Comments on: The History of Howard Zinn: Is the Urge to Kill Just a Part of Human Nature?

By: joshua johnson

joshua johnson — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 07:31:51 +0000

I think the urge to kill is inherent to humans. We have it, it is useful in protecting tribes from attackers and securing food…all omnivores have it. It is our opposite polarity that makes us Humane humans, the desire to see justice or to sacrifice oneself…this is also characteristically human.
This conflict defines us.

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By: Turner

Turner — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 06:19:52 +0000

As you said, it’s a product of circumstance. As much of any of us might like to believe we could never bring ourselves to kill in even the most desperate of situations, that’s simply not the case. Ask yourself when you’ve felt the angriest you have ever been in your life – could you have killed someone, fueled by your rage?

A UT professor, David Buss, wrote a great book on the subject: The Murderer Next Door.

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By: Somchai

Somchai — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 02:36:38 +0000

I can’t speak to Mr. Zinn’s experiences in the air force, but from being an observer of human nature for many years I have to say that most humans cary the capacity within themselves to be brutal murderers.

Doesn’t equate with a desire to go to war, just saying we aren’t so peacefull as we seem.

Never read any of his histories, but I guess I’ll have to now.

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By: Hal Amen

Hal Amen — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 23:59:21 +0000

People’s History should be required reading. Though I guess it wouldn’t be in our government’s interest to fund that.

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By: Brian

Brian — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 23:23:54 +0000

Howard had it right during the Vietnam War and the Civil Rights Movement. He had it right during the 70s and the Reagan and Clinton eras. He had it right, right up until his death.

We will always need people like Howard Zinn, to give us an innocuous shock treatment of truth. Like you, Christine, Zinn’s book profoundly reshaped my view of America, historically and otherwise.

Thanks for the meaningful post and video to commemorate this amazing man. I recently saw him being interviewed by Bill Moyers about his recent History Channel production, “The People Speak.” In which famous actors and actresses recite the words of historical figures. Zinn broke into tears in the middle of the interview. The man was authentic, not separate from anyone, like the fundamental problem he saw in the way we teach history to our children.

R.I.P. Howard Zinn, you made your mark.

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