Name
: Dwi Ayu Asri Bahari / 14121320235
Class
: Pbi-D/4 (Writing for Academic)
Disarm Howard Zinn’s Article
Introduction
This
journal about Howard Zinn’s article entitled “Speaking Truth to Power with
Books” and things which are neglected in the article. Howard Zinn is a
historian, activist, and author. He wrote more than 20 books, including his
best-selling and influential A People’s History of the United States. In the
years since the first edition of A People’s History was published in 1980, it
has been used as an alternative to standard textbooks in many high school and
college history courses, and it is one of the most widely known examples of
critical pedagogy. The New York Times Book Review stated in 2006 that the book
“routinely sells more than 100,000 copies a years”. From here, we know that
Howard Zinn one of historian who having an effect in the world. He opened
perspective or insight America citizen that is not Columbus who find America
continent.
Summary
There are several important points
on Howard Zinn’s article. First,
interconnected with element literacy. Howard Zinn with his literature
opened article through strength of book, that book
can change his life. Howard Zinn’s article start by introducing the most
crucial issue of all with regard to writing, and that is, what in the world
does it do? What effect does it have? Does it help change the world? But Howard
Zinn think you can find indirect lines, and you can find eras in which writings
appeared and people’s consciousness was raised and policies were changed,
sometimes after decades had passed. The long trajectory between writing and
activism and then affecting public policy, can be tortuous and complicated.
But, this does not mean we should desist from writing. Actually, Howard Zinn
made introduction like that because for going to Columbus topic.
Second,
interconnected with element ideology. In the
article Howard Zinn wrote that there are a number of ways in which books can
change consciousness. The book can introduce an idea that the reader never
thought of before. From here we know that book can change consciousness reader.
Howard Zinn wrote that there are books that seriously affected you. Now how to
make a connection between what you then did, and what other people did, and
then what connection between what everybody did and then what happened in the
world. Well, that is complicated. But if you do not start that trajectory, even
if you do not know where it is going to end, it will go nowhere. You have to
begin. If a book changes somebody’s life by changing somebody’s consciousness,
it is going to have an effect on the world, in one way or the other, sooner or
later, in ways that you probably can not trace. The ideology consist social,
political, and cultural. Howard Zinn with his political ideology reminding
reader that books have strong effect for the world. From here, start clearly
purpose Howard Zinn write article that is to change insight/perspective
reader.
Third, interconnected
with element history. Howard Zinn wrote
little about Columbus history in article (Speaking Truth to Power with Books).
He wrote without partying to Columbus and because that America citizen feel to
be disturbed. He wrote that when his book, A People’s History of the United
States came out, Howard Zinn began to get mail from around the country. He
found that most of the mail dealt with the first chapter of the book, which of
course made his very suspicious! He refused to accept or believe that people
only read the first chapter. Instead, he came to the conclusion that all the
mail about the first chapter was because it was upseting to those brought up in
the United States who learned about Columbus the hero, Columbus the great
discoverer, Columbus the pious Bible reader. To read about Columbus as a
murderer, a torturer, a kidnapper, a mutilator of native people, a hypocrite, a
greedy man looking for gold, willing to kill people and mutilate people – it
was shocking. American citizen feel to be disturbed with journal Howard Zinn,
because they assume Columbus as hero and American continent inventor.
Critique
There are three points about things which are
Howard Zinn neglected in the article (Speaking Truth to Power with Books). First, nothing strong literature. in
the articleHoward Zinn judging Columbus genocida without mentions are facts.
For examples, how many soul victim in the genosida event? Weekness
literature because nothing references in the article, so the article look like
original idea from Howard Zinn. Second,
Howard Zinn is not touching about social
background Columbus. In ideology must include social, political, and
cultural element, but Howard Zinn only tell about political. He is not write
social background Columbus, so we do not know is Columbus a nob, a king or is
not? How about his education? Howard Zinn only write one side is ugly side from
Columbus. Third, Howard Zinn did not
opening or tell American continent inventor which in fact. Actually, Howard
Zinn know that before Columbus, moslems people already find American Continent.
The evidence that first inventor American continent is Islam people is many
footstep Islam in America, such as name of city. In Country part Washington,
for example name Salem city, Karibia
(this is clearly from Arabic word) in addition American of middle there are
name of city like Jamaika, Cuba Island (Cuba coming from Arabic word is Quba,
right?) and many other the evidence.
Conclusion
There are two basic points that can be concluded from Howard
Zinn’s article. First, Howard Zinn
creating journal which is not balanced. Literacy is NEVER neutral
(Alwasilah, 2012). Literacy is never neutral has a meaning biased or not
balance, in article more explore ideology the author (uphelp with his argument)
s
He is only write one side is ugly side from Columbus, in ideology
is not balanced because Howard Zinn only focus on political element, nothing
social background Columbus. Finally, Howard Zinn did not write Islam as
inventor American continent because his religion is Yahudi. As we know that
Islam enemy Yahudi. Second, Howard Zinn
successful to change reader perspective. Because what? Because his journal able influencing reader.
Howard Zinn with his book make student
confused or contraversi. In the past, inventor American continent is Columbus,
but now after we know the fact, what that history is not expired? It is
complicated. So, Howard Zinn one of historian who having
an effect in the world.
