Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2003/02/16

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Subject: RE: [Leica] Covering Anti-War protest in Philly
From: "bdcolen" <bdcolen@earthlink.net>
Date: Sun, 16 Feb 2003 15:39:11 -0500

The problem is, Matthew, that when High School kids get one of Zinn's
textbook they don't have the education, maturity, or experience to judge
his perspective and to take much of it with the proverbial grain of
salt. Reading selections from Zinn along with a standard text might make
sense, and make for good discussion. But Zinn by himself? No way.

B. D.

- -----Original Message-----
From: owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
[mailto:owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us] On Behalf Of Matthew
Powell
Sent: Sunday, February 16, 2003 3:27 PM
To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
Subject: Re: [Leica] Covering Anti-War protest in Philly


On Sunday, February 16, 2003, at 02:14 PM, bdcolen wrote:
>  And BTW, I have never read any of
> Zinn's incredibly biased U.S. History texts - and was horrified that 
> his text was what my youngest had as a high school "text" -

In defense of Zinn, he admits to his biases, and is up front about them.

In history, there is no such thing as objectivity, all texts will be 
biased one way or another. The difference between Zinn and your average 
high-school or college history text (and here I'm thinking of _A 
People's History_ and _Declarations of Independence_) is that his biases

are made clear, rather than masked with a false objectivity.

In addition, I don't think anyone can disagree with any factual claims 
made by Zinn in his work - analysis, yes, facts, I don't think so.

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