Sunday, March 3, 2019

Feeling the Bern at Brooklyn College


Bernie arrested in Chicago civil rights demo
I always love visiting my old campus where I met my wife and spent many years getting an undergrad (1962-66), part of a grad degree in history (66-68) and an MA in computer science (1984-1988) and teaching there for 3 semesters (88-90). Yesterday I was joined by about 13,000 others supporting Bernie Sanders' triumphant return to the school where he spent his freshman year.

The crowd was mostly young and white. Very interesting considering the black population that exists in Brooklyn. Like the people who voted for Jumaane Williams for Public Advocate were not going to a Bernie rally even if it was nearby.

But the message Bernie was putting out was clearly aimed at these people, with key speakers being Nina Turner and Shaun King who stressed Bernie's history of civil rights activism.
 

My post on FB led to a lot of comments and back and forth - worth noting below the fold.

Leonie asked why the enormous adoration and some of us tried to answer.

My old fraternity brother who is active in Dem politics in Texas raised the issue of winnability:

Allen Kaplan All well and nice... one real problem: He can’t win the general election. After New England, the Mid Atlantic, the West Coast and Illinois, where does he win? The answer is nowhere. He loses the entire South, the Rust Belt, the Midwest, the Rockies, the Southwest. Game, set, Match. We better nominate someone who can win.
I am thinking the rust belt - Bernie did win Michigan over Hillary. My bigger question about winning is age and being Jewish. 

I am not a totally committed Bernie supporter -- Beating Trump is primary and if I think Allen is right I may move off to the center somewhere. Actually, I don't know where I stand - confusion reigns.

Here is my post on FB and the comments.
  • Over flow Bernie rally at Brooklyn college. I graduated from this spot in 1966.
    Comments
    Write a comment...





    • Leonie Haimson I like & respect Bernie but pl someone explain to me the adoration level.
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    • Gloria Brandman Leonie Haimson for me it’s not adoration. It’s respect for what he has done in his life, it’s agreement with everything he is saying as I watch the livestream and it’s hope for future positive changes in this country that I hope, believe he can lead us towards!!
  • Leigh Helena Louise Gloria Brandman He seems to have few allies in DC ... and not making friends
  • Harry Lirtzman There is a rather extraordinary level of adoration among at least some of his supporters.
  • Norm Scott What Bernie did in the 60s compared to what both Clintons did. The essence of the divide in dem party.
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  • Megan Devir It’s really simple - he is an activist in disguise as a politician and is radical enough to represent the interests of the people. That’s it!
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  • Leonie Haimson Here's the photo of Bernie getting arrested in 1963 over the Chicago Willis wagons - as Shawn King explained were trailers used to house black kids into rather than let them attend mostly white, underutilized schools nearby https://www.chicagotribune.com/.../ct-bernie-sanders-1963... https://www.chicagotribune.com/.../ct-willis-wagons...
  • Image may contain: 3 people, people standing and outdoor
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  • Nathan Bonheimer I think what looks like adoration is catharsis. For the last twenty years the Democratic Party has oozed contempt for working people. But, Bernie has consistently been on our side his entire life. Not only is he bringing our message front and center, but, we trust that once (if) elected he won’t strangle the movement off-stage. So, while centrists have seventeen acceptable candidates, the working class left really only has one. Warren could be a close second, but, right now, Bernie’s way more well-known.
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  • Harry Lirtzman Nathan Bonheimer I accept the distinction between catharsis and "adoration."

    I am warming to Sanders but will never get to adoration or catharsis.

    That said, I wonder how many members of whatever you define to be the "working class" were at that rally today?

    I am not being snide.
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  • Nathan Bonheimer I get what you’re saying. Maybe not a lot of bus drivers and factory workers. But, plenty of teachers. And, honestly, ours is a pretty blue-collar job in my opinion. Also, the Bernie supporters where I grew up (Cleveland and St. Louis) tend to resemble what you might think of as working class a little more.
  • Dan Camilli Integrity. That’s the attraction. So rare to find in a politician these days - especially over the span of decades like Bernie.
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  • Norm Scott Think of his response at town hall on Venezuela. He tried to put a simple response into the context of American invasions. He mentioned Chile. Donna shalala savaged him the next day over this response. The Clinton wing of the party is fine with invasions.
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  • Norm Scott And at rally today he talked about obscene defense spending - emphasized military industrial complex. My only disappointment is no mention yet of educational industrial complex.
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  • Norm Scott What other dem is putting defense budget on the table.
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  • Harry Lirtzman Norm Scott Norm, I know what you're trying to say but I have chosen my words carefully this year and hope others might, as well.

    Is there any way that you can make your case without impugning those of us who supported Clinton but who are not imperialists or crypto-fascists?
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  • Rebecca Bosselait Peebles Nathan Bonheimer Nurses too I bet!
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  • Norm Scott I supported Clinton in the end. I’m using Clinton/Obama as an identifier for a political wing of the Dems. I’m not always sure where I stand given beating trump is primary. Most Dems support American imperialism- our own uft is deeply embedded and always has been. Donna shalalor attack on Bernie due to Venezuela is a sample. In no way will uft ever back Bernie until he’s last one standing b
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  • Norm Scott Harry Lirtzman by the way. I’m not talking about supporters but the protagonists themselves.
  • Mike Schirtzer Harry Lirtzman and if you’re warming to him that’s good. I’m not worried about leftists in worried about the base that never got on board last time: workers, African-American, women, Latinos, LGBTQ. There isn’t a democratic primary win without all theSee More
  • John Elfrank-Dana Norm Scott true and sad. Remember, Shanker was a Cold War Liberal.
  • John Elfrank-Dana Furthermore, the old boomers are dying off and the new wave of young voters are coming up and they are overwhelmingly Sanders supporters.
  • John Elfrank-Dana Norm Scott voted for Jill Stein. I live in NY, Hil was a shoe-in. I voted Nader every time he ran. I did encourage people in swing states to vote Hillary though. But, She was so awful.
  • Harry Lirtzman Norm Scott it’s OK. I overreacted.
  • Maureen Boler I will never understand your politics...but since when did bs do anything in the 60's? I heard he moved to the mountains and smoked pot.
  • Norm Scott Not till 70s. He was arrested in chicago in early 60s and active at mlk March on Washington in 63. I think 68 election killed a lot of hope and Vietnam war continued and wore people out. But to Id as a socialist in those times and win election is quite something. To use a basketball term Bernie let the game come to him. It just took 50 years.
  • Norm Scott And when Bernie was doing all that I had my head up my ass.
  • Norm Scott And what’s wrong with moving to mountains and smoking pot?
  • Allen Kaplan None. They don’t live in Brooklyn anymore and btw they will not vote for him where they do live.
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  • Norm Scott Bernie’s speech was great but intros just as good. Sean king went over Bernie history - wonderful from age of 19 in putting himself on the line for civil rights and anti war. I’m a contemporary and most of us did crap. No other politician comes close to the stuff he did. Plus growing up lower middle class connects with people like me who comes from same place. Plus loss of family in Poland. Rally tho was very young and white. The message was heavy on civil rights
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    • Megan Devir Nina Turner & Shaun King were both fantastic!!
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  • Harry Lirtzman As I said, I'm warming to Sanders.

    I'm glad to hear the emphasis on civil rights. If Sanders had done better with people of color in 2016 he very likely would be president right now.See More
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  • Norm Scott Funny how Bernie didn’t point out how Brooklyn college was free when he went there. I met a couple from upstate and they were very surprised
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  • Doug Ward not sure he actually did but his older brother graduated from there for free
  • Lydia Howrilka Norm Scott Yes! All of CUNY was free, no strings attached. Helped my mom graduate debt free and set herself up for financial and professional success
    1
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  • Norm Scott Entire event is on you tube.
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  • Norm Scott More video

  • -0:12
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  • Norm Scott More photos
  • Image may contain: 2 people, crowd, tree and outdoor
  • Image may contain: Mindy Rosier-Rayburn, smiling, sitting and outdoor
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  • Doug Ward Proving that quality college ed can be free
  • Gloria Brandman I was going to volunteer but am home sick.... Damnnn!! thanks for the pictures and I'll watch the livestream.
  • Kathleen McCormack Perez I SO wanted to go but I have the kids this weekend and my 13 y/o has a tennis lesson every Saturday morning...
  • Chris Lee grad 2012 :) Brooklyn college the best
  • Ciedie Aech the youth are so inspiringly ENERGIZED
  • Tammy Joy Shimel-Depace Lol the year I was born my friend
  • Allen Kaplan All well and nice... one real problem: He can’t win the general election. After New England, the Mid Atlantic, the West Coast and Illinois, where does he win? The answer is nowhere. He loses the entire South, the Rust Belt, the Midwest, the Rockies, the Southwest. Game, set, Match. We better nominate someone who can win.
  • Kaliris Yimar Salas-Ramirez I love this so much!
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  • Ellen Winkler Went there also 🎼Two Years 70?
  • Leigh Helena Louise How was it?

1 comment:

Ape of Reason said...

Me too, 1985