bernie, ben and jerry and me

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“…it also meant mornings of glory such as this one, in which the snow, white almost to blueness, lay like a soft comforter over the hills, and birches and pines indestructibly held their ground, rigid lines against the snow and sky, very thin and very strong like Vermonters.”

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John Knowles

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“I had a lover’s quarrel with the world.”

<Robert Frost>

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Well.

Watching Bernie Sanders in the democratic debate gave me a flash back to high school.

Bernie Sanders at CVUHS for debate with Peter McTague

In the late 1970’s Bernie Sanders <on his way to becoming mayor of Burlington VT and crazy haired socialist at the time> and my father <innovative leading edge capitalist and already balding leader of a nuclear energy-grounded utility> debated at my high school … in the auditorium … in front of all my classmates.

I wanted to hide.

If you think having your father at a podium debating in front of an entire high school is like having a parent come to class on “parent’s day” and saying what they do for a living … well … it ain’t.

I miserably stood against the back wall watching ‘the Bernie’ versus ‘ the Father’ give & take.

The two were diametrically opposed on just about everything. I am fairly sure that my father stood for everything Bernie disliked … and vice versa <nuclear energy, in particular, was … and remains … a lightning rod issue>.

Here is the crazy thing.

I think they respected each other <a lot>.

My guess is that even though my father; if he were still alive, would still disagree with Bernie today … he would still respect Bernie.

Let me tell you something … I respect Bernie.

I won’t vote for Bernie but I know for sure he was thought of as a hardworking, pragmatic, effective mayor of Burlington Vermont. And I do know that as an avowed <democratic> socialist he has a hard earned respect, and reputation, for a willingness to listen to – and work with – others, a drive for progressive policies <locally, statewide & federally> and a desire for small & mid-sized businesses to not only have a chance … but thrive <uhm … that is capitalism folks>.

—

“Bernie was never anti-growth, anti-development, or anti-business.

He just wanted businesses to be responsible toward their employees and the community. He wanted local entrepreneurs to thrive. He wanted people to have good jobs that pay a living wage. If you could deal with that, you could deal with Bernie and Bernie would deal with you.”

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a Vermont businessman

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I know he may not be the most polished but while others try and earn your support by speaking to your mind … Bernie speaks to your heart.

Anyway.

On that day in high school while I tried to be invisible I know that many of my classmates <and teachers> clearly ate up ‘the Bernie vibe.’

Even then he was passionately focused, sometimes grumpy, always unfiltered, and righteously angry … and spoke not only from the heart but WITH heart <always tied to facts by the way — please note … when is the last time Trump followed up some ‘this will be great’ comment with some factoid to support the reason why we should care?? >.

While Bernie Sanders is a New Yorker I think he embodies Vermont’s favorite poet … “I had a lover’s quarrel with the world.” <Robert Frost>

I do remember thinking at that time he didn’t look presidential … he just looked passionate <and smart>.

Today … he looks passionate, still smart … and presidential.

He’s got heart.

And he’s got panache <with rough edges>.

I do know that my mother still chuckles about Bernie’s 1st day as mayor of Burlington Vermont when the police ticketed a beat up Volkswagen parked illegally in the mayor’s parking space … only to find that was the new mayor’s car.

Bernie has never pretended to be anything other than what he was … and is.

I have some things indelibly etched in my memory banks from my three years of high school on the outskirts of Burlington Vermont:

– The original Ben & Jerrys in an old gas station on the corner of St. Paul and College Street in Burlington, Vermont <I think they opened in 1978> with its piano player and excellent ice cream.

I mostly remember it because it was right around the corner from my favorite bars.

– The absolutely frigid Januarys <you don’t know cold unless you have been in Vermont in January>.

My new Vermont friends patiently put up with my constant bitching about how cold it frickin’ was.

Kathy & Kevin

– Making lifetime friends in less than three years of living in Vermont.

– Having Howard Dean as our family physician <whoda thunk I would cross paths of two presidential candidates in my youth>.

author standing on far left looking like a derelict

– My high school <Champlain Valley Union High School> … an eclectic progressive slightly wacky public high school which produced not only me and my best friends <who have all been successful in their own way> but a professional soccer player, an author <I am fairly sure .. at minimum the brother of a famous author>, the producer of Darfur documentary, someone who sailed around the world, a Dartmouth faculty member, a guy who has a patent on a special jock strap to limit hernias, and a variety of small business owners … oh … and a national teacher of the year <Chemistry I believe>.

– And Bernie Sanders <by the way … I believe my mother told me that Bernie was kind enough to send a note to my mother – who was then living in California – when my father passed away despite the fact it had been several years and they had always been adversaries>.

Anyway.

Let me tell you my favorite part of the first democratic debate … and it wasn’t during the debate. After the debate Bernie was cornered by some CNN talking head and asked why he ‘let Hilary off the hook with regard to emails discussion’ <Bernie’s “enough about your damn emails” comment>.

Bernie’s response?

“… it was the right thing to do.”

You may not agree with the man’s policies and governmental thinking … but his character?

C’mon.

Unquestionable character.

Like I said … I won’t vote for the man … but I truly like the man.

I wish my father were still alive because I think he would like him also.

Plus.

I would pay to have them debate again today.

I certainly would appreciate it more today than I did as an embarrassed high schooler.

Two stubborn smart men wielding thoughts like epees … fencing and stabbing each other … okay … maybe they would have used Thor-like hammers bludgeoning each other … but they would have shook hands afterwards.

Thanks Bernie.

Continue daring to disturb the universe.

You are not only a good man but you brought back some good memories.