Maybe it’s because I was recently badly quoted in the press that I’m revisiting some of my dark sarcastic hits from the past. I mean, I could claim that I was misquoted, but, no, I said it. I could quibble with context and editing, but anyone who deals with the press seriously knows the importance of staying on message. I could complain that I’m out of practice – and I may be – and that’s why I was too flip. But, flip used to be the point, back in my bad old Socialist Party days. Throwing out a little red meat is important if you’re the Socialist Party and nobody will pay attention to you otherwise. Things are different now. But I am, perhaps, too clever – and certainly too sarcastic – for my own good.
Case in point, about which I am currently cackling to myself: my too-brief stint as Editor-in-Chief of “The Socialist” magazine. I’ve written in the past about how I sparked a controversy in our tiny world with the cover of my second issue. But I was, nevertheless, given a third issue with which to prove myself and permanently secure the job. But I couldn’t help being slightly flip with the cover again:
This was – I thought – a reverent, teasing reference to Cesar Chavez, the great leader of the United Farm Workers whose spirit is reflected in the current student activist support of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers boycotts of tomatoes.
Well, someone took offense. And someone else dogpiled on me. And I went to a dark place and quit. Here’s my final version of that last cover:
Pity it never got published.