“The
treatment of heroes (Columbus) and their victims (the Arawaks)-the quiet
acceptance of conquest and murder in the name of progress-is only one aspect of
a certain approach to history, in which the past is told from the point of view
of governments, conquerors, diplomats, leaders.”
-Howard Zinn
Introduction
Many books of history told about Christopher Columbus which cross
around the word and he also become a famous person how find “the new continent”
in United State. Most of People see the Columbus as a hero and the great
discoverer. But Dr. Howard Zinn gives the quite difference opinion on his point
of view about the real of Christopher Columbus. On his book which the title is
“speaking truth to power with book” he tells about the history of Americans on
his perspective as the anthropologies. Zinn describe more clearly about
Columbus as the colonialist on America, moreover Zinn also told that Colombus
and his companions have done the “Genocide” and another thing to the native of
America of Coloumbus called by Indian.
Summary
A People’s
History of the United States begins with a retelling of the
first encounters of the indigenous people of the Caribbean with the expedition
of Christopher Columbus. Zinn’s views
of these first encounters are radically different from the traditional accounts
of the popular historical figure, in which Columbus is portrayed as an
enlightened, peaceful explorer who, after “discovering” he was in a new land,
befriended the native people. Drawing from Columbus’ own journals as well as
the writings of other contemporaries, Zinn exposes Columbus as an agent of
conquest with a lust for gold and other resources who also had willingness to
torture and kill others to obtain these goals.
It is from this primary point that Zinn’s narrative in A People’s
History diverges from much of what had preceded him. Zinn goes on to
state that much of what had t been presented to students as “history” in the
past was in reality was a prepared agenda focused on preserving the power of
social elites. Columbus and his motivations represent the first clash of values
that took place in the New World. In his writings, Columbus sees that the
inhabitants of the Bahama Islands are peaceful, accommodating and have no
organized elements of self-defense. In Columbus’ mind, these factors make the
native people ripe to be conquered by Spain and the other European powers.
In Zinn’s analysis, this worldview shaped the behavior of
Europeans and their descendants for centuries. The idea of exploitation-- of
resources, of people, of cultural differences-- was the primary factor in the
influx and conquest of the New World. The settlers and conquerors of Europe
were prepared to use all avenues of force and coercion against a population
whose worldview, in many instances, did not include ideals of conquest, forced
labor or mass punishment (Zinn, p.5, 1995).
The consequences were profound. Drawing from a variety of sources,
both from the period and modern, Zinn estimates that perhaps 3 million people
perished in the Caribbean alone from raids, forced labor and disease (Zinn,
p.7, 1995). While the total number of people in the Americas before 1492
is uncertain, by the time of the permanent settlements of Jamestown in
the early 1610’s, the native populations of the Caribbean had been so depleted
that the European settlers had need of another source of menial, permanent
human labor.[1]
Zinn was purporting to write history, while making that counter
argument to conventional views of the subject. While you can be generous and
say that he had a positive influence, there were other ways to go about making
his point that wouldn't land in a classroom of impressionable students and yet
get the point across.
In another text zinn also said "Columbus as Eichmann"
isn't as extreme as it should be in the eyes of some Leftist historians. When
Europeans are portrayed as mass murders rampaging across the Americans killing
millions of people and engaging in some sort of Lebensraum, then that's not
just bad history, it’s propaganda. It would be illogical to even consider
putting such material on a reading list of a course without placing it in a
proper context, not is a History text, but as a work of the Leftist
intellectual movement in the late 20th century.
Critical
The
big question that I got from Zinn’s book is “why he did not explain clearly
about the history of America in all of side?” And, if Columbus isn’t the first
person who find America. “why he (zinn) is not mention who is the fisrt?” here
we can conclude that zinn only wants to explain about Columbus, not the history
of America. In that book also just wrote about the fact Christopher Columbus
has many badness. Another author also wrote about the badness about the fact
Christopher Columbus, but they still add the goodness about Christopher
Columbus. I believe that everyone have their own perspective about their
masterpiece. The right perspective of Howard Zinn in the book (Anthrophology Of
The Shelf Book) have many comments from another people, because perspective
Howard Zinn fight his country with the perspective. I think that what Howard
Zinn do is the appropriate step to be a good writer. Good writer not only to
write all they know, but also they have to care also about the reader influence.
Conclusion
By reading, we can find the actual reality of life, By reading we
will also recognize the phenomenon or symptoms.
Basically because the person with the text ( read - write ) that is able
to manipulate or distort history. For example, if today we do not read from a
variety of sources related to it will only get an understanding that does not
fit the facts because in today's information age media and writing are
subjective not objective the need for general or thorough understanding not
only based on the understanding that we see from one side only.[2] Therefore
when we can influence others with our opinions through writing we write or text
that we put forward. Here I will explain more about thoughts of Dr. Howard Zinn
on one's thoughts and opinions, can somebody is thinking of others even can
also distort the facts of history even though it is included. It may happen
because a lot of people who easily believe that the opinion is not clear where
the reference and provenance.
[2] http://edukasi.kompasiana.com/2011/04/12/buku-mengubah-pola-pikir-355012.htm
downloaded at 22 march 2014
0 comments:
Post a Comment