Posthumous Advice from Howard Zinn

Editor’s Note: We’re clearing out the Innermost Parts vaults, posting several articles that were completed a while ago but got overlooked and were never published.  Here’s the first, from Amy Bea, written in early February in the wake of Howard Zinn’s death.

As I sat at the recovery table after donating blood the other day, I decided to open the most recent issue of The Nation. Inside I discovered an article about Obama’s first presidential year. Many contributors wrote short reflections on his presidency thus far, including the late Howard Zinn.

He states, “I think people are dazzled by Obama’s rhetoric, and that people ought to begin to understand that Obama is going to be a mediocre president–which means, in our time, a dangerous president–unless there is some national movement to push him in a better direction.”

Not only does that call for action apply to our nation, but to Brandeis as well. As students, we must unite if we want to push Brandeis in a positive direction. Go to Jehuda’s office hours. Email Andy Hogan and tell him what you think. Come to the potluck in the Castle Commons this Sunday, 5-8, to discuss what students can do about budget cuts. Attend the Constitutional Review town hall meetings. Buy a megaphone and yell out a window. Protest. Talk with people.

DO SOMETHING. But for Brandeis’ sake, don’t just sit there and watch this institution go down the drain.

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