Better late than never: In which I name my persons of 2023
Taylor Swift is fine, but these are my heroes
My friend Peter, who works in the theater world, made this observation about how the holidays distort time. People don’t realize, he said, that the day after December 15 is actually January 2; then they wake up and remember they have a show to put on.
And so it was for me, which is why my last post here was indeed on December 15. Holiday chaos, including driving across New York State state and back, was worsened by my first brush with Covid. After nearly four years, I actually thought I was immune. That turned out not to be true, but my case was mild. I did lose my sense of smell, but it has returned along with my devotion to various Chanel and Jo Malone fragrances.
So, I apologize for a post that may seem a bit late. However, I must give credit to Ruby Freeman and her daughter, Shaye Moss, the two Georgia election workers who won a nearly $150 million verdict against Rudy Giuliani for defamation last month.
To my mind, these women represent the heart of American democracy — and they have weathered the frightening and ongoing threats to that democracy, though not without permanent damage to their lives.
In late 2020, after Trump’s defeat to Joe Biden, Giuliani, then Trump’s personal lawyer, told his millions of social media followers to watch a video of two election workers as they counted the votes in Fulton County, Ga. He claimed — without evidence — that they were somehow stealing votes from Trump, contributing to his loss.
What followed, of course, was terrible abuse and danger to the mother and her grown daughter. As the New York Times summarized it: “a torrent of threats, accusations and racism; messages from people who said she should be hanged for treason, or lynched; people who fantasized about hearing the sound of her neck snap.” They were no longer safe in their homes, as their names circulated on conservative networks.
They did prevail, but their lives will never return to normal. And there are more chapters to this sordid saga: Giuliani soon filed for bankruptcy; and the women felt forced to sue again after the former New York City mayor wouldn’t shut up.
But here’s why they are my persons of the year. The very core of American democracy is free and fair voting, without fear of retribution. And those votes must matter. We’ve spent the past several years living in an America where that foundation has been challenged and threatened.
So, while I respect Taylor Swift — who was Time magazine’s person of the year — my nod goes to Ruby and Shaye, with thanks for their work and their perseverance.
On a related note, I’ll share here my most recent Guardian column, which is about Joe Biden’s planned speech on Jan. 6 (since moved up to Jan. 5), the anniversary of the violent insurrection at the U.S. Capitol and how the media — in my view — should cover it.
Thanks to all subscribers here. I’ll be in your inboxes more often in the weeks ahead. Let me know how you’re feeling about 2024 — which is bound to be a consequential year in our nation. I hope it’s a happy new year for all.
I'm sorry to hear about your case of Covid. It's similar to my case in August 2022. Mild, loss of sense of taste and smell, but both of them came back.
I love your choices, but I would also add mine: the few remaining journalists (including yourself) who do the work of 10 people and get little credit for their work.
I agree about the distortion. Last week, Friday felt like a Saturday, which was then followed by 3 Sundays in a row. I applaud your choice for “Person of the Year”. Now “on with the show” for all of us, hopefully keeping in mind the courage and resilience of Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss.