Get Involved

As Howard Zinn himself would say, "You can't be neutral on a moving train." The political world we live in is a moving train, so everyone is moving with it; no one can be neutral. There are those who will sit calmly and do nothing in order to pretend to be neutral, although they are in fact passively allowing a moving train - whether it be capitalism or facism - to pass unimpeded. And there are those who will struggle against that movement, and who will fight it until it stops and moves the other way. It is my hope that the information and ideas offered by this site have encouraged you to become a member of the latter camp.

Some campaigns where you might get involved spring to mind immediately. They are:

The movement to spread A People's History far and wide - this movement, started by Cathy Salser, intends to make A People's History of the United States more broadly available by buying copies and distributing them to high schools across the country. The premise of this idea is that this book, among others, is a disturbing and inspiring book that has been the start of many people's transformation into active, politically conscious people. Even if this transformation occured to only a few people in a few places around the country, Cathy argues, it could have a serious impact on the political landscape of the future.
To get involved, e-mail Sam at otr-gow@juno.com.
To sign up as a supporter, or see a list of other supporters, click here.

Support womens' reproductive freedom: sign the petition at http://www.MillionForRoe.com today!

Support the peace movement: visit http://www.Peace1st.org/.

Support alternative political parties, like the

The methods I mention above are, of course, only the tip of the iceberg. Millions of other opportunities for activism and service abound. It is, I believe, our duty as human beings to pick at least one and to lend it some dedication and energy, to make the world a better home.

I am not sure what the best route to that finer hour is, so it's not my place to criticize the choice of others. I have spent some time thinking and rethinking how I might best serve the planet. Whether to engage in direct community service or to practice more indirect but revolutionary political activism; and which causes to owe one's devotion, are not easy questions to answer. Yet the best means to discover a self-satisfying answer is through experience, and so I urge you to engage as many opportunities for action as you can. There is no better solution to the problems of humans than the action of humans.

Please send suggestions for other campaigns to me at howardzinnfas@yahoo.com.