Recap of Zinn's lecture in Bloomington

He accused the United States government of imperialism, argued that terrorism cannot be defeated with bombs and appealed for Israelis to leave occupied territories. \nHoward Zinn, a prominent anti-war activist, spoke to a capacity crowd Friday afternoon at the Buskirk-Chumley Theatre. The event was sponsored by the Union Board Lecture series and No Sweat!, a campus labor rights organization. \nDuring the lecture, Zinn offered an alternate viewpoint to mainstream U.S. media by blasting war reports, U.S. government officials and methods of fighting terrorism with what he terms "more terrorism."\nLong-time friend, Bill Breeden, introduced Zinn. \n"I have the greatest respect for this man," Breeden said. "He has been accused in many circles as being a revisionist historian. He does not revise history. He only revises the telling of history -- and he tells it from the people's point of view." \nAfter Breeden's introduction, Zinn took the stage and began discussing the importance of learning about the past. \n"I didn't go into history to become a historian who goes into the archives and never comes out," Zinn said. "I came to this idea about history as being useful for understanding present circumstances."\nZinn drew from his background as a historian and former Air Force bombardier to deliver his anti-war remarks. \n"War is a quick fix," he said. "Violence is a quick fix." \nWhile he was in the Air Force, Zinn said he was oblivious to human deaths as he dropped bombs on so-called "military targets" from 30,000 feet in the air.\nIn the current war on terrorism, he estimates that between 3,000 and 4,000 people have died in Afghanistan. \n"Are (the U.S. citizens) matching death for death?" Zinn asked. "Terror for terror?" \nHe said terrorism stems from grievances against U.S. foreign policy, which cannot be defeated with force.\nNot only did Zinn criticize the military strikes against Afghanistan, he condemned congress, whom he calls "silent" when the president declares war. When the U.S. is at war, forget about democracy, Zinn said.\n"We have free speech in this country -- except where it counts," he said.\nThe activist admitted he is often asked, "Why are you down on America?"\nHis response?\n"I'm not down on America," he said. "I'm down on these people who have taken over America."\nHe concluded by saying there is hope for the future. \n"Our job is to tell the truth about this war, what it's failing to do and what moral blight it is on all of us," Zinn said. "It's possible to make some changes. We've seen it happen. It'll be done when democracy comes alive."\nZinn also spoke on issues including the Vietnam War, the conflict in Israel and World War II.\nBefore Zinn's message, international folksinger David Rovics sang about issues including the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, striking minimum wage workers and U.S. government cover-ups of civilian deaths during bombing in Kama Ado, Afghanistan. Several of his songs appropriated phrases from well-known patriotic music. One piece included the sarcastic lyrics, "We'll bomb our way to freedom with cruise missiles of justice and the spent shells of democracy," Rovics sang. "Oh, say, can you see."\nZinn's remarks and Rovic's lyrics were met with relentless audience applause throughout the two-and-a-half hour event.\n"I think he was right-on about a lot of points," junior Samantha Barbera said. "I think it's really important to hear what he has to say about the war right now, and I wish more people could hear him."\nUnion Board Lectures Director and freshman Mzilikazi Kone said she was impressed with the high turnout and estimated crowd of 615 people. \n"I was ecstatic," Kone said. "I was really impressed that people came out in the middle of the day."\nSome members of the audience did not fully agree with every viewpoint presented during the music performance and lecture.\n"Maybe sometimes (the U.S. government) goes too far, but we have to keep in mind that the United States is the only super power in the world," said Sergo Japaridzi, a former IU graduate student and native of the Soviet Union. "It's like a man in the Eastern family -- someone has to be in charge. If nobody is in charge, it will just be worse."\nJaparidzi said he attended the lecture to make sense of the conflict.\n"I want to understand what's going on and what's going to happen," Japaridzi said. "I have a daughter, and she has to live in this world. And I just want to not make sure, but hope, that this world will be safe"