Some people still remember to honor the old ways, as reported by the Boston Globe:
James “Whitey” Bulger showed no mercy to the people he tortured and killed. He refused to get on his knees when captured after more than a decade on the run because he didn’t want to get his pants dirty. And he swore at witnesses during his trial.
Now, as the imprisoned 85-year-old gangster faces the end of his life, his unwavering defiance has seemingly been replaced by regret, and even a little remorse. At least that’s what he told three local high school girls.
“My life was wasted and spent foolishly, brought shame + suffering on my parents and siblings and will end soon,” Bulger wrote in a Feb. 24 letter sent from a federal penitentiary in Sumterville, Fla.
“Advice is a cheap commodity some seek it from me about crime — I know only one thing for sure — If you want to make crime pay — ‘Go to Law School.’ ”…
The unprecedented confession letter from the former South Boston crime boss — whose taxpayer-funded defense topped $3 million — was sent not to a priest or the relatives of any of the 11 people he killed, but to several 17-year-old juniors at Apponequet Regional High School in Lakeville.
The students created a website about Bulger for a National History Day competition on leadership and legacy and wrote to the octogenarian last February, seeking his opinion on his own legacy…
Tainsh and her classmates, Michaela Arguin and Mollykate Rodenbush, said they chose Bulger for their project because he was a leader — albeit a brutal organized crime leader — and they wanted to do something unconventional that would set them apart from others in the competition who chose heroes and presidents…
In his letter to the students, Bulger, who reportedly prides himself on being patriotic, suggested that instead of focusing on him, the girls should create a website for wounded American servicemen: “good men isolated from society due to war wounds — life for some in pain and loneliness — hearing from school girls that care would do wonders for their morale + recovery.
“Don’t waste your time on such as I — we are society’s lower, best forgotten, not looked to for advice on ‘Leadership,’” Bulger wrote…
The girls’ website on Bulger took first place in the district competition, but failed to place at the state competition, where a website about journalist Nellie Bly came in first.
However, they won two special awards, one for best use of primary sources and the other for best project on Massachusetts history….
Tao of Nope
No quarter. He’s trying to manage his image at the end – his defense at trial was all about “I was never a snitch, I didn’t kill women”. The Robin Hood of southie.
(And he quite possibly whacked one witness during said trial).
Now it’s “don’t be like me, but you know who the REAL crooks are?” Pretending to be Cagney at the end of Angels with Dirty Faces. Same narcissistic sociopath as always.
Meh. Grumpy. Glad you flagged this story though!
sgaile-beairt
Mon dieu. I would have expected Cheney to see the error of his ways and repent before Bulger.
Cervantes
@Tao of Nope, quoting:
Not true.
John Revolta
Yeah, I believe he’s got an appeal going. This looks like a little dance for a judge’s benefit.
Chris
I always wondered if mafiosi (or whatever the word is in Gaelic) ever had moments when they realized that they’d wasted their life and could’ve gotten away with so much more if they’d become bankers or lawyers instead of joining the local family. Apparently, yes.
Gin & Tonic
@Chris: Yeah, Whitey can just look at his brother.
Gin & Tonic
@efgoldman: I bet your Congressman is. He’s always looked pretty short to me.
Tao of Nope
@Cervantes: I know. But he’s @Cervantes:
Oh, I know. Sorry if I indicated otherwise.
But his pushback is all about his wiseguy image – only hurt other soldiers, never snitched. All lies – murdered civilians, including women, and he didn’t get FBI protection by not snitching.
There’s a new doc about his trial on netflix if you’re a masochist. The DOJ comes off as slimy as bulger.
Tao of Nope
@efgoldman:
Surly, Remorseful.
Wait, those are the Duffs!
Omnes Omnibus
@Tao of Nope: Surly only looks out for one guy…. Surly!
Cervantes
@Tao of Nope:
Exactly right — and what else would we expect?
Thanks, but I might skip it.
brendancalling
@Tao of Nope: human garbage. FuckFuck whitey
princess leia
Singer Joe Cocker is dead at 70.
Tao of Nope
@brendancalling: Yup. Just a terrible person.
The credulity in the article, however tempered…. Makes me sad / stabby.
Tao of Nope
@Omnes Omnibus: …sorry, Surly.
Chris
Terrible person, but he made a great villain in The Depaaahted.
Omnes Omnibus
@Tao of Nope: Not tonight.
Tree With Water
There is an episode of the old Get Smart TV show that concludes with an old Italian mobster revealing what he alone is purported to know, an invaluable secret Maxwell Smart and 86 have been assigned to learn. As the old man breathes his last, they lean in to hear his dying words which were, “crime-a doesn’t pay”. I haven’t seen that episode since the year it was first broadcast, but I was leaning in to listen, too, and remember laughing my ass off when that line was delivered..
Omnes Omnibus
@efgoldman: You must be joking.
Omnes Omnibus
@efgoldman: And Francisco Franco.
I'mNotSureWhoIWantToBeYet
@Omnes Omnibus: And Chris Squire of Yes. He will be missed.
Cheers,
Scott.
Omnes Omnibus
@efgoldman: Chevy Chase wouldn’t lie to me. Would he?
bago
Sounds a bit like Kingpin from Daredevil.
SectionH
@efgoldman: GIve her a bit of a break, it was going around today. I missed the actual announcement too. RIP, Joe.
SectionH
Anne Laurie @top
I’ve figured out the Whitey Bulger creature was a Bad Man, but please tell me why he’s important, other than your fair city’s primo example of law enforcement being constrained by corrupt judges, legislators, buying time… It’s like the last of the little mobs going away.
Cheney and the Koch bros are still unindicted.
SectionH
.
John M. Burt
Yes, he’s probably just managing his image, but you never know. Lee Atwater finally came clean, after all.
I’m looking forward to hearing occasional (very, very occasional after the first decade) reports about Dylann Roof’s second thoughts for the rest of my life.
kindness
Late note. Am extremely pleased to report the Grateful Dead’s Santa Clara shows over the weekend were sweeter than I thought they’d be. Wasn’t sure what to expect from Trey but he handled it mightily. Really fun stuff. Am jealous of those of you who can make the Chicago shows next weekend as I can’t. But they are streaming it live and you can buy a video feed for each night if you want.
So git yer Dead on and have some fun.
Chet
@efgoldman: Abe Vigoda is still around, though.