Keep It Bern-in'

So to recap: we have lost Bowie... and Prince... yet Trump is still around. It's been a rather depressing year so far.

Taking it outside: Bernie speaks to overflow crowd during his April 12
rally at Marist College, Poughkeepsie, NY. Photo: Jeremy Clowe

One bright spot for 2016: Bernie Sanders. It was exactly a year ago this month that the Vermont senator announced his candidacy for President of the United States. As I understand, it was at the urging of veterans (for whom he has worked so hard), so Memorial Day weekend was perfect timing to launch the campaign.

Personally, I didn't even know who Bernie was a year ago. All I knew is that I felt uneasy with the idea that the Democratic Party was "anointing" Hillary Clinton (I, for one, do care about her "damn emails"). Following some work at the UN, my wife and I spent a long weekend in Vermont last July, and that's where I really started hearing about "The Bern." At first, I thought it was just hipsters being ironic....but no, he was the real "New Deal."

Captain America! A true civil war:
canvassing during the NYS primary

It was the Democratic debates that sealed it for me. Bernie not only talked the talk, but walked the walk. Here was a "once-in-a-lifetime" candidate who seemed to share my values when it came to the ideas of social justice and equality. I wanted to know more, so the obvious place to turn was the media covering the primaries. I was surprised and disappointed to learn that the mainstream outlets offered very little, and what it did seemed rather disrespectful. New York Times... NBC News... CNN... all so-called "reputable sources" that I trusted... as someone who has worked for and with media over the years, it was truly a depressing realization to learn about the corporate influence. If you believe, like I do, that media has an opportunity if not a responsibility to educate, it is indeed troubling.

Over the years, you always heard conservatives complain about the so-called "liberal media," when, in reality, the more progressive voices seem to be distorted as well (if presented at all). This, quite frankly, is what lead me to start donating and volunteering for the Sanders campaign. I surprised myself at how good I was, and actually enjoyed it... phone banking, canvassing, and even serving as a poll watcher for the New York State election (Bernie won our District handily, as he did most across the state...even if he did not win New York). 

Feelin' The Bern! Getting fired up during his August 10 rally 
in Albany, NY. Photo: Jeremy Clowe

Going up against the establishment and corporate influences, Bernie has not let up. I greatly admire him for his integrity and tenacity. This past week's proposal of a debate with Donald Trump seemed too good to be true - Bernie would, no doubt, mop the floor with that dangerous pretender. Indeed, who knows what Trump's intentions for running are, but I have had my suspicions along the way... and they are quite disturbing.

Bernie still has an uphill climb (not helped by reports of election fraud taking place in my own state and others) so I'm not sure how this thing is shaking out. I do know that this "progressive" is forever changed and grateful. Thank you, Senator Sanders for educating us about true democracy and the idea of "a future to believe in." In the words of Bowie, you're "a star man," and have my support to the end.

The real scoop! Yearning for Bernie...with the original Ben and
Jerry at College of St. Rose, Albany, NY, April 15, 2016.
Photo: Jeremy Clowe

www.berniesanders.com

www.democracynow.org

http://robertreich.org

Bernie Sanders I The Young Turks interview, May 27, 2016

"Be Like Bernie: Sanders Looks To Spread His Political Wealth," NPR, May 28, 2016

"Getting The Story Wrong: The Distortion of American Politics By The Press," Lawrence Wittner, Huffington Post, May 6, 2016

"How the 'New York Times' Sandbagged Bernie Sanders," Rolling Stone, 
March 15, 2016

Hope

How wonderful to wake up and feel proud of my country. Not only was President Barack Obama re-elected, but there were significant wins across the nation in regards to equality. 

Same-sex marriage was affirmed in three more states, and Tammy Baldwin was elected as the first openly gay member of the U.S. Senate in Wisconsin. There were other key senate wins, including the impressive Elizabeth Warren in Massachusetts, and the defeat of four Republican candidates who made ignorant comments about rape and abortion. I was concerned about all this voter intimidation and long lines, but it seems that people came out as strong as ever...

I'm happy that President Obama will have another four years to work towards his promise of change (they gave George Bush eight years to wreck our economy... isn't it only fair?). The idea that affordable health care can become a reality is exciting, and I hope that Obama will now be able to concentrate on immigration reform... I would also support the closing of Guantanamo Bay and re-examining of the use of drones (my only real disappointments with the President over the past four years). 

But how nice to think that things might be moving forward in a more positive direction... I would hope that the GOP might focus less energy on obstructing the President, and  both parties might learn how to make compromises that will benefit us all in the long-run. I hold dear the hope that my nieces and nephews, maybe even my own future children, will grow up in a more tolerant, supportive, inclusive country...

Related Links:

"Obama's Big Night," The Atlantic, November 7, 2012

"Divided U.S. Gives Obama More Time," The New York Times, November 7, 2012

"Obama Wins the 2012 Election: Obama's Complete Presidential Victory Speech," The New York Times/YouTube, November 6

Pride (In The Name of Love)

Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day! Keep the dream alive!


Here is a video interview I conducted a few years back with Ruby Bridges for Norman Rockwell Museum. Ms. Bridges was one of the first African American children to integrate the elementary schools in New Orleans back in 1960. Her historic walk inspired artist Norman Rockwell, who three years later painted The Problem We All Live With.






"Golden Rule," Norman Rockwell, 1961. ©1961 SEPS: Curtis Publishing, Indianapolis, IN. Photographs from Norman Rockwell Museum Collections. ©NRELC: Niles, IL. "The Problem We All Live With," Norman Rockwell, 1963. Norman Rockwell Museum Collections. ©NRELC: NIles, IL.Video produced by Jeremy Clowe for Norman Rockwell Museum. All rights reserved.