Zinn, Woodard, Ruffalo and More School Pasadena on February 1

Back in 2005, I helped produce a Los Angeles reading of Howard Zinn and Anthony Arnove's Voices of a People's History of the United States, the primary-source companion to Zinn's own seminal work People's History of the United States. It was a major blast, featuring talented artists like Sandra Oh, Danny Glover, Viggo Mortensen and more tackling the speeches, protests and further recorded texts of righteous muckrakers like Mark Twain, Sojourner Truth, Susan B. Anthony, Frederick Douglass and onward. So there's my disclosure, as if I had to give one. I never understood why a journo had to throw those in because s/he believed in a story, subject or cause. Isn't that the point of writing to begin with? And I hate to tell you this people, but journalism? It's just writing, sometimes for pay, sometimes for conscience. Sometimes, but rarely, for both.

This time around for the Pasadena performance coming up February 1, I'm not involved, other than posting this heads-up, that is. But I think it's a can't-miss opportunity for people who aren't that familiar with their American political history or historical figures to better understand the sacrifice and struggle of those who came before us all, and paved the way for our freedoms by using not much else besides their consciences and loud mouths. In an age where we're sleeping more than ever while our elected officials -- some of whom can barely post weak-ass approval ratings in the 20s and 30s -- jack everything in sight, listening to those who suffered much more yesterday for the liberties we take for granted today is a firestarter of a wake-up call. Details for those who are interested in jumping on board are here, courtesy of my man Anthony Arnove:

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Join Benjamin Bratt, Josh Brolin, Q'Orianka Kilcher, Mark Ruffalo, Alfre Woodard and other special guests still to be announced for a staged reading of Howard Zinn and Anthony Arnove's Voices of A People's History of the United States. A benefit for ICUJP: Interfaith Communities United for Justice and Peace, and the launch of the ongoing Los Angeles Voices Project (which will present readings from the book to the public at little or no cost)

Thursday February 1st, 2007
All Saints Church, Pasadena
132 N. Euclid Street
VIP Reception 6:00 (Tickets $500, includes performance)
Performance 7:30 (Tickets $100)
Scholarship Tickets for Students and Activists, as well as volunteer opportunities, also available. Please send inquiries here.

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It's also worth noting, now that Bush has decided to escalate the resource war in Iraq, that Arnove's own book Iraq: The Logic of Withdrawal is kicking ass and taking names in paperback form. Maybe someone should buy Pelosi one and see if she can put together a plan to push Bush into a corner with something else besides nonbinding resolutions.