DEAR READER

I commissioned the recorded narrative of Boston For Bernie featured herein (NEWS TO US, p.4), compiled by a journalist-supporter of Bernie Sanders who peripherally volunteered for the campaign, not out of political motivation. That should be obvious, since Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders is no longer in the ballgame, and is at the time of this writing rattling innumerable delegates on the floor of the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia (while placating others). I’m not here to kick that cage, and personally don’t care to engage in the childishly passive-aggressive shit fight between neoliberals and legitimate progressives (you see what I did there?). Rather, my reason for wanting the background of Bernie For Boston on-record is that the the story of the outfit’s early and responsive organizing yields immensely critical lessons for lefties. With the fifth anniversary of Occupy Wall Street and its legions all across the country upon us, it’s important to consider that both widespread agitation as well as mass grassroots momentum comes in waves—from the anti-nuclear proliferation front in the 1980s, to the emerging post-Sanders movement today. They’re all worth studying, and they’ve all produced the individuals who teach our children, staff public welfare agencies, and sacrifice their livelihoods to advance civil and human rights. This week’s news item explains how they came together this time around, in their own words.

CHRIS FARAONE, NEWS+FEATURES EDITOR

OH, CRUEL WORLD

Dear High School Kid Who Put His Hands In My Face,

You were walking through the Cambridgeside Galleria with what I assume were some other little shitheads from your suburban lacrosse team, and for a quick laugh you threw some jazz hands at me, making a gesture like you’d tossed an open handful of powder in my eyes to blind me. your  buddies chuckled, and you found it especially hilarious, but I just want you to know that I have unbelievable boomerang karma, and that you are going to die a horrible death sometime in the next few years, probably before you finish college. The truth is that I would have actually done you a favor by disemboweling you right then and there and stuffing your corpse in the elevator shaft. What’s coming next, if I hope and pray enough, will cause you far more suffering.