Writing Class: Exploring Howard Zinn’s Article: ‘Speaking Truth to Power with Books’ the Way to Discovering the Truth

Exploring Howard Zinn’s Article: ‘Speaking Truth to Power with Books’ the Way to Discovering the Truth

“As soon as I arrived in the Indies, on the first Island which I found, I took some of the natives by force in order that they might learn and might give me information of whatever there is in these parts.” – Christopher Columbus

“Perhaps there is some romantic mythology in that. But the evidence from European travelers in the sixteenth, seventeenth, and eighteenth centuries, put together recently by an American specialist on Indian life, William Brandon, is overwhelmingly supportive of much of that ‘myth’.” – Howard Zin

“He changed the consciousness of a generation” – Noam Chomsky

INTRODUCTION

Brave or Lose. Howard Zinn bravely discovers the complicated history of America that surely not Columbus who found America. It comes from advanced research which is to ensure people around the world by the effort discovering truth. Being opposite with some people who has strongly argue about history of Columbus would make Zinn attacked back, it happens when people state and give their arguments toward Howard Zinn.

Speaking Truth with Books article brought us to know more about the power of books which make people change their mindset in knowing history, ideology, and paradigm. It means that Zinn has succeed to influence people about Columbus is not a hero, however the truth says that Columbus is the massive criminal. For instance that Howard Zinn born this article to inform the reader about huge effect of several books which were created by Samuel Elliot Morrison likewise is A Biography of Christopher Columbus.

The way to discovering the truth means brightly that what Morrison did is because of the power of book, people would not mind that the discoverer of American Continental is Columbus if Morrison never write the biography of Christopher Columbus and claims about the discoverer of America is Columbus. This is the main thing about ideological war between Howard Zinn against Samuel Elliot Morrison. Howard Zinn was trying to discover the truth by his controversial book “A People’s History of The United States” after he realizes the power of book is able to change people understanding.

SUMMARY

First, Begin from “A People’s History of The United States” very controversial thing appear from this book, Zinn blames another sources only shows the fantasy story which is make people change their paradigm after they read many kinds of books about Columbus. As far as people think that Columbus is a super hero who founds the America, this statement strongly broke by Professor Zinn. Howard Zinn has thrown the boomerang that “Christopher Columbus is not a hero, he is genocide, theft, and racist also he is not a discoverer of America!” Zinn wrote; “If history is to be creative, to anticipate a possible future 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 may be found in the past’s fugitive moments of compassion rather than in its solid centuries of warfare. 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. -- A People’s History of The United States” (1980)

Second, Past the elementary and high schools, there are only occasional hints of something else. Samuel Eliot Morison, the Harvard historian, was the most distinguished writer on Columbus, the author of a multivolume biography, and was himself a sailor who retraced Columbus's route across the Atlantic. In his popular book Christopher Columbus, Mariner, written in 1954, he tells about the enslavement and the killing: "The cruel policy initiated by Columbus and pursued by his successors resulted in complete genocide." – Howard Zinn

Samuel Elliot Morison Professor of Historical in Harvard University, who has created the history of Christopher Columbus. Morrison blames that Columbus the right person who discovers America. Zinn refuses totally the argument, but some arguments Zinn agreed. When Morrison talks about Columbus is genocide, racist, and the grand theft. Then Howard Zinn agree with that statement.

Third, That is on one page, buried halfway into the telling of a grand romance. In the book's last paragraph, Morison sums up his view of Columbus: He had his faults and his defects, but they were largely the defects of the qualities that made him great-his indomitable will, his superb faith in God and in his own mission as the Christ-bearer to lands beyond the seas, his stubborn persistence despite neglect, poverty and discouragement. But there was no flaw, no dark side to the most outstanding and essential of all his qualities-his seamanship.

One can lie outright about the past. Or one can omit facts which might lead to unacceptable conclusions. Morison does neither. He refuses to lie about Columbus. He does not omit the story of mass murder; indeed he describes it with the harshest word one can use: genocide. (Howard Zinn:History is a Weapon)

These statements appear from Professor Zinn which takedowns historian arguments by his boomerang and it makes history controversy of the world. As we know if the thrower could not catch boomerang back properly it would be fatal, in the fact historian, professor and book reviewer also some people give their thinking about Zinn with different sight. Then perhaps this is the reason why should Howard Zinn choose their sight by his own right without obey to the history which has born early.

As people known, especially American thinks that the true discoverer of America is truly Columbus, it based on their understanding and from any kinds of sources. The phenomenon book which has created by Zinn is very complicated, he is really opposite with the fact appear from another author. Here is the boomerang attack for Zinn;

CRITIQUE

The argument appears from Noam Chomsky who claims that Zinn really brings huge effect to people around the world. When Zinn proudly and brave can cut out all the fact about Columbus history which was affect toward mindset of people around the world about discoverer of America. “Howard's unique success in drawing the actions and voices of unknown people from the depths to which they had largely been consigned has spawned extensive historical research following a similar path, focusing on critical periods of American history, and turning to the record in other countries as well, a very welcome development.” (Noam Chomsky:2010) It seems that Chomsky has no different ideology with Howard Zinn, furthermore Chomsky is closest friend with Zinn so he was known well about Zinn till the end of his life. Chomsky says “It is not easy for me to write a few words about Howard Zinn, the great American activist and historian who passed away a few days ago. He was a very close friend for 45 years”.

The ironic effect of such portraits of rulers is to rob 'the people' of cultural richness and variety, characteristics that might gain the respect and not just the sympathy of contemporary readers. For Zinn, ordinary Americans seem to live only to fight the rich and haughty and, inevitably, to be fooled by them.

A People's History fails to explain why the American political-economic model continues to attract millions of minorities, women, workers, and immigrants, or why the socialist and radical political movements Zinn favors have failed to gain widespread support among the American public. (Kazin:New York Times)

Blacks, Indians, women, and laborers appear either as rebels or as victims. Less dramatic but more typical lives — people struggling to survive with dignity in difficult circumstances — receive little attention. ...A People's History reflects a deeply pessimistic vision of the American experience. (Erick Foner:New York Times;1980)

“Speaking Truth to Power with Books” this article has made by Howard Zinn to emphasize the huge effect of book, in case Zinn blame Samuel Elliot Morrison as a creator of “A Biography of Christopher Columbus”, refers to finding the truth Morrison doesn’t meant to cover the truth and Zinn doesn’t need to discover the truth, it would be nicest if both of them is fulfill each other in building an ideology by their own way in creating reference (book), therefore there would not ideological war happen.

“People are always shouting they want to create a better future. It's not true. The future is an apathetic void of no interest to anyone. The past is full of life, eager to irritate us, provoke and insult us, tempt us to destroy or repaint it. The only reason people want to be masters of the future is to change the past.” (Milan Kundera:1999)

Howard Zinn purposes he could change the past by throwing argument, it would make him to be masters. Although to change the history in the past is not easy as a think. But let’s see the weakness effort from him, huge questions:

1. How does Zinn sure that his argument is really strong? Even there is no specific reference to strengthen his literature, it means that he has lack of data.

2. Where is the evidence which make people sure toward his argument? Howard Zinn is not brave enough when he couldn’t discover the real background of Christopher Columbus.

3. Zinn only highlights the crimes of what Columbus did in order to push Columbus into deepest well. It is possible if Columbus was highborn, and why he did dirty things?

A people’s history influence the understanding of people on the world, especially change the paradigm of. In this case Professor Zinn has attempted to discover the truth by his way from his sight. Even though there is no rule to prevent giving argument, perhaps to respect the effort of another is available. It is time to choose which one is the most important thing to be understanding of our mindset, what the reviewer did is prove that every single creature need perfection including a book. However the way even though it is through the critic, what Zinn did is just like throwing boomerang and cannot catch it back properly.

Now the case is just brightly appear when Howard Zinn doesn’t have any power to refuse people statement, one think that people can judge that why Zinn never talk the real discoverer of America furthermore Moslem’s discoverer Khashkhash bin Said bin Aswad. He has landed on 889 A.D. He is Moslem Navigator originally comes from Córdoba, Spain. Spain at the time is the central of Islamization in Western, in Khilafah Bani Umayah II.

This data could be responsible because the power of Khilafah Bani Umayyah II in Spain at the time has really massive influence. It is possible for sailor at that era to sail Atlantic, in order to spread Islam around the world.

Negative thing Zinn only talk how people stay on wrong paradigm, it means that the Professor refuses bunch of arguments which appear from some people and historian around the world. The different thing between Khaskhash and Columbus is only Moslem discoverer has not announce that he was discovered American Continental to public and Columbus did. Thanks to Howard Zinn who has bravely discover the truth about Christopher Columbus but sorry for Zinn for his loses in giving fact.

CONCLUSION

The reader is victim of the effect of books, Zinn thoughts that Samuel Elliot Morrison has influenced enough people paradigm around the world about discoverer of America Continental. Years by years have passed, people still in “lies”. Howard Zinn was trying to influence back people around the world by providing argument which is opposite with some books were created early, unfortunately Zinn only stand alone without any strengthen facts to prove that what Zinn’s argument could being responsible. It is still complicated, is it true lies or true fact.

Christopher Columbus is just only a sample of several kinds of books which is Howard Zinn needs to discover about the lies, it doesn’t meant that the main topic Zinn talks only exact on Columbus. There is no exact rule to forbid everyone in giving critic in order to finding the truth furthermore, but it would be wise if Howard Zinn could deliver his critic kindly.

Professor William D. Davies from University of Iowa says on Stadium General in IAIN Syekh Nurjati Cirebon that “If you are to be critic, be a kind critic” it means that every single person has right to be critic, but how the critic is delivered is use to in different way. Reflect to Zinn’s way it is quite far from wise effort, critic need to be wise in order to respect another one.