Frontiers divide people into nation states leading to an us and them dichotomy. A political elite dominates power and the lexical discourse. Flags become potent symbols of nationalism. Patriotism is used to create the illusion of a common interest that everyone shares. Political leaders exempt themselves from law and basic morality while all the time loudly proclaiming their adherence to them. They declare that god is on their side. They call on their people to make sacrifices. Vast military power is deployed to defend what is called the national interest. Other countries are attacked. This is called self-defense. This pattern is a formula for endless conflict. What if barriers dividing people disappeared? Can we imagine a world without borders?

Howard Zinn
Howard Zinn, professor emeritus at Boston University, was perhaps this country's premier radical historian. He was born in Brooklyn in 1922. His parents, poor immigrants, were constantly moving to stay, as he once told me,"one step ahead of the landlord." After high school, he went to work in the Brooklyn Navy Yard. During World War II, he saw combat duty as an air force bombardier. After the war, he went to Columbia University on the GI Bill. He was an active figure in the civil rights movement. He was among the first to oppose U.S. aggression in Indochina. His book "Vietnam: The Logic of Withdrawal" was an instant classic. A principled opponent of imperialism and militarism, he was an advocate of non-violent civil disobedience. He spoke and marched against the wars on Afghanistan and Iraq. His masterpiece, "A People's History of the United States," continues to sell in huge numbers. His last books were "A Power Governments Cannot Suppress" and "Original Zinn." Just before his death he completed the documentary "The People Speak." Always ready to lend a hand, he believed in and practiced solidarity. Witty, erudite, generous and loved by many the world over, Howard Zinn, friend and teacher, passed away on January 27, 2010.