Did Bernie's inauguration outfit epitomize 'white privilege'? A San Francisco teacher thinks so.

by Maddog Tue Feb 02, 2021 11:18 pm

SAN FRANCISCO — Within hours of President Joe Biden’s inauguration, the Internet was consumed by images of Sen. Bernie Sanders sitting, stone-faced, bundled against the cold in a parka and colorful mittens. The meme turned into a fundraising bonanza for nonprofits and a symbol of a new administration getting down to business, as a contrast to the carefully curated image cultivated by its predecessor.

Who could possibly find fault with that?

Well, one person at least, a public high school teacher in San Francisco named Ingrid Seyer-Ochi, who wrote an op-ed for the San Francisco Chronicle that appeared on Sunday and quickly went viral. Seyer-Ochi’s objection was to the “privilege, white privilege, male privilege and class privilege” symbolized by Sanders’s choice of a relatively casual Burton snowboarding jacket and repurposed wool mittens.

Seyer-Ochi addressed the topic with her students, who she said were also upset by what they saw as the implicit message being delivered by Sanders’s choice of outerwear.

“What did they see? They saw a white man in a puffy jacket and huge mittens, distant not only in his social distancing, but in his demeanor and attire,” Seyer-Ochi wrote, adding, “What did I see? What did I think my students should see? A wealthy, incredibly well-educated and -privileged white man, showing up for perhaps the most important ritual of the decade, in a puffy jacket and huge mittens.

https://news.yahoo.com/did-bernie-sanders-inauguration-outfit-epitomize-white-privilege-a-san-francisco-teacher-thinks-so-204425621.html?ncid=facebook_yahoonewsf_akfmevaatca&fbclid=IwAR0E1X1YC_-Nhfnu_Vrz0kWlq1hj_86ceNF7HKW_78SKjelTyk70ZM2_foI

It
just
won't
stop.

by Ben Reilly Tue Feb 02, 2021 11:33 pm

No, it won't stop. People like Bernie Sanders can show up to a presidential inauguration dressed however they like, whereas the vast majority of Americans would be treated as though they had absolutely no sense, intelligence, class or taste unless they showed up to the inauguration wearing clothes that cost them half a year's salary.

I mean, fucking duh.

by Maddog Tue Feb 02, 2021 11:34 pm

Ben Reilly wrote:No, it won't stop. People like Bernie Sanders can show up to a presidential inauguration dressed however they like, whereas the vast majority of Americans would be treated as though they had absolutely no sense, intelligence, class or taste unless they showed up to the inauguration wearing clothes that cost them half a year's salary.

I mean, fucking duh.

Well, folks could try to slow it down.

by Ben Reilly Tue Feb 02, 2021 11:49 pm

Maddog wrote:
Ben Reilly wrote:No, it won't stop. People like Bernie Sanders can show up to a presidential inauguration dressed however they like, whereas the vast majority of Americans would be treated as though they had absolutely no sense, intelligence, class or taste unless they showed up to the inauguration wearing clothes that cost them half a year's salary.

I mean, fucking duh.

Well, folks could try to slow it down.

Why slow down the truth and drag out a lie?

by Maddog Tue Feb 02, 2021 11:52 pm

Ben Reilly wrote:
Maddog wrote:

Well, folks could try to slow it down.

Why slow down the truth and drag out a lie?

Are you saying Bernie's outfit epitomized white privilege?

by Ben Reilly Tue Feb 02, 2021 11:54 pm

Everyone recognizes privilege when they see someone who was lucky enough to be poised to take advantage of an opportunity that they themselves were in the wrong place or the wrong time to take a shot at.

A 60-year-old computer programmer who did amazing work advancing computer technology in the 80s can look at a 30-year-old whiz kid who uses his elder's work without even realizing every day on the job, yet looks at his elder as an outdated relic, knows about privilege.

Privilege is something that permeates the human existance. To become aware of it is a chance to assess your fellow man a bit more fairly than you may have before.

It's not just something that some white people perceive as an attempt to make them feel bad for being white, for God's sake.

by Maddog Tue Feb 02, 2021 11:55 pm

Ben Reilly wrote:Everyone recognizes privilege when they see someone who was lucky enough to be poised to take advantage of an opportunity that they themselves were in the wrong place or the wrong time to take a shot at.

A 60-year-old computer programmer who did amazing work advancing computer technology in the 80s can look at a 30-year-old whiz kid who uses his elder's work without even realizing every day on the job, yet looks at his elder as an outdated relic, knows about privilege.

Privilege is something that permeates the human existance. To become aware of it is a chance to assess your fellow man a bit more fairly than you may have before.

It's not just something that some white people perceive as an attempt to make them feel bad for being white, for God's sake.

Are you saying Bernie's outfit epitomized white privilege?

by Ben Reilly Tue Feb 02, 2021 11:55 pm

Maddog wrote:
Ben Reilly wrote:
Maddog wrote:

Well, folks could try to slow it down.

Why slow down the truth and drag out a lie?

Are you saying Bernie's outfit epitomized white privilege?

No, but it was an example of white privilege. The epitome of white privilege would be the innocent black dude who gets followed by store security while the white dirtbag escapes scrutiny.

by Maddog Tue Feb 02, 2021 11:57 pm

Ben Reilly wrote:
Maddog wrote:

Are you saying Bernie's outfit epitomized white privilege?

No, but it was an example of white privilege. The epitome of white privilege would be the innocent black dude who gets followed by store security while the white dirtbag escapes scrutiny.

OK.

What should Bernie have worn?

by Maddog Wed Feb 03, 2021 12:00 am

What a stupid and appalling article: all based on how Bernie dressed. As stupid and gross as it is, it represents a large and growing sector of left-liberal thought:

I'm this guy's team. Commenting on his attire is stupid, unless he's in a clown suit.

by Syl Wed Feb 03, 2021 12:48 am

The person sat next to him was similarly dressed.

by Maddog Wed Feb 03, 2021 1:14 am

Syl wrote:The person sat next to him was similarly dressed.

Well, we are a country rampant with white privilege.

by Vintage Wed Feb 03, 2021 10:23 pm

He's getting on a bit, maybe that coat kept him warmer than any other, there were other people dressed the same. I keep hearing its not what you wear, (usually when someone is wearing something outlandish) its who you are that counts. This person obviously has too much time on her hands and/or not much to worry about in her life.

by Maddog Thu Feb 04, 2021 3:30 pm

Vintage wrote:He's getting on a bit, maybe that coat kept him warmer than any other, there were other people dressed the same. I keep hearing its not what you wear, (usually when someone is wearing something outlandish) its who you are that counts. This person obviously has too much time on her hands and/or not much to worry about in her life.

He's a simple man. I don't like his politics, but I think he would be cool to chat with. He's never dressed well by millionaire standards. And yes, the TEACHER that wrote this pablum has too much time on their hands and not enough gray matter between the ears.

by Vintage Thu Feb 04, 2021 4:31 pm

I assume then she would have said the same if he turned up in a high end expensive cashmere overcoat. He can afford a nice coat, good luck to him, whatever it was, the thing is in a few years, in which time I'm sure it will be well cared for, he might have his wear of it and pass it on to a charity shop, then someone else, less fortunate in monetary terms, gets a really nice coat for a very good price, win, win.. At least he was there, at such an important event for his country - unlike someone else.

by Vintage Thu Feb 04, 2021 5:15 pm

Shouldn't white privilege be actually majority privilege or whoever has managed to scramble to the top privilege? Where ever you go, who ever has money, education status and power has privilege over much of the population, whether that population is white, black or any shade in between. Just look around the world and see how certain people in every country has and uses privilege over their fellow citizens, even those of the same ethnicity, look at Africa, India, South America and before anyone blames colonialism, it was entrenched in societies way before any colonising.

by Maddog Thu Feb 04, 2021 8:05 pm

Vintage wrote:Shouldn't white privilege be actually majority privilege or whoever has managed to scramble to the top privilege? Where ever you go, who ever has money, education status and power has privilege over much of the population, whether that population is white, black or any shade in between. Just look around the world and see how certain people in every country has and uses privilege over their fellow citizens, even those of the same ethnicity, look at Africa, India, South America and before anyone blames colonialism, it was entrenched in societies way before any colonising.

This is why I despise the word privilege even though I understand it. It's an offensive word and the term should be advantage. Are people born with advantages? Of course.

My secretary was born in the US to Vietnamese immigrants. She has an advantage over a Vietnamese person born in Vietnam.

Should she apologize for that?

by Original Quill Fri Feb 05, 2021 12:24 am

Maddog wrote:
Vintage wrote:Shouldn't white privilege be actually majority privilege or whoever has managed to scramble to the top privilege? Where ever you go, who ever has money, education status and power has privilege over much of the population, whether that population is white, black or any shade in between. Just look around the world and see how certain people in every country has and uses privilege over their fellow citizens, even those of the same ethnicity, look at Africa, India, South America and before anyone blames colonialism, it was entrenched in societies way before any colonising.

This is why I despise the word privilege even though I understand it. It's an offensive word and the term should be advantage. Are people born with advantages? Of course.

My secretary was born in the US to Vietnamese immigrants. She has an advantage over a Vietnamese person born in Vietnam.

Should she apologize for that?

I appreciate your raising the issue, as it allows focus on the question. The difference between advantage and privilege is linguistic. It differs in usage. Advantage is the bare, generic term for a favorable or superior position. Without more, it's emphasis is on the mere difference. Privilege, on the other hand, incorporates how one achieved the difference.

Your secretary, without more, is merely advantaged by birth over one in the 'old' country. Melania Trump was privileged in having an angel, who obtained US citizenship on a visa reserved for immigrants with "extraordinary ability" and "sustained national and international acclaim".

by Maddog Fri Feb 05, 2021 2:13 am

Original Quill wrote:
Maddog wrote:

This is why I despise the word privilege even though I understand it. It's an offensive word and the term should be advantage. Are people born with advantages? Of course.

My secretary was born in the US to Vietnamese immigrants. She has an advantage over a Vietnamese person born in Vietnam.

Should she apologize for that?

I appreciate your raising the issue, as it allows focus on the question. The difference between advantage and privilege is linguistic. It differs in usage. Advantage is the bare, generic term for a favorable or superior position. Without more, it's emphasis is on the mere difference. Privilege, on the other hand, incorporates how one achieved the difference.

Your secretary, without more, is merely advantaged by birth over one in the 'old' country. Melania Trump was privileged in having an angel, who obtained US citizenship on a visa reserved for immigrants with "extraordinary ability" and "sustained national and international acclaim".

Then most white people don't have white privilege, but white advantage.

by Original Quill Fri Feb 05, 2021 3:44 am

Maddog wrote:Then most white people don't have white privilege, but white advantage.

The two terms could be used synonymously...but only because the source of the how, color, has been identified in each, thus rendering the difference between the two moot.

by Eilzel Fri Feb 05, 2021 5:49 am

The correct answer is, no.

by Maddog Fri Feb 05, 2021 7:25 am

Eilzel wrote:The correct answer is, no.

I appreciate your brevity. I wish it would catch on.

by Eilzel Fri Feb 05, 2021 7:29 am

Maddog wrote:
Eilzel wrote:The correct answer is, no.

I appreciate your brevity. I wish it would catch on.

by Vintage Fri Feb 05, 2021 9:15 am

I don't remember having much privilege or advantage growing up, nor did many of my friends.

by Maddog Fri Feb 05, 2021 12:21 pm

Vintage wrote:I don't remember having much privilege or advantage growing up, nor did many of my friends.

And that's the problem with the term and it's why people should be very careful using it. It's now a catch all to cast blame or explain every inequality on the planet.

People will always have different outcomes and not all of those outcomes are based on privilege.

by Original Quill Fri Feb 05, 2021 5:48 pm

Maddog wrote:
Eilzel wrote:The correct answer is, no.

I appreciate your brevity. I wish it would catch on.

The less complexity, the easier it is to herd the sheep, eh? Don't speak up, you'll wake up the other buggers!! Twisted Evil

by Maddog Fri Feb 05, 2021 8:43 pm

Original Quill wrote:
Maddog wrote:

I appreciate your brevity. I wish it would catch on.

The less complexity, the easier it is to herd the sheep, eh? Don't speak up, you'll wake up the other buggers!!

Static and pablum are not complexity, but noise.

by Original Quill Sat Feb 06, 2021 1:14 am

If static and pablum is what you learned at Jr. College, yes...I guess it is all noise to you. Rational thought must be like a foreign language.

by Maddog Sat Feb 06, 2021 2:41 am

Original Quill wrote:If static and pablum is what you learned at Jr. College, yes...I guess it is all noise to you. Rational thought must be like a foreign language.

I learned about concise, rational thought.

Give it a whirl you obtuse, babbling ninny.

by Original Quill Sat Feb 06, 2021 4:26 am

"Obtuse, babbling ninny"...did you have to use a dictionary?

by eddie Fri Feb 12, 2021 11:45 pm

Perhaps he should’ve worn something ghetto and that would have worked better.
Wait.
No.
That wouldn’t work either because someone else would have found it upsetting, or insulting.

Naked then, I suppose.
Wait. No.....

by Ben Reilly Fri Feb 12, 2021 11:59 pm

eddie wrote:Perhaps he should’ve worn something ghetto and that would have worked better.
Wait.
No.
That wouldn’t work either because someone else would have found it upsetting, or insulting.

Naked then, I suppose.
Wait. No.....

No, he should have simply dressed nicely in a manner that showed respect for the occasion, as anybody should have. He only thought he would get away with it because he's the famous Bernie Sanders, and that's not right, is it?

by eddie Sat Feb 13, 2021 12:05 am

What should he have worn that would have been seen as appropriate?

Outfit ideas anyone?

by Ben Reilly Sat Feb 13, 2021 12:15 am

eddie wrote:What should he have worn that would have been seen as appropriate?

Outfit ideas anyone?

Did Bernie's inauguration outfit epitomize 'white privilege'? A San Francisco teacher thinks so. 210120203813-01-michelle-obama-biden-inauguration-outfit-0120

by eddie Sat Feb 13, 2021 12:18 am

Expensive clothes, then? Sorry I’m probably not getting it.

by Ben Reilly Sat Feb 13, 2021 12:33 am

eddie wrote:Expensive clothes, then? Sorry I’m probably not getting it.

The presidential inauguration is the closest thing America has to a coronation ceremony. It's not a casual dress affair; people are expected to show a bit of respect and dignity.

Leaving his whiteness out of it, Bernie Sanders expected to show up like that without being criticized because he's a famous Senator.

Barack Obama was berated as disrespectful to his office for not wearing a tie with his suit. Bernie Sanders should be subject to the same criticism for attending the inauguration like he was going to the movies.

by eddie Sat Feb 13, 2021 12:39 am

Ben Reilly wrote:
eddie wrote:Expensive clothes, then? Sorry I’m probably not getting it.

The presidential inauguration is the closest thing America has to a coronation ceremony. It's not a casual dress affair; people are expected to show a bit of respect and dignity.

Leaving his whiteness out of it, Bernie Sanders expected to show up like that without being criticized because he's a famous Senator.

Barack Obama was berated as disrespectful to his office for not wearing a tie with his suit. Bernie Sanders should be subject to the same criticism for attending the inauguration like he was going to the movies.

Like I said, I probably don’t get it. My guess is certain people just have to get pissy about something or they’ll have no reason to whinge and wring their useless hands. Did Bernie's inauguration outfit epitomize 'white privilege'? A San Francisco teacher thinks so. 2190311264

Did Bernie's inauguration outfit epitomize 'white privilege'? A San Francisco teacher thinks so. 2190311264

by Maddog Sat Feb 13, 2021 7:04 am

eddie wrote:
Ben Reilly wrote:

The presidential inauguration is the closest thing America has to a coronation ceremony. It's not a casual dress affair; people are expected to show a bit of respect and dignity.

Leaving his whiteness out of it, Bernie Sanders expected to show up like that without being criticized because he's a famous Senator.

Barack Obama was berated as disrespectful to his office for not wearing a tie with his suit. Bernie Sanders should be subject to the same criticism for attending the inauguration like he was going to the movies.

Like I said, I probably don’t get it. My guess is certain people just have to get pissy about something or they’ll have no reason to whinge and wring their useless hands.

Me either. Bernie never dresses up. Hes a man of the people. He's worn that coat ar a bazillion events.

by Syl Sat Feb 13, 2021 12:24 pm

It looked like a freezing cold day, the man is elderly, probably feels the cold.

Did he not wear a smart suit and tie under his padded jacket?

by Ben Reilly Sat Feb 13, 2021 2:02 pm

Maddog wrote:
Vintage wrote:Shouldn't white privilege be actually majority privilege or whoever has managed to scramble to the top privilege? Where ever you go, who ever has money, education status and power has privilege over much of the population, whether that population is white, black or any shade in between. Just look around the world and see how certain people in every country has and uses privilege over their fellow citizens, even those of the same ethnicity, look at Africa, India, South America and before anyone blames colonialism, it was entrenched in societies way before any colonising.

This is why I despise the word privilege even though I understand it. It's an offensive word and the term should be advantage. Are people born with advantages? Of course.

My secretary was born in the US to Vietnamese immigrants. She has an advantage over a Vietnamese person born in Vietnam.

Should she apologize for that?

Is making people apologize for privilege the point of pointing out how privilege works?

by Maddog Sat Feb 13, 2021 4:18 pm

Ben Reilly wrote:
Maddog wrote:

This is why I despise the word privilege even though I understand it. It's an offensive word and the term should be advantage. Are people born with advantages? Of course.

My secretary was born in the US to Vietnamese immigrants. She has an advantage over a Vietnamese person born in Vietnam.

Should she apologize for that?

Is making people apologize for privilege the point of pointing out how privilege works?

Beats me. I don't know how any of this works. I just know that expecting someone to apologize for events outside of their control often causes resentment.

by Maddog Sat Feb 13, 2021 4:20 pm

Syl wrote:It looked like a freezing cold day, the man is elderly, probably feels the cold.

Did he not wear a smart suit and tie under his padded jacket?

He campaigns in that very same jacket. He's practical, not fashionable.

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