Comments on: Animated Version of Howard Zinn’s History of the American Empire http://www.openculture.com/2009/09/animated_version_of_howard_zinns_history_of_the_american_empire.html The best free cultural & educational media on the web Mon, 13 Feb 2012 21:01:48 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Aardvark http://www.openculture.com/2009/09/animated_version_of_howard_zinns_history_of_the_american_empire.html#comment-7504 Aardvark Sat, 03 Oct 2009 05:37:58 +0000 http://www.openculture.com/?p=4727#comment-7504 A thirty-odd page "People's History" overview of the Vietnam war that fails to mention the USSR. Grotesque. A thirty-odd page “People’s History” overview of the Vietnam war that fails to mention the USSR. Grotesque.

]]> By: Hanoch http://www.openculture.com/2009/09/animated_version_of_howard_zinns_history_of_the_american_empire.html#comment-7152 Hanoch Mon, 07 Sep 2009 01:13:57 +0000 http://www.openculture.com/?p=4727#comment-7152 Why the surprise? You have a lot of interesting posts on your blog. I think you do a nice job. As for Zinn, I took his course at BU when I was an undergraduate. I actually thought it was great at the time. The problem is, after I left school and continued to read more about some of the topics he discussed, it became apparent he did not give over the whole story. I don't begrudge him his opinions. But when you are an educator, you have a responsibility to your students to give them all the relevant information, even if some of that information tends to undermine those opinions. Why the surprise? You have a lot of interesting posts on your blog. I think you do a nice job.

As for Zinn, I took his course at BU when I was an undergraduate. I actually thought it was great at the time. The problem is, after I left school and continued to read more about some of the topics he discussed, it became apparent he did not give over the whole story. I don’t begrudge him his opinions. But when you are an educator, you have a responsibility to your students to give them all the relevant information, even if some of that information tends to undermine those opinions.

]]> By: Dan Colman http://www.openculture.com/2009/09/animated_version_of_howard_zinns_history_of_the_american_empire.html#comment-7135 Dan Colman Fri, 04 Sep 2009 22:57:20 +0000 http://www.openculture.com/?p=4727#comment-7135 Hanoch, I'm always a little surprised that I manage to keep you as a reader. But I'm glad that I have. Where did you take Zinn's course? Dan Hanoch,

I’m always a little surprised that I manage to keep you as a reader. But I’m glad that I have. Where did you take Zinn’s course?

Dan

]]> By: Jimmy http://www.openculture.com/2009/09/animated_version_of_howard_zinns_history_of_the_american_empire.html#comment-7121 Jimmy Fri, 04 Sep 2009 14:55:46 +0000 http://www.openculture.com/?p=4727#comment-7121 Good post, Dan. I'm a big fan of Howard Zinn. He gives a voice to those who would otherwise never be heard. I agree that his work "A People's History..." is a classic and I would add that it should be required reading for anyone interested in getting the whole story of the United States, not just the whitewashed version we've become so accustomed to. Good post, Dan. I’m a big fan of Howard Zinn. He gives a voice to those who would otherwise never be heard. I agree that his work “A People’s History…” is a classic and I would add that it should be required reading for anyone interested in getting the whole story of the United States, not just the whitewashed version we’ve become so accustomed to.

]]> By: Hanoch http://www.openculture.com/2009/09/animated_version_of_howard_zinns_history_of_the_american_empire.html#comment-7120 Hanoch Fri, 04 Sep 2009 14:19:39 +0000 http://www.openculture.com/?p=4727#comment-7120 Zinn is much more a propagandist than a historian. I took Zinn's class years ago. He spends the entire semester disparaging the United States. But what really makes Zinn so objectionable is that he never teaches his students the facts that tend to undermine is opinions. It is indoctrination, pure and simple. Though I would not recommend it, anyone who decides to take his classes or read his books should have a grain of salt (preferably a large one) with them. Zinn is much more a propagandist than a historian. I took Zinn’s class years ago. He spends the entire semester disparaging the United States. But what really makes Zinn so objectionable is that he never teaches his students the facts that tend to undermine is opinions. It is indoctrination, pure and simple. Though I would not recommend it, anyone who decides to take his classes or read his books should have a grain of salt (preferably a large one) with them.

]]> By: Andrew http://www.openculture.com/2009/09/animated_version_of_howard_zinns_history_of_the_american_empire.html#comment-7114 Andrew Fri, 04 Sep 2009 05:50:44 +0000 http://www.openculture.com/?p=4727#comment-7114 Howard Zinn's tendentious adolescent leftism is now "classic"? A disappointing verdict. Howard Zinn’s tendentious adolescent leftism is now “classic”? A disappointing verdict.

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