Howard Zinn Essay Example for Free

Howard Zinn Essay Howard Zinn was born on December 7 19922 in Brooklyn New York. Zinn was raised in a working-class family in Brooklyn, and flew bombing missions for the United States in World War 2, which experience he uses to shape his opposition to war. Howard Zinn is one of the most respected historians, the author of various books and plays, and a passionate activist for radical change. A clear statement of his nature is his autobiography You Cant Be Neutral on a Moving Train. He is perhaps best known for A Peoples History of the United Sates, which presents American history through the eyes of those outside of the political and economic establishment, like the Native Americans, slaves, women, blacks, etc. In his essay Violence and Human Nature Howard Zinn points that; even if humans are capable of violent behavior, it is social conditions that harness that cruelty. He warns us to steer clear of the widespread notion that humans are biologically predisposed to violence and warfare. Mr. Zinn starts off by using an arsenal of famous thinkers, pointing out their pessimistic views and believes on human behavior. Views based on no concrete evidence that we humans are born with this trait called violence. Zinn starts off using Machiavellis positive view in the The Prince that humans tend to be bad. Zinn add great minds such as Einstein and Freud and their correspondence to illustrate their own views on the subject, and their conclusions that humans are violent by nature. Other scholars are also thrown in to support this traditional view of human nature being evil. The writer goes on with the idea that scientific evidence doesnt proves it, and that is the notion that humans are in nature prone to violence. Howard picks on some scientific fields to show as that there is no evidence of human instinct for the kind of aggressive hostility that characterizes war. He turns to sociobiology, where the Harvard professor E.O Wilson in his book On Human nature answers with a yes on the question Are human beings innately aggressive? and finds his evidence not in his field but as Freud did in History. Wilson goes on to describe that humans are born with such a trait as violence, that we own it to our genes. Zinn counter attacks this with the following, Stephen Jay Gould a colleague of Wilson and a expert in evolution categorically just replies when asked that there no evidence for  such a statement by Wilson. Zinn is starting to show us an interesting pattern, a blueprint that clearly show us that every explanation from those important people look to root their selves with evidence found only in History. Zinn invites us to illustrate why History is being picked as the field from where those people can pull their evidence of Human violence. Its easily proven when you choose humans to be evil, you just need to pick your example, and history is flooded with it. Zinn shows us that there is a down side of it picking on history, because it depends on which historical events you examine to be in your favor. Its dangerous and very biased to follow this trail. Zinn goes on to convince us that our concentration get deflected by the real cause of violence and war. Zinn uses the 1986 international conference of scientists in Spain to express their conclusion on the question of human nature and violent aggression, to lure as to the very point of the whole essay that society has the power to harness this violent instinct in humans, and not our biological makeup. To further straighten his observation, Zinn uses the well-known Milgram experiment. In sum, carefully controlled experiments demonstrate that we follow others more often than we might like to think. However, it also seems to true that we dont always conform. We are more likely to conform when authority figures are close by, and are more likely to express our individuality and dissent when the consequences of our actions are more apparent. Also from the area of anthropology Zinn uses the two tribes of The Forest People and The Mountain People from the studies of Colin Turnbull, to show us what an impact can an out side disturbance have on one tribe, which brought out a violent behavior in them. But the second tribe uninterrupted continued on a gentle and peaceful life. Howard decided to turn our attention from all does academic studies to the war itself. He gives himself as an example to explain war. Zinn argues that he and his fellow soldiers killed as a result of a set of experiences that  brought them to the front lines of war, not because they felt an instinctual compel to do so. He doesnt view the soldiers willingness to go to war as genuine to their human nature but is rather triggered by existing social conditions. This is what is expected from you, the pressure of people around him to do his duty. Zinn recalls being brought up to trust that the nations political leaders would make just and fair choices, and that the world was divided into good and bad countries, his own country being one of the good. He also recalls being trained not to question orders and being reminded that there was no reason to question those orders since they all stemmed from good political leaders and you should obey those people. Ones in the war and having such obedience, produced in him by his society, a soldier easily demonstrates the power of culture in extreme ways, like for example the My Lai Massacre. Where a detachment of units annihilated a whole village consisted only by elderly people, women and children. Zinn decides to show us that in the aftermath of the massacre, GIs as in the case of Charles Hutto said that he did what he was told to do. But we see that also a helicopter offices decides to save as much people as he can from the village below, Howard suggests that men are disposed to war under certain setting. Society should come to turns to this power which it holds over people harnessing this violent instinct and avoid doing so at all costs.

Women and Deception in Homers Odyssey Essay -- Homer, Odyssey Essays

Women and Deception in the Odyssey      Ã‚  Ã‚   As Agamemnon tells Odysseus, â€Å"Let it be a warning even to you. Indulge a woman never, and never tell her all you know. Some things a man may tell, some he should cover up† (Book XI   199).   This is not news to Odysseus, who treats all women with caution ever since he was betrayed by his wife Helen, who acted in a way that defiled all womankind. Agamemnon did not come to this realization all by himself, however; his statement represents the common sentiment that existed throughout all ancient Greece. Even before Odysseus speaks with Agamemnon, he exhibits a similar attitude in his many encounters with women during his long journey home. Every major female character that Odysseus comes across uses deception in one form or another to get the better of him. This being the case, Odysseus fights fire with fire, using his own cunning deception against the evils of womankind.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The first wily female that Odysseus battles wits with is the goddess Kalypso. She is a very deceitful woman, indeed. Kalypso has somehow managed to hide from the gods for 7 years – an unnatural and disrespectable accomplishment. She has been having a secret affair with Odysseus, a mortal, who has been held captive on her island for the... ... Helene Foley, "Penelope as Moral Agent," in Beth Cohen, ed., The Distaff Side (Oxford 1995), pp. 93-115. "The Odyssey, History, and Women," by A. J. Graham, pp. 3-16, and Jennifer Neils, "Les Femmes Fatales: Skylla and the Sirens in Greek Art," pp. 175-84. Lillian Doherty, Siren Songs: Gender, Audiences, and Narrators in the Odyssey (Ann Arbor 1995), esp. chapter 1. Mary Lefkowitz, "Seduction and Rape in Greek Myth," 17-37. Marilyn Arthur Katz, Penelope's Renown: Meaning and Indeterminacy in the Odyssey (Princeton 1991). Nancy Felson-Rubin, Regarding Penelope: From Courtship to Poetics (Princeton 1994).

World Civilizations

Ancient world civilizations date back from 3500-500 BC. Some of the early ancient include Egypt, the Roman Empire, the Baghvad Gita, Mesopotamia and Deities of Warriors to mention a few.. Research conducted by scholars indicate that civilizations did not begin in the west as most people believe. As a matter of fact ancient civilization began from the northern desert and the Mediterranean regions. Civilization was not an event but a process. It therefore did not happen spontaneously but took length of time. There are various ancient civilizations as already mentioned which include Egypt, Mesopotamia, Warriors and Deities in the Near East, India’s Beginnings, Ancient China among others. This paper focuses on each one of them analyzing how each was established. The history of ancient Egypt was characterized by fascination. Egypt is actually of the ancient establishments that may be said to have been rich in civilizations. Some of the memorable fascinations that characterize Egypt’s civilization included; the pyramids, the sphinx, Chariots of the Gods, writings wall paintings and a whole lot of works of art. These among others help us understand the style and way of life in ancient Egypt including their way of life. The geographical location of Egypt is north eastern of the African continent. It took slighting above 300 years. Civilization of ancient Egypt was also characterized of control of resources both human and natural. Other activities included irrigation, mining of minerals, trade and military ventures. Mesopotamia is also another ancient civilization whose geographical location is between two rivers known as Tigris and Euphrates. Mesopotamia is actually said to be the first world civilization among all other ancient civilizations. Some major activities that characterized ancient Mesopotamia included construction of levees to control destructive flooding. Irrigation using canals was also very common. History has it that the southern part of Mesopotamia came to be known as Sumer and thus the residents were known as Sumerians. The Sumerians had civilized systems of administration where they organized themselves in city states. Their place of worship was known as Ziggurat and only priests were allowed since it was a sacred place. Every city state had at lease one temple. Other characteristics of ancient Mesopotamia included was an ancient form of writing known as Cuneiform and Stylus which was instrument made from reed which they used to write. Young boys also attended a school known Edubba after which they graduated to scribes. Also classified among the ancient world civilizations is China whose history of establishment dates back to 15th century BC. The major characteristic of this ancient civilization is the writings which looked like turtle shells. However China is known to have experienced political instability. This may have been as a result of the various dynasties that constituted the whole Kingdom. Originally ancient China was made up of city states which later grew to dynasties. China administration was based on dynasties until recently. In the Near East the Major characteristic was warriors and Deities. The warriors were considered stronger active and more hardworking than other people. There were gods who facilitated the success of war. In conclusion every ancient civilization had some features which characterized its establishment. However, as noted all civilizations took quite a process. All civilizations have however changed and most of them are now modern.

A Fable by Mark Twain

One of the basic exercises (or progymnasmata) practiced by students of classical rhetoric was the fable—a fictional story meant to teach a moral lesson. What lesson about the nature of perception is contained in A Fable, by American humorist Mark Twain? A Fable by Mark Twain Once upon a time, an artist who had painted a small and very beautiful picture placed it so that he could see it in the mirror. He said, This doubles the distance and softens it, and it is twice as lovely as it was before. The animals out in the woods heard of this through the housecat, who was greatly admired by them because he was so learned, and so refined and civilized, and so polite and high-bred, and could tell them so much which they didnt know before, and were not certain about afterward. They were much excited about this new piece of gossip, and they asked questions, so as to get at a full understanding of it. They asked what a picture was, and the cat explained. It is a flat thing, he said; wonderfully flat, marvelously flat, enchantingly flat and elegant. And, oh, so beautiful! That excited them almost to a frenzy, and they said they would give the world to see it. Then the bear asked: What is it that makes it so beautiful? It is the looks of it, said the cat. This filled them with admiration and uncertainty, and they were more excited than ever. Then the cow asked: What is a mirror? It is a hole in the wall, said the cat. You look in it, and there you see the picture, and it is so dainty and charming and ethereal and inspiring in its unimaginable beauty that your head turns round and round, and you almost swoon with ecstasy. The ass had not said anything as yet; he now began to throw doubts. He said there had never been anything as beautiful as this before, and probably wasnt now. He said that when it took a whole basketful of sesquipedalian adjectives to whoop up a thing of beauty, it was time for suspicion. It was easy to see that these doubts were having an effect upon the animals, so the cat went off offended. The subject was dropped for a couple of days, but in the meantime, curiosity was taking a fresh start, and there was a revival of interest perceptible. Then the animals assailed the ass for spoiling what could possibly have been a pleasure to them, on a mere suspicion that the picture was not beautiful, without any evidence that such was the case. The ass was not troubled; he was calm, and said there was one way to find out who was in the right, himself or the cat: he would go and look in that hole, and come back and tell what he found there. The animals felt relieved and grateful and asked him to go at once--which he did. But he did not know where he ought to stand; and so, through error, he stood between the picture and the mirror. The result was that the picture had no chance, and didnt show up. He returned home and said: The cat lied. There was nothing in that hole but an ass. There wasnt a sign of a flat thing visible. It was a handsome ass, and friendly, but just an ass, and nothing more. The elephant asked: Did you see it good and clear? Were you close to it? I saw it good and clear, O Hathi, King of Beasts. I was so close that I touched noses with it. This is very strange, said the elephant; the cat was always truthful before--as far as we could make out. Let another witness try. Go, Baloo, look in the hole, and come and report. So the bear went. When he came back, he said: Both the cat and the ass have lied; there was nothing in the hole but a bear. Great was the surprise and puzzlement of the animals. Each was now anxious to make the test himself and get at the straight truth. The elephant sent them one at a time. First, the cow. She found nothing in the hole but a cow. The tiger found nothing in it but a tiger. The lion found nothing in it but a lion. The leopard found nothing in it but a leopard. The camel found a camel, and nothing more. Then Hathi was wroth, and said he would have the truth, if he had to go and fetch it himself. When he returned, he abused his whole subjectry for liars, and was in an unappeasable fury with the moral and mental blindness of the cat. He said that anybody but a near-sighted fool could see that there was nothing in the hole but an elephant. MORAL, BY THE CAT You can find in a text whatever you bring, if you will stand between it and the mirror of your imagination. You may not see your ears, but they will be there.