Never forget that the same History Channel responsible for dumping the $30 million dollar miniseries “The Kennedys” due to “accuracy concerns,” is and was behind an all-out effort to mainstream Howard Zinn, one of the most dishonest, anti-American historians in what is a long line of them. Using celebrities like Matt Damon, Josh Brolin, and the usual Hollywood suspects, the History Channel aided and abetted a glowing, much-publicized two-hour special around the old liar not long before he passed on to receive whatever reward he had coming.

Our contributors did a marvelous job documenting Zinn’s profane legacy and now, thanks to Josh Brolin, we’re reminded that we’ve arrived at the one-year anniversary of Zinn’s death:

By: Josh Brolin
February 2, 2011

It was a year this past January 27th that my friend, Howard Zinn, passed away in Santa Monica, California. …

The impact that Howard Zinn has had on the world of fair, conscientious people is profound, and the impact that he had as a friend will be forever felt by me and by all those that knew him with the deepest, most visceral tickle imaginable. He was mischievous, fun, childlike, and an appreciator of all things beautiful. My wife was so smitten with him and he knew, in that classy old-school way, how to sustain it. We had spoken about women and how we both felt that they are, ultimately, the keepers of all things good. He was a smart man, a gentle man, and a gentleman.

To admit: I still speak with him at times when I am alone. He brings that kind of solace. It’s not exclusive to crisis, no – it’s as a friend, as someone I could always have a laugh with, and as someone who could inspire with the simplest glance. He understood that to bring a smile to someone’s face was as important to our well being as was protesting the myriad issues that Howard did. His motive, how it resonated in me, was simply to carve a more loving life for our children and those to follow.

You are so missed dear Howard, but your smiles will always live on.

On background, someone told me Brolin’s original draft was written in longhand and that all the i’s were dotted with little hearts.

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Below is Big Hollywood’s “People Speak” LiveBlog, brought to you by ScribbleLive.com.  Head over there and set up a user profile and picture.  All are welcome to participate, contributors and readers alike.

Also check out Stage Right’s “People Speak” podcast special on Blog Talk Radio.

East Coast and West Coast threads after the jump. (more…)

“Even World War II is cast as a false model for American military domination.”

Los Angeles Times:

“Class division is a drumbeat throughout “The People Speak,” which is a primer of liberal ideology with a decided bent toward socialism; no one’s reading a few rousing passages of Ayn Rand’s, for instance. The letters and journals and speeches selected cover the American timeline, from the abolitionists through AIDS activists, but the theme of personal and political enfranchisement, tolerance, peace and American humility is the consistent theme. Equal rights, protection of workers, protection of children, even rent control are celebrated while concepts such as patriotism — the last refuge of scoundrels, according to pacifist and anarchist Emma Goldman — and national security are portrayed as the whip and cattle prod used by the power elite. Even World War II is cast as a false model for American military domination.”

At the UCLA event, producer Chris Moore said something about “The People Speak” being “two hours of anti-WWII programming.” (more…)

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Yes, this is the man Matt Damon, Chris Moore, Tim Robbins, Josh Brolin, Kerry Washington, Viggo Mortensen, Danny Glover, Marisa Tomei, Bruce Springsteen and many others want to turn into a Che-like pop culture figure to capture the imagination of your children.

Like Chris Moore said at last week’s UCLA event: (more…)