Reply #3: IMO, "A PEOPLES HISTORY of the UNITED STATES" [View All]

by, Howard Zinn, should be required reading for (at least) every American. By reading this we learn of the real reasons for our "revolution" to gain independence from great Britain and the reasons why the founding fathers included equal rights and individual freedoms in "our" Constitution. They were all wealthy landowners who needed the help of the non-gentry to win our independence. It was all a plot to insure that they remained wealthy and in control of America.

By writing our constitution and including remedies for the people, when they felt that the new government no longer benefitted them they, besides guaranteeing their (our) victory over colonialism, also gave future generations (us) a legal standing in changing the way our government works, and our government.

The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were written, at the time, to "maintain the status quo" that had been established in America and severing the ability of England to change that established order. It was basically written for and by the American Elite. Only through the struggles (wars, protests, deaths, etc.) of the masses, was some actual equality for the non-elite obtained. We must continue this struggle before we are able to actually become the free people that our constitution says we are.

OWS is a continuation of our struggle to realize the "dream" that is freedom and equality FOR ALL. The founding fathers were protecting their (elite) class and using terminology that would incite the "lowly masses" to support them. Okay, we (they) won. Now in order to realize our ambitions (including all people of the world) to actually determine our own fate and be free of the status quo (which was seized by corporations still owned by the wealthy) we must continue this struggle.

When we win (and we will) then citizens of America and the world will be free and able to institute the political and economic system that they determine is right for them. This struggle has been transpiring since the beginning of time. Hopefully, we the people, will triumph and actually be free to determine our own destinies.