Comments on: “We must transfer our anger to the brutalities of our time.” Howard Zinn dies at age 87

By: Howard Zinn, Israeli Political Leaders and the Holocaust – Rabbibrian’s Blog « Paderborner 'SJ' Web Blog

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 10:53:28 +0000

[...] a tribute to Zinn, my friend, Mark Braverman, posted the text of the speech that Zinn gave in 1999 about the meaning of the Holocaust. I was [...]

By: Tweets that mention “We must transfer our anger to the brutalities of our time.” Howard Zinn dies at age 87 | Mark Braverman -- Topsy.com

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 13:46:18 +0000

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by noushin and Maria, IPMN. IPMN said: Howard #Zinn on using the memory of Holocaust in our own time http://bit.ly/chpyI0 #Israel #Palestine [...]

By: Howard Zinn, Israeli Political leaders and the Holocaust « Rabbibrian's Blog

Sun, 31 Jan 2010 18:23:15 +0000

[...] a tribute to Zinn, my friend, Mark Braverman, posted the text of the speech that Zinn gave in 1999 about the meaning of the Holocaust. I was [...]

By: Hythem

Hythem — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 05:45:27 +0000

Thanks Mark for the courage to speak up on keeping the proper perspective on this and all human tragedies. I am only sorry I did not get to meet Mr. Zinn personally. Fortunately his thoughts live on. The timing of your blog could not have been more perfect as this week we received 2 circulated e-mails that were anonymously written and which used the holocaust to elicit fear and hatred towards Israel’s “enemies” which ultimately includes all countries that don’t vote with Israel in the United Nations. You have said it far more eloquently than most.

By: Sandy Anderson

Sandy Anderson — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 01:05:25 +0000

Startling truth heard from a great man of wisdom. Someone who truly cares about humanity and does something about it by exposing us to the truth about ourselves.

This is the thought that will haunt me: “The Holocaust might serve a powerful purpose if it led us to think of the world today as wartime Germany—where millions die while the rest of the population obediently goes about its business. It is a frightening thought that the Nazis, in defeat, were victorious: today Germany, tomorrow the world.”

I hope to practice NOT “obediently [going] about [my] business.” The temptation is great when the problems seem overwhelming. SO, I will hold on to this statement by Zinn: “Small acts, when multiplied by millions of people, can transform the world.” May God help us.

By: Anita Boillot

Anita Boillot — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 18:21:59 +0000

Hi,

As the only non-Jewish person to respond, I feel I must be respond intelligently. I never knew of Howard Zinn’s accomplishments (not intelligent, for sure). After reading what he said, I am really impressed. I think that Norman Finkelstein must have studied Zinn’s works. I think that Noam Chomsky and he (Zinn) must have talked frequently. As a person of American Indian, Scottish, Irish, and Welsh (and thank the Good Lord, no French) origin, I’m happy that someone thought to think of my Indian ancestors when they talked about genocide.

I am not happy with how we have handled our U.S. hegemony in the world. We could have done so much better. I am so sad that we resorted to our military-industrial complex instead of the core of our greatness…our wonderful individual citizens…because these individuals were the source of our greatness. Our government destroyed us….and even more sadly, we let it!

Everything is over. We can’t solve the problems of Israel. We can’t solve the problems of Iraq. We can’t solve the problems of Afghanistan. We can’t solve the problems of Yemen. We can’t solve any problem in the world because our only answer to any problem is to employ the military machine.

Cheers!

By: Gary J Hamburg

Gary J Hamburg — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 17:36:47 +0000

A very powerful statement for us today! We need to unite in an outrage that demands action against the injustices of this country and the world today. Being poor is no reason for not having adequate medical care and not having access to a quality education in this country or the world. Being the wrong sex or the wrong religion is no reason for being denied the freedom of life. Mr. Zinn used his study of history to bring true knowledge to this generation and we must use it forcefully and justly to help all people and to fight injustice!

By: Brian Walt

Brian Walt — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 16:36:17 +0000

Thanks so much, Mark. What an important, powerful and profoundly timely and relevant statement. Howard Zinn was truly a Jewish hero. We will all miss him, his courage, his vision, his commitment. His words are particularly timely this week as Israeli leaders fanned out all over Europe to use the memory of the Holocaust to justify the immoral Israeli government policies.

By: Ann Hafften

Ann Hafften — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 21:07:18 +0000

We will not cease to need Howard Zinn. Thank you, Mark, for providing this speech as a reminder of Zinn’s wisdom and his commitment to shining a light on injustice.

This thought stays with me: “I would never have become a historian if I thought that it would become my professional duty to go into the past and never emerge, to study long-gone events and remember them only for their uniqueness, not connecting them to events going on in my time.”

By: Dr. Hedwig Raskob

Dr. Hedwig Raskob — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 16:21:25 +0000

Great. These courageous, clear minded and humanistic Jews.
Dear Mark Braverman! I am aligned so much with your spirit, including the wide and broad look to all of mankind. Alles Gute Ihnen. God s blessings to you and your work. Hedwig