Howard Zinn

" To be hopeful in bad times is not foolishly romantic. It is based on the fact, the fact that human history is a history not only of cruelty but also of compassion, sacrifice, courage and kindness... what we choose to emphasize in this complex history will determine our lives. If we see only the worst. it will destroy 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 the world in a different direction... And if we do act, in however small a way we don't have to wait for some 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 its self a marvelous victory"- Howard Zinn

Parts of a long amount of quotes listed on rethinkingschools.org from the day of his passing this January. I had pieced it to read to a group of High School students from Spain that were growing and being challenged as they built in Dakar, Senegal that week. The words, as many of this man, are well worth repeating.

http://www.zinnedproject.org/ a link for classroom use or anyone else interested The Zinn Education Project

bare foot

I want to be where
your bare foot walks,

because maybe before you step,
you'll look at the ground.
I want that blessing.

-Rumi