Howard Zinn: what we can all do now

[ginnyinWI]

http://www.progressive.org/march05/zinn0305.php

<<That question leads me to a larger one, which I suspect most of us have pondered: What does it take to bring a turnaround in social consciousness--from being a racist to being in favor of racial equality, from being in favor of Bush's tax program to being against it, from being in favor of the war in Iraq to being against it? We desperately want an answer, because we know that the future of the human race depends on a radical change in social consciousness.

It seems to me that we need not engage in some fancy psychological experiment to learn the answer, but rather to look at ourselves and to talk to our friends. We then see, though it is unsettling, that we were not born critical of existing society. There was a moment in our lives (or a month, or a year) when certain facts appeared before us, startled us, and then caused us to question beliefs that were strongly fixed in our consciousness--embedded there by years of family prejudices, orthodox schooling, imbibing of newspapers, radio, and television.

This would seem to lead to a simple conclusion: that we all have an enormous responsibility to bring to the attention of others information they do not have, which has the potential of causing them to rethink long-held ideas. It is so simple a thought that it is easily overlooked as we search, desperate in the face of war and apparently immovable power in ruthless hands, for some magical formula, some secret strategy to bring peace and justice to the land and to the world.

"What can I do?" The question is thrust at me again and again as if I possessed some mysterious solution unknown to others. The odd thing is that the question may be posed by someone sitting in an audience of a thousand people, whose very presence there is an instance of information being imparted which, if passed on, could have dramatic consequences. The answer then is as obvious and profound as the Buddhist mantra that says: "Look for the truth exactly on the spot where you stand.">>

[Mojambo]

1. He has always been able to make me feel hopeful. n/t

[Im with Rosey]

2. It is easy to spot all the untruths

Finding the truth becomes more difficult all the time. Convincing others is yet more challenging. People don't want to have to think too hard, you know. We are bombarded constantly with disinformation, unless you are a faithful DUer, it is nearly impossible to sift through all the bs. It is increasingly more difficult to see the truth because the lies become more and more ugly. Truth Beauty?

[Beam Me Up]

3. A lie has power only to the extent that it is perceived as truth.

Lies 'burn up' when people see them for what they are.

That is the question; how to perceive a lie for what it is?

[Spinoza]

4. I respect Zinn, but

his "solution" is no solution. "Conversions" work both ways. For every wingnut who rethinks her position and moves left, there is a "former liberal" who becomes a dittohead. Maybe more.

[ginnyinWI]

5. I think that what he is saying,

is that we need to be providers of information, mostly, not really trying to persuade. You get the information out there, and for some people it could make a difference. It's the idea that "the truth will set you free" kind of thing.
If the conservatives just keep going around and around in their own echo chambers, they will never wake up and realize that their thinking may be flawed. So if we want to effect change, we have to try to get information out there somehow, through letters to the editor or by calling talk shows, for example. And by being reasonable, not acting like Bush-hating irrational hotheads.

It's something each one of us can do to help. Never give up.

[Name removed]

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[Demeter]

7. We Need To Prosecute The NeoFascists

When RICO shut down the anti-choice, bombings, protests, killings at Health Clinics declined.

When Watergate was prosecuted, and people went to jail, Nixon was forced out. (This didn't happen for Iran-Contra, by the way. Everyone got pardoned, instead.)

When deadbeat non-custodial parents got publicity and jail time, compliance grew.

The talk must lead to action, and the action must lead to justice. We have to defend, if not re-fight, all the battles of the 60's, and then go past that to today's.