In a time of war, imperialism and official lying it's hard to be optimistic. The monopolistic media function as a weapon of mass distraction. They say, Don't fret about affairs of state. Turn to the sports pages or worry about clothes or whether Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes will be happy. Public apathy about serious matters seems to a problem. One often one hears comments like, "Why bother? Nothing we do matters." It's odd to hear these kind of views in a country that is relatively free and where many of us, particularly the privileged, have so many opportunities to work for social change and justice.

Howard Zinn, professor emeritus at Boston University, is perhaps this country's premier radical historian. He was born in Brooklyn in 1922. His parents were poor immigrants. 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 and anti-Vietnam War movements. Today, he speaks all over the country before large and enthusiastic audiences. His masterpiece, A People's History of the U.S. continues to sell in huge numbers. His latest books are Original Zinn with David Barsamian, and A Power Governments Cannot Suppress.