Politics: Howard Zinn

To be hopeful in bad times is not just foolishly romantic. It is based on the fact that human history is a history not only of cruelty, but also a history of compassion, sacrifice, courage, kindness. And if we do act, in however small a way, we don’t have to wait for some grand utopian future. The future is an infinite succession of presents. And to live now, as we think human beings should live, in defiance of all that is bad around us, is itself a marvelous victory.

– Howard Zinn

I just finished the documentary on Howard Zinn: You Can’t Be Neutral on a Moving Train. It is excellent. I highly recommend it to everyone, especially the young and apathetic out there. For my small part, I will be organizing a summer movie series looking at extraordinary religious figures from various traditions.

Some titles will include:

Bonhoeffer, about the German theologian who courageously stood up against the Nazis.
Merton – A Film Biography, about the French-born Catholic monk whose powerful writings on theology and then social and political issues of the 1960s touched millions in the US and abroad.
Ram Dass: Fierce Grace, about the author of “Be Here Now” and counter-culture guru as he battles the debilitating effects of a stroke.
Dalai Lama: The Soul of Tibet, or perhaps Compassion in Exile, about H.H. the 14th Dalai Lama.
Karol: A Man Who Became Pope, about Pope John Paul II.

and

Peace Is Every Step-Meditation In Action: The Life and Work of Thich Nhat Hanh.

Any suggestions?