Speaking truth to power was supposed to be heroic – like yelling at your parents over their lapses in recycling.

But then something funny happened: people started speaking truth to power to people who speak truth to power. And now the man who once inspired, starts to perspire. The king of cool begins to lose his. And the side that normally champions freedom of speech, is asking America to pipe down.

Check out our nation’s high school paper, USA Today, where House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer called the town hall protesters un-American. How odd that in a different context, with different protesters, these disruptions would be seen as brave.

But it’s not brave at all, according to the media. That’s because, for once, the media is not on the protesting side. Instead, the media is the “power” that’s being spoken to – and that confuses them. And so they mock. (more…)

For those of you who don’t know, I’m from Cambridge. Born and raised there. I grew up in the Jefferson Park housing projects a stone’s throw from Harvard. Never a Dull Moment in JP I can tell you! Even today. Knew lots of CPD cops like Officer Crowley too, but never in a good way. Like when a fellow punk projects friend of mine drove a stolen car through a fence and into the deep end of the local MDC kiddie pool. They wanted us real bad that night! I was guilty as sin, too. All wet, in fact. Rode shotgun the whole way. Front row seat. Yee-ha! Island Kingdom, eat your heart out.

My whole childhood was like that. A lot of crazy stuff, a lot of running from police. Was a local sport, like train-hopping. But that’s all just the gritty side of Cambridge. And even though I’m a rank Righty today, I still love Harvard University all the way, the Square especially. It’s the Crossroads of the World. I was a total Harvard Square rat growing up. Harvard is the Bright Light of Olde Cantabrigia. Harvard was also very active in the community back then, and most likely still is today. Harvard hosted field trips to the campus from schools all over Cambridge. The Agassiz Museum was my favorite. Lots of dead bugs and dinosaur bones. That was Heaven to me. Still is. (more…)