The Boston Social Forum (BSF) is moderated chaos, a truly grassroots movement, all or most all proposals for workshops and events accepted (as long as they met guidelines, such as no candidates or political parties—this blatantly opposed by the Nader forces). While the Democratic National Convention (DNC) is tightly scripted, to the point of not allowing people to wear headbands proclaiming peace.

Both seem to have wide representation, but the BSF might have more—more color, more location, and poss more pts of view.

The DNC is the most expensive political convention on record, some 90 million dollars. The BSF has to be one of the less costly gatherings of all time, most work done by volunteers.

The DNC is highly corporate-dependent, from cash contributions to sponsoring parties and other special events. At the BSF, the main corporation might have been the host, University of Massachusetts at Boston.

At the BSF peace was proclaimed in many ways. At the DNC the line, "an America strong and secure," suggests continuing military dominance. Edwards in his acceptance speech vowed to destroy all terrorists.

Protest—or advocacy, perhaps a better word—was closely controlled at the DNC, forcing advocates to advocate only in a prescribed area, fenced, razor wired, one half block from the hall, but in view of some entering delegates. Most groups boycotted, but the folks opposed to Israeli occupation of Palestine chose to meet there on the first night, believing the conditions are symbolic of what the Palestinians live under.

Security at the BSF consisted of some 5 campus officers, lounging about, while at the DNC besides the visible presence of local and state police and national guard, there were fighter planes patrolling overhead and reports of naval and army units deployed nearby. A curious observation—most groups of security personnel I saw were clustered together, often relaxed, such as the 10-15 bike mounted police at the waterfront gathering. The point?

The Boston business community is highly critical of the unintended consequences of such tight security: diminished business. While bicyclists and walkers marvel at the empty city.

Media coverage of the DNC is vast, for the BSF paltry. I doubt most people, including Bostonians, had any idea the BSF had occurred, let alone know anything about its themes and thrusts.

Who attended this Social Forum? Upward of 3000 people, a racially and ethnically mixed crowd, many youth, some elders, from as far away at least as the West Coast. An excited group, a boisterous group, quick to laugh, quick to clap, quick to rise to its feet to hurl accolades at speakers. Also quick to debate, quick to challenge, quick to propound. On my way to set up the slide show, Step by Step, Slides and Stories from Buddhist Peace Walks by my partner, Louise Dunlap and myself, I wandered past a roomful bursting at the door, all white, all young. I needed to photograph. Heard laughter, bantering, good vibes. Who's in there? I asked a young man leaning against a wall outside, trying to hear?

Michael Alpert, from Z Magazine.

Highlights of the BSF for me included a panel on reparations from an international perspective, hearing from Dennis Brutus, a Haitian woman, others who spun the story and argument for reparations from different angles. Also the dual occupations workshop, Iraq and Palestine, considering them as all of one piece, to the point of Israeli involvement in training and supporting the US occupation force. This moderated by Elaine Hagopian, recently back from a tour of Palestinian refugee camps in neighboring countries and an Iraq-American man who'd made a film about going back to his home.

My photos ranged from the missed pictures of the Eyes Wide Open display which featured boots matching the number of US military killed to date in Iraq (missed because on the first day the light was not right, and then, with rain on the second day, the boots disappeared. However, several days later, in Copley Square, I photographed the boots.) to the improvised photo of Granny D tottering down from the stage after her rousing talk and Eric Mann, the arch organizer, surrounded by fans and people wanting to purchase his latest book. Paltry findings from the BSF from a rich arena, but I was too concentrated on giving and attending workshops to spread my attention much further.