Friday, October 30, 2015

Howard Zinn on War

New World Notes #400, 28:11 (November 3)
Broadcast quality MP3 (39 MB)
Decent quality MP3 (13 MB)


Some highly relevant reflections on our wars by the late, great Progressive historian (and World War Two veteran), Howard Zinn. Among his main points:

War does not come naturally to people. If war resulted from human nature, national leaders would not need propaganda, the draft, and prisons to cajole and compel citizens to participate. It's the leaders--not the citizens--who want war. Therefore, the first step to war is a propaganda campaign at home. War solves no problems, transforms virtuous people into beasts, and kills primarily innocent civilians.

Introductory comments by K.D.

This installment was previously broadcast (as NWN #203) in January 2012.  Zinn's remarks are taken from a video interview (courtesy of brasschecktv.com) and a public speech in Madison, WI, in 2006 (courtesy of democracynow.org).

Howard Zinn died on January 27, 2010.

Howard Zinn (2009)


No comments: