(Ir)religiosity

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Howard Zinn: we need a new revolution

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I like Howard Zinn.  I like him a lot.  And if you haven’t read his A People’s History of the United States you need to — right now.  It’s a great book.

Al Jazeera interviewed Zinn the other day.  Here are a few selected quotes.

“[The US] is an empire which is on the one hand the most powerful empire that ever existed; on the other hand an empire that is crumbling - an empire that has no future … because the rest of the world is alienated and simply because this empire is top-heavy with military commitments, with bases around the world, with the exhaustion of its own resources at home. [This is] leading to more and more discontent and home, so I think the American empire will go the way of other empires and I think it is on its way now.”

“If there is any hope, the hope lies in the American people. [It] lies in American people becoming resentful enough and indignant enough over what has happened to their country, over the loss of dignity in the world, over the starving of human resources in the United States, the starving of education and health, the takeover of the political mechanism by corporate power and the result this has on the everyday lives of the American people. … I think all of this may very well build up into a movement of rebellion. … I well see, if the United States keeps heading in the same direction, a new popular movement. That is the only hope for the United States.”

“[T]he US influence is declining, its power is declining. However strong a military machine it is, power does not ultimately depend on a military machine. So power is declining. Ultimately power rests on the moral legitimacy of a system and the United States has been losing moral legitimacy. My hope is that the American people will rouse themselves and change this situation, for the benefit of themselves and for the benefit of the rest of the world.”

Good stuff.  We need more people out there like Howard Zinn.

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Written by Blake Huggins

September 10th, 2008 at 6:00 am

Posted in Uncategorized

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  • http://uk.geocities.com/oldpete66 Old Pete

    I had been reading “The story f God” and then I found this. As a Brit who got into trouble at school over 50 years ago for suggesting that the British Empire was built on greed and selfishness this certainly rings a bell. There is something about the rise and fall of empires. The British Empire has been dying for some sixty years – but isn’t quite dead. How much longer before we begin to really see the end of the US as it has been?

    There is I believe an amazing parallel between the rise and fall of empires and the rise and fall of denominations – man’s ideas of the meaning of God (theology – especially conflicting denominational theology has a lot to answer for). More and more people are beginning to see through the beliefs of traditional churches. Some are involved in emerging/emergent churches, some are involved with house churches and some end up with no affiliation of any kind.

    I know that this lack of affiliation is a major concern of traditional churches, but what is so encouraging for those of us who are in this position (through no choice of our own) is the way in which we are now able to communicate with each other on the internet – and iron sharpens iron!!!

    I have what I would describe as an uneducated faith. I have never held a leadership position within a church (I was treasurer of an Anglican church in the 1960′s). I have in one sense been outside the four walls of traditional Christianity for nearly 40 years – certainly for the last 14 years.

    If you are ready for a real challenge, you might be interested in the story of my journey, especially since 1995 which is contained in my web site.

    I’d appreciate the opportunity of sharing thoughts with a younger person (something that until now I haven’t been able to do).

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