A People’s History in honor of Howard Zinn (contest)

I like to think Howard Zinn would have approved of The Warren Report’s unofficial mission: Question what you see. Consider what you don’t. Draw your own conclusions.

Zinn’s populist tome, A People’s History of the United States, urged readers to re-examine the past from  multiple, under-represented perspectives beyond the average, American curriculum. Zinn was a champion of the masses and the media-oppressed. His death is a loss to all those who value freedom of the Press and a little something some call… the Truth.

In honor of Zinn’s passing, I challenge readers to submit their own exploration of a current event from an unheard, unseen perspective. Ideally, your own. The sharpest, or most satirical, entry will win a prize — Zinn’s best-selling book. (Winner determined by my whim, guided by my love of the pointed and the hilarious.)

Though as much as I appreciate good humor, I scream when the Texas Board of Education proposes revisions to textbooks (effectively, nationwide!) to address such kooky notions as Evolution. One ten-gallon board member, Don McElroy, calls the “theory,” a bunch of “hooey.” And while I could, possibly, live with a Creationists’ argument that both Darwinism and Intelligent Design ought be taught together, doesn’t it undermine the principle of fairness and balance when a key voter poo-poos scientific conclusions altogether, suggesting that Faith always trumps Evidence?

History is not a joke, nor is Science. Why then do we allow “administrators” to dictate content to “educators?” Why must intellectual rigor succumb to spiritually-biased opinion?

Of course, Zinn was more interested in the collusionary efforts of political parties and the dehumanizing impact of economic forces. Nevertheless, the lesson is the same: If the elected and fiscally-empowered can deprive the people of all the facts, they deny the people any hope. For without a complete education, Americans will become just a bunch of underachieving F-students. Prove the powers that be wrong. Demand more information. Accept nothing but the truth.

Question what you see. Consider what you don’t. Draw your own conclusions.

Then, submit your entries by February 15th, 2010.