Our Masterpiece: Howard Zinn Traces

(Critical Review)

Introduction

Great people is person that is able leave traces of history and be able to change the world with literacy. Still comes to our memory of the history of the world civilization. The truth is that there now proved that we can not be separated from the role of the precursor that has been building so perfect storyline. Like the figure of the American historian who brave to uncover the history of Christopher Columbus, he is Howard Zinn. Howard Zinn was born on August 24, 1922, he was also a social activist and a writer.

Although he is a social activist, but he has a big influence on the world, especially American society with his writings. Zinn has written lot of books, the writing skills he has changed the world, proved that he is a master text. By simply writing and give facts about a historical, he became figure very known and shocking the world with statements in his book. Therefore in this paper will give critical insights on Howard Zinn article entitled "Speaking Truth to Power with Books" and "A people's History of the United States".

Summary

There are several important things that Zinn wrote in the article "Speaking Truth to Power with Books". The first starts from the effects of a good writing for the reader even the effects that can change the world. Second, the origin of the Howard Zinn book to know. Third, the role of a book in life. Fourth, about the history of Christopher Columbus, where we realize that the book can distort history. Fifth, the strong influence that owned by by a book.

The book was born of the growing need for information and the importance of communication and the ability of human thinking also the weakness capacity of the human mind. In ancient times, the tradition of communication and delivery of information in the form of a poem or story and still verbally, passed from mouth to mouth, so that in ancient times using memorization method. Over time, the information that must be memorize even more, while their memory capacity has weakened. They finally thinking of pouring this information through the variety of writing and drawing. Therefore, the history of book can not be separated of development of writing.

In his book "A People's History of the United States" he also reveals the history of Columbus that affect the perspective of American society and the world. He say that Columbus that had been hailed as the discoverer of the American continent is the figure that arrogant, killers, torturers, kidnappers, greedy for wealth, especially gold, mutilated and hung the natives when he arrived at American continent in search of gold, Columbus kill the natives of the continent. However America Nations opposed, because they considered that Columbus is people who contributed and became a hero to them, so that in America the world always celebrate Columbus Day.

With the literacy skills, Zinn brave reveal the fact that the inventor the American continent is Moeslim person. Here is proof of the statement Zinn:

1) In the book "Saga America" (1980), Dr. Barry Fell detail the evidence shows that many centuries before Columbus, has resided the Muslims of North Africa and West Africa in the America continent. He also found several of Islam calligraphy written in Arabic, one of which written "Jesus child of Mary". This calligraphy ascertained come of teachings of Islam which only recognizes Jesus as the son of man and not the son of God.

2) In the book "Africa and the Discovery of America" (1920), Loe Weiner wrote that Columbus actually also know the presence of Muslims are scattered in the Caribbean, North America, Central and South America, including Canada. But they do not like Columbus who want to mastering and enslave the Native Americans.

3) In the book "Christopher Columbus" which was published in New York (1950), John Boyd Thacher show Colombus has written that on Monday, October 21, 1492, when sailing near Cibara, off the southeastern coast of Cuba, he saw a mosque on the hill. The Anthropologists and archaeologists also found the ruins of the tower of the mosque and some verses of the Quran in Cuba, Mexico, Texas and Nevada.

4) In the book "Muslims in Early North and South America" (1977), Clyde Ahmad Winters wrote that anthropologists who doing research have found inscriptions in Arabic in the valley of the Mississippi and Arizona. The inscription explains that the first Muslim immigrants also brought elephants from Africa.

5) In Henry Ford's book titled "The Complete International Jew", there is an explanation of how the condition of Muslims at the end of Islamic power in Spain were subjected to torture and finally fled with Columbus to America.

Critique

There are points in the history of Columbus which ignored in the Zinn articles, among others: The first, Columbus has another mission that is retracing the footsteps of the cruise lines-Templar from Europe to America, looking for a navigable route ancestors ever again, to look for "new home" more large and extensive, also rich, which is still pure has not been touched power of the Church, to the descendants of the Templars. The goal is to get power over the church.

Second, Zinn did not give a reason why the ambition Columbus on an expedition to find the Indian (so called America Continent as the Indian). At the time indian ancient is very famous with the technology such as laser technology, jets and rockets. However there one technology phenomenal that is UFO. The aircraft comes from written sources which coming of generations. The maharaja Ashoka keep the discovery scientific for fear of misused for the battle.

Third, Zinn did not write down why Columbus goal in search of spices? Historically, before the spice often found in the market, the spice is considered to have mystical and magical properties that by the West. In the past the west considers the spice is almost as precious as gold, there appears a luxury aura of the spice itself. Moreover, a lot of benefit of spices such to call spirit ancestors, cast out devils, food seasoning, treatment, and increase the sexual arousal. The many uses of the herb is what triggers hunting spices. Columbus has an elegant solution to get spices. According to Columbus, commodities of the East does not have to come from the East and the West did not have to pay a price which too expensive for the producer of spices. Columbus ambition to get as much of the wealth of spices of the East region gave birth a suggestion, which sailed of the West to the East, through Cathay and Indian legendary. The next, the wealth in the East will flow to the Western world, especially Spain. At the time of Columbus has just returned of America, although he was not aware of the actual fact. According to him, he had just returned from India, and the story of his journey to say may sound like a typical of medieval dime novel, he brings the evidence for people which doubt it, namely gold parrot, the Indies, and cinnamon. As if he was really of Indies.

Fourth, Zinn has a weakness in his article that he did not reveal who the actual inventor of the American continent if not Columbus. Although he gave the facts and evidence to suggest that there other people which ever landed the American continent before Columbus, but he did not mentions who the actual inventor of the American continent. It will also affect the way the readers thinks, they will think that Zinn just distort facts to change the perspective of the history of the American people about who the actual Columbus.

Conclution

There are several things that can be concluded from the Zinn’s article, among others recognizes that the strength of an article capable of changing the world and distort history. He also proved that Columbus did not the inventor American continent, the statement he advances in the article "Speaking Truth to Power with Books", accompanied by the evidence from books historian Dr. Barry Fell in the book "Saga America" (1980), Loe Weiner in the book "Africa and the Discovery of America" (1920), John Boyd Thacher in the book "Christopher Columbus" which was published in New York (1950), Clyde Ahmad Winters in book "Muslims in Early North and South America" (1977), and Henry Ford in the book "The Complete International Jew". But in the Zinn’s article also has a weakness that a lack of evidence crucial to a statement he wrote. This raises the question of whether Zinn distort history?

Here is our job as critics to solve the mystery behind Columbus. We must also be careful when receive assumptions that will change our perspective on things. Because in the writings of a great author has a very strong ideology and can affect the readers.

Referenence

1. The Article “Speaking Truth to Power with Books” from Anthropology off the Shelf book: Anthropologistson Writing Edited by Alisse Waterston and MariaD. VesperiHart, Michael. 1989. Seratus TokohyangPalingBerpengaru dalam Sejarah. Jakarta: Pustaka Jaya.

2. The book “A people’s History of the United States”. 1492. By. Howard Zinn.

3. http://suar.okezone.com/read/2013/08/19/285/851880/rempah-rempah-telah-melayarkan-ribuan-kapal accessed on March 23 at 08.00 pm.

4. http://kissanak.wordpress.com/2012/02/10/misi-columbus/ accessed on March 23 at 07:30 pm.