BY RYAN FRYE
Senator Bernie Sanders has spent a lifetime in politics, and at the age of 74, that's a long life. Yet, there's something different about him that doesn't feel like a politician at all.
Most politicians feel slimy and dishonest, but there's a sincerity about Bernie. And perhaps that's because he's saying the same things now that he was thirty years ago. That's not because he's behind the times, but rather because he's been ahead of his time in many ways.
In some cases, what's making him popular now are things that lost him elections at the beginning of his political career.
Senator Bernie Sanders has spent a lifetime in politics, and at the age of 74, that's a long life. Yet, there's something different about him that doesn't feel like a politician at all.
Most politicians feel slimy and dishonest, but there's a sincerity about Bernie. And perhaps that's because he's saying the same things now that he was thirty years ago. That's not because he's behind the times, but rather because he's been ahead of his time in many ways.
In some cases, what's making him popular now are things that lost him elections at the beginning of his political career.
MARCH ON WASHINGTON
In 1963, Bernie Sanders took part in Martin Luther King, Jr.'s March on Washington. Sanders witnessed King stand in front of the Lincoln Memorial and deliver his now famous "I Have A Dream" speech in person.
At the time, Sanders was endangering his freedom to stand up for something he believed in. It wasn't a case where he had a vested interest in the success or failure of this movement, because as a white man, he didn't. But he was doing what he believed was right, whether it was unpopular or not.
In 2015, one of the major stories was a concerning amount of police brutality and racial profiling against African Americans. Many held their nose up at the Black Lives Matter Movement that was born from this concern, as proven by the response of an All Lives Matter Movement.
So even 53 years after Bernie took part in the March on Washington, many, at least in the Republican Party, still want to ignore the racial issues in America. Those were just thugs who got what was coming to them, they say, applying a blanket statement to a group of people/victims—the very definition of a stereotype.
SANDERS vs. CLINTON
In 1963, Bernie Sanders took part in Martin Luther King, Jr.'s March on Washington. Sanders witnessed King stand in front of the Lincoln Memorial and deliver his now famous "I Have A Dream" speech in person.
At the time, Sanders was endangering his freedom to stand up for something he believed in. It wasn't a case where he had a vested interest in the success or failure of this movement, because as a white man, he didn't. But he was doing what he believed was right, whether it was unpopular or not.
In 2015, one of the major stories was a concerning amount of police brutality and racial profiling against African Americans. Many held their nose up at the Black Lives Matter Movement that was born from this concern, as proven by the response of an All Lives Matter Movement.
So even 53 years after Bernie took part in the March on Washington, many, at least in the Republican Party, still want to ignore the racial issues in America. Those were just thugs who got what was coming to them, they say, applying a blanket statement to a group of people/victims—the very definition of a stereotype.
SANDERS vs. CLINTON
(Above, you hear Bernie Sanders defending the right for gays and lesbians to be in the military. Meanwhile, two years previous, the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy had been instituted by a Democratic regime led by President Bill Clinton.
Fast forward to 2016, and Bernie serves as an unexpectedly dangerous obstacle for Bill's wife Hillary to become the Democratic Presidential nominee.
It wasn't just in 1993, though, that the Clintons opposed the rights of gays and lesbians. As recently as 2004, Hillary still believed that marriage was solely between a man and a woman. Now? She's running political ads promoting marriage equality.
It's nice that Hillary has evolved (some would say flip-flopped) from one of those defending the sanctity of marriage, as if half of them don't end in divorce anyway. That is more than we can say for some, for sure, but Bernie never had to evolve on this issue. Just as he did with the March on Washington, Bernie stood up for something unpopular that he believed in.
Sanders has also remained consistent on how war should be the last resort. For instance, he opposed the war in Iraq, while Hillary Clinton voted for it.
Bernie believes in campaign finance reform, so much so that he has refused the aid of Super PACs—the only serious presidential candidate to do such a thing, which is a loud statement that he is not a politician that can be bought.
RACISM
Fast forward to 2016, and Bernie serves as an unexpectedly dangerous obstacle for Bill's wife Hillary to become the Democratic Presidential nominee.
It wasn't just in 1993, though, that the Clintons opposed the rights of gays and lesbians. As recently as 2004, Hillary still believed that marriage was solely between a man and a woman. Now? She's running political ads promoting marriage equality.
It's nice that Hillary has evolved (some would say flip-flopped) from one of those defending the sanctity of marriage, as if half of them don't end in divorce anyway. That is more than we can say for some, for sure, but Bernie never had to evolve on this issue. Just as he did with the March on Washington, Bernie stood up for something unpopular that he believed in.
Sanders has also remained consistent on how war should be the last resort. For instance, he opposed the war in Iraq, while Hillary Clinton voted for it.
Bernie believes in campaign finance reform, so much so that he has refused the aid of Super PACs—the only serious presidential candidate to do such a thing, which is a loud statement that he is not a politician that can be bought.
RACISM
Bernie has never pitted one group of people against another; he's always stood up for equality for all. The above video yet again demonstrates that, as he defends the rights of Muslims, as he's defended the rights of immigrants coming into the United States.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump's entire campaign has been based off archaic racism. He's called for a ban on Muslims entering the country, citing the opinions and actions of the most radical members of that religion and projecting it onto everyone who practices Islam.
He also spoke in favor of stronger immigration laws, saying he'd build a wall, claiming Mexican immigrants are "bringing drugs, bringing crime, they're rapists."
Trump has called Sanders a communist, but Trump's political agenda leans far more towards fascism than Sanders' does towards communism.
CONCLUSION
Meanwhile, Donald Trump's entire campaign has been based off archaic racism. He's called for a ban on Muslims entering the country, citing the opinions and actions of the most radical members of that religion and projecting it onto everyone who practices Islam.
He also spoke in favor of stronger immigration laws, saying he'd build a wall, claiming Mexican immigrants are "bringing drugs, bringing crime, they're rapists."
Trump has called Sanders a communist, but Trump's political agenda leans far more towards fascism than Sanders' does towards communism.
CONCLUSION
This obviously only touches on a handful of things, but these are a handful of things that makes Bernie Sanders an attractive presidential candidate.
I'm far from the only 20 year old to go from largely disinterested in politics to a Bernie Sanders supporter. That's been the entire purpose of his campaign; creating a political revolution. He stands for equality and acceptance, love not hate, doesn't monger up fear to line his pockets, and he always has.
Perhaps I'm just naive in buying into this campaign. Or maybe Bernie Sanders is different.
I'm far from the only 20 year old to go from largely disinterested in politics to a Bernie Sanders supporter. That's been the entire purpose of his campaign; creating a political revolution. He stands for equality and acceptance, love not hate, doesn't monger up fear to line his pockets, and he always has.
Perhaps I'm just naive in buying into this campaign. Or maybe Bernie Sanders is different.