I probably should have put this in the Unmoderated section but don't want it to get lost. It's special. I'll try to explain why after I post this:
The Washington Post
What's a mensch, Dad? In this case, it's Bernie Sanders
By Jared Bernstein October 15, 2015
Jared Bernstein, a former chief economist to Vice President Biden, is a senior fellow at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities and author of the new book 'The Reconnection Agenda: Reuniting Growth and Prosperity.'
Sanders: 'Enough of the e-mails'
Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders responded to a question about Hillary Clinton's e-mails. (CNN)
Reading the paper at the breakfast table on the morning after the Democratic presidential debate, I was reminded of that great moment when Sen. Bernie Sanders put aside politics and announced that "people are sick and tired of hearing about [Hillary Clinton's] damn e-mails!"
"What a mensch," I said.
"What's that?" my 13-year-old asked.
A fair question and one worth pondering. One reason that moment was so deeply resonant, for me at least — and I'll bet I'm not alone — was that we have a serious mensch deficit these days, approaching at least -15 percent of GDP, and especially in politics. The immigrant-bashing in the Republican debates, for example, provides an excellent example of anti-mensch-ness.
Urban Dictionary has this definition: "An upstanding, worthy, honorable adult person of either sex. Fr. German and Yiddish for 'human being.'"
A fine definition, as far as it goes, but as with so many Yiddish words — and let me say that of all the languages I do not speak, Yiddish is my favorite — there's more to it than that.
There's a strong ethical component to being a mensch and even, I think, a measure of self-sacrifice. The reason Sanders's intervention was such high-level mensch-ery was that it came at a personal cost: Defending your opponent against an unjust attack is something that mensches do.
What else do mensches do? They listen well, with both brain and heart. They don't disparage others to lift themselves. In fact, a core feature of a mensch is elevating others. Mensches tend to keep their egos in check. It's interesting in this regard that Sanders runs on ideas, not his personal story.
In economics, mensches will tend toward issues of poverty, full employment, inequality and opportunity. In law, they are more likely to be public defenders than corporate attorneys. I suspect many are teachers. I doubt too many go into politics.
I remember asking my Uncle Willy from Queens the same question my daughter asked me. His response: "A mensch is real person!" Except he pronounced it "poyson."
That's pretty efficient. But from here forward, if anyone wants to know what a mensch is, just click on the link above. That says it all."
www.washingtonpost.com
Comment by me (Libby):
When I first read about Bernie Sanders didn't have a clue who he was. But, after I read about him, his beliefs, his philosophy, and especially during/after I heard him speak during the democratic debate, I thought, 'Oh, no, I wish you wouldn't run. You are too nice, too idealistic, to get involved in the current dog eat dog politics we're witnessing now. There's no way you will be chosen to be the next POTUS. They'll tear you apart and try to bring you down to their level.'
P.S. Back to me: don't y'all read anything else into the above. I'm not trying to change this forum -- I think it's great just the way it is (the way we are).