Howard Zinn

Director Steven Spielberg's World War II drama Saving Private Ryan was one of the highest—grossing films of 1998. The film was praised for its realistic portrayal of the D—Day invasion of Normandy, and many viewers and critics say it reminds today's generation of the enormous sacrifices made by the soldiers who fought World War II.

While the film accurately depicts the horrors of war, on the whole it sends the message that all the sacrifice and bloodshed of World War II were justified. Defeating Nazi Germany was a worthwhile goal, but war films like Saving Private Ryan send the message that war itself can be a noble endeavor. In the following viewpoint, Howard Zinn argues that this message is harmful. After the...