Democratic US presidential candidate Bernie Sanders speaks during a Democratic debate in New York. Lucas Jackson / Reuters
Democratic US presidential candidate Bernie Sanders speaks during a Democratic debate in New York. Lucas Jackson / Reuters

Why I’m backing Bernie Sanders for US president



In 2003, when I was teaching at Davidson College in North Carolina, I saw an advertisement in a local newspaper announcing a “going out of business” sale of Utica Linen products. The mill that had been making these linens was closing and relocating to Asia, where the company would be able to pay lower wages. When I saw that ad, I thought back 50 years ago to when that same company’s mills had first moved to North Carolina after shutting down operations in Utica, New York, my hometown. They did so to take advantage of North Carolina’s cheaper non-union labour.

What I remember most about that period wasn’t just how the factories emptied out, leaving parts of Utica looking like a ghost town, it was what the closures and loss of thousands of jobs did to my community and my neighbours. Those mills had defined life in Utica for generations. And then they were gone. The stress of mass layoffs created tensions that tore families apart. One third of the population was forced to leave in search of employment. In short order, Utica went from being a vibrant city to a depressed town with dilapidated neighbourhoods.

A few months ago, I endorsed Bernie Sanders for president of the United States. There were many reasons, but high on my list is that I never forgot what happened to my home town and so many other American cities across the Northeast and Midwest. Mr Sanders earned my support because he understands what bad trade deals and corporate greed have done to communities. While some politicians have paid lip service to the consequences of factory closings and the exporting of jobs to Asia, Mr Sanders is the only one who has addressed the issue forcefully and pledged decisive action to protect American workers and their communities. I realise, of course, that Mr Sanders isn’t going to bring back the Utica of the 1960s, but what he has done is shine a light on the corporate greed that continues to put companies’ interests ahead of their responsibility to be fair to those who have given their lives to build their businesses.

I have also been impressed with the way Mr Sanders speaks the unvarnished truth about other long-ignored critical issues facing the United States – issues such as income inequality, the corrupting role of big money in politics and the need for universal health care coverage. By demonstrating a fierce determination to raise these issues, he has made them a part of American political debate.

Equally impressive is the way young voters have responded to Mr Sanders. Early on, polls were showing that younger voters had grown disenchanted with politics as usual. Unwilling to just settle, they have been inspired by Mr Sanders’s passion and authenticity, and have become engaged in the process. Millennials have an instinct that can sniff out phoneys.

In the exit polls in state after state, Mr Sanders has overwhelmingly won the support of voters under 35. By a 70-point margin, young voters say that they trust Mr Sanders more than his competitor for the Democratic Party nomination, Hillary Clinton. They see him as authentic and this has moved them to support his candidacy.

I have also been impressed by Mr Sanders’s opposition to committing US troops to fight in reckless wars, by his smart and courageous call for balancing concern for Israelis with concern for the Palestinians, and by the compassion he has demonstrated for the suffering the Palestinian people have endured living under occupation. On this critical issue, Mr Sanders not only has the best position of any candidate in the race, he has the best position of any major party candidate in decades.

This came through so clearly in this week’s Democratic debate in New York. When asked why he had accused Israel of using disproportionate violence, he stood his ground calmly explaining his position to the cheers of his supporters.

Finally, I am deeply moved when I hear Mr Sanders speak with a sense of awe at the trajectory his life beginning with his father’s immigration to the US and his family’s hard work to succeed, all leading to his run for the presidency. It is a classic American story that resonates in so many ways.

The fact that Mr Sanders carries this story with him speaks volumes about the man, how grounded he is, and the source of his commitment to fighting for immigrants and the needs of working people. In many ways, he is the embodiment of the American dream.

Early on, Mr Sanders’s candidacy was ignored by the press. Even now, his chances of winning the nomination are cynically dismissed. Through it all, this 74-year-old Brooklyn-born son of a Polish immigrant continues to rack up victories while transforming American politics for the better. As another New Yorker, baseballer Yogi Berra, once famously said: “It ain’t over till it’s over.” Stay tuned.

Dr James Zogby is the president of the Arab American Institute

On Twitter: @aaiusa

The bio

Favourite book: Peter Rabbit. I used to read it to my three children and still read it myself. If I am feeling down it brings back good memories.

Best thing about your job: Getting to help people. My mum always told me never to pass up an opportunity to do a good deed.

Best part of life in the UAE: The weather. The constant sunshine is amazing and there is always something to do, you have so many options when it comes to how to spend your day.

Favourite holiday destination: Malaysia. I went there for my honeymoon and ended up volunteering to teach local children for a few hours each day. It is such a special place and I plan to retire there one day.

The specs

Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Power: 620hp from 5,750-7,500rpm
Torque: 760Nm from 3,000-5,750rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed dual-clutch auto
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh1.05 million ($286,000)

SPECS

Engine: 4-litre V8 twin-turbo
Power: 630hp
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: 8-speed Tiptronic automatic
Price: From Dh599,000
On sale: Now

Company%20Profile
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Profile

Co-founders of the company: Vilhelm Hedberg and Ravi Bhusari

Launch year: In 2016 ekar launched and signed an agreement with Etihad Airways in Abu Dhabi. In January 2017 ekar launched in Dubai in a partnership with the RTA.

Number of employees: Over 50

Financing stage: Series B currently being finalised

Investors: Series A - Audacia Capital 

Sector of operation: Transport

Section 375

Cast: Akshaye Khanna, Richa Chadha, Meera Chopra & Rahul Bhat

Director: Ajay Bahl

Producers: Kumar Mangat Pathak, Abhishek Pathak & SCIPL

Rating: 3.5/5

APPLE IPAD MINI (A17 PRO)

Display: 21cm Liquid Retina Display, 2266 x 1488, 326ppi, 500 nits

Chip: Apple A17 Pro, 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine

Storage: 128/256/512GB

Main camera: 12MP wide, f/1.8, digital zoom up to 5x, Smart HDR 4

Front camera: 12MP ultra-wide, f/2.4, Smart HDR 4, full-HD @ 25/30/60fps

Biometrics: Touch ID, Face ID

Colours: Blue, purple, space grey, starlight

In the box: iPad mini, USB-C cable, 20W USB-C power adapter

Price: From Dh2,099

The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESingle%20front-axle%20electric%20motor%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E218hp%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E330Nm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESingle-speed%20automatic%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EMax%20touring%20range%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E402km%20(claimed)%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh215%2C000%20(estimate)%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESeptember%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Joker: Folie a Deux

Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson

Director: Todd Phillips 

Rating: 2/5

About Okadoc

Date started: Okadoc, 2018

Founder/CEO: Fodhil Benturquia

Based: Dubai, UAE

Sector: Healthcare

Size: (employees/revenue) 40 staff; undisclosed revenues recording “double-digit” monthly growth

Funding stage: Series B fundraising round to conclude in February

Investors: Undisclosed

COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The%20Mother%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Niki%20Caro%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Jennifer%20Lopez%2C%20Joseph%20Fiennes%2C%20Gael%20Garcia%20Bernal%2C%20Omari%20Hardwick%20and%20Lucy%20Paez%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Moon Music

Artist: Coldplay

Label: Parlophone/Atlantic

Number of tracks: 10

Rating: 3/5

Company profile

Name: Fruitful Day

Founders: Marie-Christine Luijckx, Lyla Dalal AlRawi, Lindsey Fournie

Based: Dubai, UAE

Founded: 2015

Number of employees: 30

Sector: F&B

Funding so far: Dh3 million

Future funding plans: None at present

Future markets: Saudi Arabia, potentially Kuwait and other GCC countries

SPECS
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dual%20electric%20motors%20with%20102kW%20battery%20pack%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E570hp%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20890Nm%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERange%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Up%20to%20428km%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Now%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh1%2C700%2C000%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UAE Falcons

Carly Lewis (captain), Emily Fensome, Kelly Loy, Isabel Affley, Jessica Cronin, Jemma Eley, Jenna Guy, Kate Lewis, Megan Polley, Charlie Preston, Becki Quigley and Sophie Siffre. Deb Jones and Lucia Sdao – coach and assistant coach.

 
Diriyah%20project%20at%20a%20glance
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UAE SQUAD

Mohammed Naveed (captain), Mohamed Usman (vice captain), Ashfaq Ahmed, Chirag Suri, Shaiman Anwar, Mohammed Boota, Ghulam Shabber, Imran Haider, Tahir Mughal, Amir Hayat, Zahoor Khan, Qadeer Ahmed, Fahad Nawaz, Abdul Shakoor, Sultan Ahmed, CP Rizwan

Tree of Hell

Starring: Raed Zeno, Hadi Awada, Dr Mohammad Abdalla

Director: Raed Zeno

Rating: 4/5

Thank You for Banking with Us

Director: Laila Abbas

Starring: Yasmine Al Massri, Clara Khoury, Kamel El Basha, Ashraf Barhoum

Rating: 4/5