[haw-info] HAW Notes 8/13/13: Zinn event; teaching resources; Vietnam War counter-commemoration; article links

To members and friends of Historians Against the War,

Here are a couple of notes plus our occasional "links to recent articles of interest."

1. The HAW Steering Committee has endorsed a November 5 solidarity "read-in" event being organized by faculty members at Purdue University, in which participants (volunteers are welcome) will read passages from Howard Zinn's writings. This is in response to the revelation that Purdue's current president Mitch Daniels, when governor of Indiana, had welcomed the death of "this terrible anti-American academic" and sought assurance that Zinn's writings were not being taught in the state.  Prof. Tithi Bhattacharya of the Purdue history department is a contact person for more information on the read-in, at tbhattac@gmail.com.

2.  Rethinking Schools has published a collection of articles and hands-on lessons on the wars in Afghanistan and the Middle East since 2001, entitled Teaching About the Wars.  Information is at http://www.rethinkingschools.org/ProdDetails.asp?ID=9781937730475.

3.  An effort is being initiated to counter the upcoming official US commemoration of the Vietnam War.  Plans are tentative, but the organizers have posted a statement and a form for endorsement, with a number of prominent antiwar activists among the early endorsers.  Information is at http://ncveteransforpeace.org/memorial.

Links to Recent Articles of Interest

"Her Name Is Jody Williams"

By David Swanson, War Is a Crime.org, posted August 11

"A Social History of Wiretaps"

By David Price, CounterPunch.org, posted August 9

"War Overseas, Social Devastation at Home: An Evening with Iraq Veterans Against the War"

By Kim Scipes, ZNet, posted August 7

"Top Ten Things That Don't Make Sense about NSA Surveillance, Drones and al-Qaeda"

By Juan Cole, Informed Comment blog, posted August 6

The author teaches history at the University of Michigan

"Welcome to Post-Constitution America: What If Your Country Begins to Change and No One Notices?"

By Peter Van Buren, TomDispatch.com, posted August 4

"John Kerry's Doomed Peace Process"

By Phyllis Bennis, Foreign Policy in Focus, posted August 2

"America's Imperial Power Is Showing Real Signs of Decline"

By Noam Chomsky, AlterNet.org, posted August 2

"Bradley Manning Meets Woodrow Wilson: The Secret of the Espionage Act Revealed"

By Ira Chernus, History News Network, posted August 1

"Mitch Daniels, Howard Zinn, and the Politics of History"

By Joseph A. Palermo, Huffington Post, posted July 30

The author teaches history at the Sacramento Stagte University

Thanks for Rosalyn Baxandall, Steve Gosch, and Chad Pearson for suggesting articles that are included in the above list.  Suggestions can be sent to jimobrien48@gmail.com.