Manual For Free Living Vol. 19 | Feature

There is a tendency to think that what we see in the present moment we will continue to see. We forget how often in this century we have been astonished by the sudden crumbling of institutions, by extraordinary changes in people's thoughts, by unexpected eruptions of rebellion against tyrannies, by the quick collapse of systems of power that seemed invincible.

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 of compassion, sacrifice, courage, kindness.

What we choose to emphasise in this complex history will determine our lives. If we see only the worst, it destroys our capacity to do something. If we remember those times and places– and there are so many– where people have behaved magnificently, this gives us the energy to act, and at least the possibility of sending this spinning top of a world in a different direction.

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 marvellous victory.

This text is a part of the several essays published by Pearl Jam's official fan club Ten Club in their Manual For Free Living Vol. 19

About Howard Zinn: Born in Brooklyn, New York, renowned historian and activist Howard Zinn was a shipyard worker at age 18, and an Air Force bombardier a age 21. He later went on to get a Ph.D in History from Columbia University. His writings and activism has inspired and informed hundreds of thousands of youth all across the world.

Howard Zinn resources online:
www.howardzinn.org
http://geocities.com/howardzinnfans
Amongst other things, both these sites include essays and commentary by Howard Zinn along with several of his interviews. You can also search for more online Howard Zinn resources online by using "Howard Zinn" as key words.