus is a murderer, a torturer, a kidnapper, a mutilator of native people, a hypocrite, a greedy man looking for gold, willing to kill people, mutilate people and many crimes that did by Columbus without publish from where his statement is beginning. But how come people like Columbus called as a hero? A statement history always written by the winner, it is true; because Columbus always wins in confront Indian Arawaks, so Columbus always true and become a hero although the facts Columbus do big tyranny in historian of human. In addition Zinn wrote, if history is to be creative to anticipate a possible feature without denying the past, it should, I believe.  Emphasize new possibilities by disclosing those hidden episodes of the past when even if in brief flashes, people showed their ability to resist, to join together, occasionally to win.  I am supposing or perhaps only hoping, that our future maybe found in the past’s fugitive moments of compassion rather than in its solid centuries of war fore.  That being as blunt as I can, is my approach to the history of the United States.  The reader may as well know that before going on.

Third is Zinn likes built high wall (ideology) to cover right things, it mean Zinn just brave judge Columbus without give brightness. To emphasize Lehtonen: 2000, Text productions is never neutral! also Alwasilah: 2012, Literacy is NEVER neutral! Like the case who did Howard Zinn as explained before. Text can show who the writer pass by the genre and contents the book. Should literacy never neutral? Never neutral is people has different belief, background, ideology, self-importance and thoughts. If literacy is neutral people can write everything without the thing that covers it. If Howard Zinn not Jewish or neutral, Zinn absolutely give several facts about who discovered American continent.

Over again and over again literacy is never neutral and makes the high walls that cover the truth. It is my statement about Howard Zinn, Zinn just open the door but he not enters in there, Zinn just watch from outside because the door cover by mirror (ideology). So who enter in there? We as Muslim and know about it. Hope someday we can jiggle the world pass by our creativity especially literacy.

Conclusion

            In conclusion there are basic points that can be concluded from Zinn’s article, first Howard Zinn can show truth of history the founding father of United State is not Columbus and like Chomsky said that he changed the consciousness of a generation because he is historian and he doesn’t like violence, war, his books become his student opened with the truth of history. Second Zinn can show who Columbus are, such as a murderer, a torturer, a kidnapper, a mutilator of native people, a hypocrite, a greedy man looking for gold, willing to kill people, mutilate people and many crimes that did by Columbus. Third Zinn can show the power of books.

Reference

Alwasilah. A Chaedar. 2012. Pokoknya Rekayasa Literasi. Bandung: PT Kiblat Buku Utama.

[PDF] Lehtonen. Mikko. 2000. Cultural Analysis of Texts. London: SAGE Publications.

The article “Speaking Truth to Power with Books” written by Howard Zinn.

http://jakartabeat.net/kolom/konten/howard-zinn-dan-sejarah-orang-orang-kalah

Accessed on 23th March 2014