Anti-War

Howard Zinn, 1922-2010, Historian, Activist, Writer, Personal Hero

As a historian and member of the Colorado Indymedia Collective, it seems I should be the one to write our obituary for Howard Zinn.  I'm finding that hard to do.  Howard was one of my childhood role models, one of the reasons I became a historian.  His loss is, for me, a personal one.

We lost Howard yesterday.  He died of a heart attack, at age 87, in Santa Monica, California.  Howard was on the road, still working.  He was in Santa Monica for an appearance at The Santa Monica Museum of Art, scheduled for February 4.

I don't think I have to list a lot of facts about who Howard was or the things he did.  People who read Indymedia know him well.  For anyone who wants to know more, or who wants to read something truly inspiring, I will recommend the book I've been recommending ever since it came out, Howard's 1994 autobiography, You Can't Be Neutral on a Moving Train.

The best words to describe Howard are his own.  So I will let him finish this article himself, by reprinting his own words.

 

The Optimism of Uncertainty
by HOWARD ZINN

[posted online on September 2, 2004 at http://www.thenation.com/doc/20040920/zinn]

In this awful world where the efforts of caring people often pale in comparison to what is done by those who have power, how do I manage to stay involved and seemingly happy?

I am totally confident not that the world will get better, but that we should not give up the game before all the cards have been played. The metaphor is deliberate; life is a gamble. Not to play is to foreclose any chance of winning. To play, to act, is to create at least a possibility of changing the world.

The Red Pill Vol. 8 No. 1 SIX YEARS IN PRINT!

IN THIS ISSUE:

Secret ICE Detention Centers

Criminalization of the Homeless in Grand Junction

Top Ten Movies to Watch this Winter

War is Peace: Obama Sends More Troops to Afghanistan

March For No More Deaths on The Streets of Grand Junction

Cointelpro: Black Panther Coloring Book

The Boogers: Music Review

Foreclosures Way Way Up in Mesa County

Read and/or Download This Issue at:

http://issuu.com/gjredpill/docs/...

 

 

Denver Protests Ongoing Imperialist Wars

Denver Protests Ongoing Imperialist Wars

(raimd.wordpress.com)

October 7 was the 8th anniversary of the start of the current war in Afghanistan by the United States. A number of national groups in the remaining U.S. anti-war movement called for actions. Locally the Denver Anti-War Network (DAWN) called for a march many months ago, and it kicked off this day. Many activists gathered for two separate events in Denver on October 7th, a march against the Afghanistan war, and a “Justice and Peace Jamboree” right after the march.

About 50 people mobilized for a rally and march that started at the Denver Federal Courthouse downtown. A rally was held there for an hour. A street theater was held about the situation in Afghanistan. The crowd consisted of nominal anti-imperialists, anarchists, national liberation supporters, and anti-police brutality activists, along with RAIM members and supporters. As it was a broad-based march against the war in Afghanistan, there were many who advocated First Worldist, pro-Amerika politics. RAIM provided many anti-imperialist, anti-Amerika, anti-troop, and pro-Third World signs and slogans to promote our politics. After the rally the march then set down 16th Street mall. It was small in comparison to previous anti-war rallies, but was spirited and opted for more charged slogans. “Number One Terrorist, U.S. Imperialists” were chanted by a large majority of the protesters for much of the march. The protest itself stayed on message, the notable interject of the so-called health care debate in the march was a sign brought by a RAIM comrade: “The Real Health Care Crisis- Amerikan Imperialism.”

Denver Coalition to Protest 8-Year Anniversary of Afghan War

While much of the country's attention is focused on the domestic health-care debate, one Denver coalition will be protesting the escalating conflict in Afghanistan. The "March for Real Change" will take place of Oct. 7th, on the eight year anniversary of the invasion of Afghanistan. "Change your hope into action, stop Obama's wars," will be the focus of the demonstration, says local activist, Mark Cohen. "Though he promised change, Obama is leading the country deeper into a quagmire in Afghanistan with no end in sight."

Cohen and other Denver-area activists have come together and formed the group, the Denver Anti-War Network. Along with a street protest against the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the Denver Anti-War Network is planning an after event, the Justice and Peace Jamboree. It will be a free event featuring free food, music, poetry and speakers from ongoing radical and social justice-oriented projects. "We want to bring people together, present them opportunities to plug into the social justice organizing that is happening and open a space where constructive dialogue can take place, leading to a more active and vibrant anti-war left."

The "March for Real Change" begins at 4pm at the Federal Courthouse on 19th and Stout in downtown Denver. The Justice and Peace Jamboree begins at 7pm at Quixote's (2637 Welton St.). The Denver Anti-War Network can be reached by contacting Mark Cohen at denverantiwarnet@gmail.com.

Fort Collins Celebrates Iraq Anniversary with Broken Recruitment Windows

Fort Collins, Colorado celebrates the anniversary of the invasion of Iraq by breaking windows at a military recruitment center.

Happy Anniversary! Last night People Against War broke three windows at a military recruitment center in Fort Collins, Colorado. We threw the stones in commemoration of 6 years of murder in Iraq. We wanted to celebrate with a bang! With a smash and a crash!

IVAW March on the DNC -Big Noise Films-

Protests against the Democratic National Convention continued Wednesday as members of Iraq Veterans Against the War led an unpermitted march to the Pepsi Center to call on Barack Obama to back an immediate U.S. withdrawal from Iraq. The march began at a concert by the rock band Rage Against the Machine sponsored by IVAW and the Alliance for Real Democracy. Rick Rowley of Big Noise Films files a report from the streets.

[video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PjHQfoGctU]

Obama - Biden? Change? Not So Much

Obama - Biden? Change? Not So Much
[col. writ. 9/23/08] (c) '08 Mumia Abu-Jamal

The choice of Delaware Sen. Joseph Biden as the Vice Presidential pick of Sen. Barack Obama (D.IL) and his presidential campaign challenges the central theme of the run, and suggests that the constant critique of inexperience is finding its target.

For, no other analysis makes sense.

"John McCain has voted with George Bush 90 percent of the time."

This charge, a centerpiece of Obama's acceptance speech last night, was quite probably true.

But it was also a stunning piece of hypocrisy coming from the Democratic nominee who has himself voted for almost every single George Bush war funding bill since becoming a U.S. senator.

Final Day of DNC: Small, But Determined, Protesters Continue With Anti-War Message

Final Day of DNC: Small, But Determined, Protesters Continue With Anti-War Message

DENVER, Colo.—Obama-mania has reached its height on the streets of Denver and outside Invesco Field, where Senator Obama plans to deliver his highly anticipated acceptance speech to 70,000 plus supporters.

Syndicate content