Can we please think about what a 74-year old Jewish man might mean when he says ghetto?

[femmedem]

from npr

"...But whatever the root language, the word's original meaning was clear: "the quarter in a city, chiefly in Italy, to which the Jews were restricted," as the OED puts it. In the 16th and 17th centuries, cities like Venice, Frankfurt, Prague and Rome forcibly segregated their Jewish populations, often walling them off and submitting them to onerous restrictions.

By the late 19th century, these ghettos had been steadily dismantled. But instead of vanishing from history, ghettos reappeared — with a purpose more ominous than segregation — under Nazi Germany. German forces established ghettos in over a thousand cities across Europe. They were isolated, strictly controlled and resource-deprived — but unlike the ghettos of history, they weren't meant to last..."

Bernie's father's family died in the holocaust. Bernie was an active opponent of American segregation back when black Americans were legally restricted to certain areas. This now slightly outdated meaning of ghetto, of an area to which a vulnerable minority is restricted, seems to me to be what he meant.

[hollysmom]

1. I still use the word ghetto and I use it to describe any area where like people are the majority

occupants.

the definition is "a part of a city, especially a slum area, occupied by a minority group or groups."
Ghettos are used to contain people so others don't have to deal with them. New York had many ghettos over the centuries.
I think he may be using it as I do, to describe isolates sections of cities.

[jalan48]

2. Thank you for the post.

Most of the Jews killed by Hitler came from ghettos in Eastern Europe. They were rounded up in these ghettos, put on trains and sent to concentration camps where they were gassed. I think many Americans are either ignorant of this fact or have forgotten about it. The world is a big place with a sordid history of suffering for many people from many different backgrounds. Bernie has the quality of empathy for others that is displayed every time he speaks.

[Impedimentus]

10. Empathy

Bernie's ability to empathize with the pain of other human beings is why I have admired him for years. How we desperately need more leaders that possess it.

[corbettkroehler]

3. I'm As White As They Come And I Liked His Statement

Sanders' statement was very good and the perfect counterpoint to conservatives' rejection of white guilt. As usual, Bernie was right.

[NowSam]

4. He meant no harm and this is a trumped

up much ado about nothing. Bernie Sanders is a kind gentlemen who cares for all. The people pushing this narrative of him being something else are trying to divide the electorate and that is half of divide and conquer. Don't fall for it.

Peace, love, Bernie.

[disillusioned73]

5. ...

[appalachiablue]

7. This came to my mind last night but the origins of the word are forgotten by some

and deliberately manipulated by others. Revulsion.

[artislife]

8. That is what we keep seeing again and again

Manipulation, ennuendo, passive agressive asides, full on agressive attacks, smears, lies..


Just makes you want to......caucus for Bernie!

[TBF]

9. He could be talking about either -

but he clarified today that he meant African Americans living in poverty. I grew up in rural poverty in the midwest (primarily white area) and I don't take offense to what he said. As he points out in this clip he is really the only one who talks about poverty at all - http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2016-election/bernie-sanders-attempts-clarify-ghetto-comment-n533466

He clearly is letting African Americans know that he has not forgotten about them, as some may think, and for that I applaud him. Poverty is an enormous issue no matter who the people are - and it's getting to be a bigger issue every year with the increasing economic inequality. But he is right to point out that African Americans have had to deal with bigotry on top of the poverty.