Howard Zin

I was struck by a piece on Alternative Radio last week. Howard Zin was speaking on "Three Holy Wars." I was unable to listen to the whole piece, but one war was the Revolutionary War, the second the Civil War, and I'm not sure about the third, but probably the Indian Wars. His tape is available from Alternative Radio website, or 1-800-444-1977. He kept asking, "Did you learn this in high school? in college?" Responding to his own question he continually echoed, "I didn't."

His premise was for the listener to question the value of war in general in light of the lives lost. For example he said 600,000 (more than in any war we've fought to date) died during the Civil War, which would be the equivalent of 5-6 million now. He asked, would we defend a concept (in this case, slavery) that we knew would kill 5-6 million of our young, healthy population? The debate would be intense. We're no where near that number in the recent off-shore wars we are involved in.

He pointed out that the common farmers and craftsmen prior to the Revolutionary War weren't consulted about fighting against England. There wasn't concensus in our small country that risking our lives was a good idea to have the nebulous 'independence.' In fact, after that war, the farmers who returned were really little more than serfs who had been conscripted, and who fought without uniforms, boots or weapons. They weren't paid, and many lost their land when they returned because their deeds hadn't been paid while they were gone. Those who rebelled (we are not hearing ANY word of the rebels in our current situation) were ordered shot by the officers, but the shooters were the fellow privates. As many as 2500 were shot under those circumstances.

Again I was reminded of our rigidly structured class system hidden under the glorious mottos: "You can be anything you want to be," "Land of Opportunity" "Home of the Free."

What I appreciate about Zin's comments (and our country) is that I got to listen to him on a public radio and ponder them in the parking lot of the grocery store. His historical data stirred my denial: the guys who earn six-to-seven-figures every year are the ones making the decisions. AND, the movement toward a world without war is growing, even if President Obama's words seem contraditory to his actions.

How these seemingly opposing movements will mesh has been the question of my adult life, and continues to be. Nonetheless, I am here, now, to witness to peace, as I know many of you are also.

In this season of Light, shine! In this season of heartfelt music, sing! Spread peace right in the midst of capitalism, classism, heirarchy, patriarchy and the holidays!