The History is in the Writer’s Hand

(3^rd Critical Review)

Introduction

This paper offers a critical perspective on an article entitled “Speaking Truth to Power with Books” that was written by Howard Zinn. History was very interesting knowledge topic. In learning history by Howard Zinn’s author and which was interesting from Zinn’s article of course he was brave to express the darkness of new continent history. Zinn in his ideology wrote history. He was never cruel and refused any reasons to use to support a war. It was also based in express other side about Christopher Columbus.  A discourse has the power to influence the public. Discourse gives an enormous influence on the reader. Posts like a time machine that can bring us to penetrate and explore time. Literacy cannot taught in a vacuum (Halliday): the children also need to be able to understand a variety of texts, and learn the history involving the reading of texts is difficult and challenging of any kind. In this way, working in both historical time and hours of literacy, we can improve for the better. This means focusing explicitly on two separate sets of objectives: to read people and their history.

Summary

There are several basic points that Zinn wrote on Colombus, whom we ridiculously perceive as the hero of America, In Zinn’s article, Zinn told that if a book could change someone’s life it would have effect of the world. Zinn challenged our mind to know about the truth of history that happened in our life. Like the history of Christoper Colombus. He aversed very much that Christoper Colombus was not a hero, but he told in his article that Colombus was a murderer, torturer, kidnapper, native mutilator, hypocrite, greedy people looked for gold, often killed and mutilated people. How surprised for a lot of people who have known the history. It can be prove after reading Zinn’s article. Besides that Christopher Columbus was a adventurer who sailed to find India 1492.

Columbus wrote:

            "Soon after arriving in Hindia, in the first island I find, I take some native people by force in order that they can study and perhaps give any information in this area”.

Critique

There are three points on Colombus that are neglected in Zinn’s article:

First, the discovery of America continent was from Moeslem, but in Zinn’s article was not told that the moeslem moved firstly in America continent. It caused Zinn’s background is a Jewish. His parents were also immigrant Jewish. Because, there are history closed like the truth of Colombus in finding new continent. Our mind begins to open with this truth that was not Colombus who landed firstly in America continent but the moeslem lended firstly before Colombus’s expedition.

Second, the history of Indian in America who had known Islam before Colombus’s expedition Indians ware also hidden by history. Even, the Indian in America was only not respect. If the reason of Howard Zinn to cover up the truth of Islam who the first landed on the America continent although he knew about the fact but, Zinn did not have brave to write this fact because he was a Jewish.  The Jewish was hate very much with Islam since a long time ago. Then, as an author Howard Zinn could say to be closed with the truth of history.

Third, Howard Zinn as an author many criticize the others author but, Zinn did not reflect on her own. When the other authors such us Morrison wrote the standpoint of the history and his ideology about Cristoper Colombus. Zinn opposed and even throwing harsh criticism to Morrison. Voracious Howard Zinn is the most correct one person, but if I look in his book on ' Speaking Truth to Power with Book'. In Zinn’s article when it reveals the truth about the history of Columbus is a lack of evidence relating to rebuttal against Columbus. Zinn is very weak in revealing the facts, when it should be if he refused flatly that it is not the inventor of the American continent Christopher Columbus, Howard Zinn should provide evidence for rebuttal. Yes, as proof of who the first landed on the new continent if not Cristoper Columbus. So, who was the first person that landed before Colombus? There is no bright spot on the above claim denials Howard Zinn. Though the facts of history is an undeniable reality, it will not be deleted, cannot straight or bent because facts are facts. The facts of Historical should not be forgotten. Each course has a history of relics, either in the form of objects, buildings, and so forth. Evidence in support of this statement among historical heritage objects (artifacts). Reis map can be used as evidence for this claim because it is the strongest physical evidence of the expeditions of the Muslims long before Columbus expedition.

Conclusion

There are basic points that can be concluded from Zinn’s article. We could see that Howard Zinn as a model to develop our identities as citizen. Zinn worked and effort of the people who work in the same tradition ultimately leads us to how we can learn to be critical and to teach others in a critical manner. To learn the facts about Columbus could lead to a revolution in the thinking of a person. Discourse as a currency that has value. A discourse has the power to influence the public.

In many ways the history of the event or series of events that are missing or have been deliberately omitted. Therefore, the interpretation of a historian is required to connect an event with another event. So that it can approach the truth of the interpretation of the historian and the facts of the evidence that is given. Understanding subjectivity itself is testimony or interpretation which is the result of a feeling or a picture of the human mind. In the event of history, a historian used analysis and interpretation. A historian like Howard Zinn should try to explain why, how events happen, and why is interconnected with other events and seeks tell about many facts. It can be concluded that the history does not escape from the hands of historians. This means that literacy is required as an initial capital of historical writing.

References:

-          Zinn, Howard. 1980. Speaking Truth to Power with Books.  Harper & Row; HarperCollins

-          Howard Zinn. People’s History of the United States

-          “Terungkapnya Misteri Teknologi India Kuno” that was accessed on 15^th March 2014 18:21PM from:http://www.apakabardunia.com/2012/11/terungkap-misteri-teknologi-india-kuno.html

-          “Kritik pedas Howard Zinn terhadap Morrison” that was accessed on 15^th March 2014 23:10PM from: http://jakartabeat.net/kolom/konten/howard-zinn-dan-sejarah-orang-orang-kalah

-          “Kisah Mahabrata Ungkap Misteri Ledakan Nuklir Kota Tua” that was accessed on 16^th March 2014 16:13 from http://www.anehdidunia.com/2013/03/kisah-mahabrata-ungkap-misteri-ledakan.html