Just a year ago, we were focusing on Russian troops massing on the border with Ukraine, which the U.S. government and allies recognized as an attempt both to keep Ukraine from joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), a longstanding military alliance resisting Russian expansion, and to test the unity of the democratic nations that made up NATO itself. Former president Donald Trump had weakened NATO and vowed to pull the U.S. out of it if he won a second term, demoralizing our allies, but Democratic president Joe Biden and his secretary of state, Antony Blinken, had worked hard to pull the alliance back together.
Beginning today's Letter with Ukraine and Putin's war against it and Democracy wherever it lives; then filling the center with the tug of war between Democracy here and the Republican Party; the struggles in Iran and China; returning to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, with the rules-based international order still holding, and, finally, back to our country's continuing struggle to maintain and improve Democracy; the Letter had circled the wagons. There could not have been a better way for it to end 2022 than with Congressman John Lewis (D-GA), who almost died in his quest to protect the right to vote. He spoke directly to us when he wrote before passing: ‘Democracy is not a state. It is an act, and each generation must do its part.’
Amen.
Thank you, Heather Cox Richardson and LFAA subscribers, for your wisdom, fortitude, caring spirit, humor and friendship. Happy New Year!
“…and each generation must do its part.” This year, I think Gen Z played a huge part in these outcomes in a way that makes me slightly more optimistic about the coming decade.
A year full of all kinds of events I said, right up to just before they happened, "that's not gonna happen!" A year in which I am very glad to have been proven wrong.
"The story of 2022 turned out to be how many folks both abroad and at home stepped up to the plate." I will add my praise for how you told that story. Lucid, inspiring, and as comprehensive as possible in such a brief note. Thank you.
Thank you , Heather, over and over, for being one of the articulate voices for democracy, for your dedication to the historical perspective, and for your balance based on reality. Happy New Year
“…the list of accomplishments for this Congress rivaled that of the 1960s’ Great Society and the 1930s’ New Deal.”
And those accomplishments were made in spite of an opposition party whose one and only political goal still is to make the duly elected sitting President of the United States fail.
Well done, Joe Biden and congressional Democrats. Well done.
This new year methinks one can reasonably be more optimistic than the last several new years.
I felt that not enough people would wake up, but enough did. Well, our voter participation is abysmal, but we can battle another day. Ukraine resilience reminded us of the fighting spirit we once had, despite republicans siding with the enemy, as many did before WW2, when Japan solved that problem. The do nothing Congress did something, not enough, but more than most dreamed, including me. Especially since republican obstruction is at an all time high during my long life.
My wishes for 2023. May the republicans jump the shark, may Rupert be deported, dead or alive, and may hate and greed take back seat to love, empathy and a renewed commitment to our pale blue dot.
Heather, your letters are ever hopeful , none more than this one. Thank you for your dedication to this very meaningful project, chronicling the political developments of our time. But more than that, thank you for buoying your readers with your belief in our democracy, our power as citizens, and our institutions which still hold, though threatened. 2023 holds promise. We must work to fulfill it.
‘Democracy is not a state. It is an act, and each generation must do its part.’” Thank you for the part you have taken on. I wish you, Buddy, and your family a 2023 (it is the morning of New Years Eve here) of kayaking, sunrises, sunsets, love, and new memories.
What an eloquent and powerful year’s end summary. Thank you for all that you do to inspire us, Professor Richardson, and to give us hope through history.
It still has a bit of that hanging-on-with-teeth-and-fingernails feeling, but we've proven that those putatively fast-moving dictatorships aren't anywhere near as slick and flexible as their proponents claim.
Of all the things that happened this year, perhaps the most infuriating thing to my way of thinking, was the collective actions made by this Supreme Court. With that, I’m going to shut up and practice my resolution of trying to be kind; but you get my drift.
Beginning today's Letter with Ukraine and Putin's war against it and Democracy wherever it lives; then filling the center with the tug of war between Democracy here and the Republican Party; the struggles in Iran and China; returning to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, with the rules-based international order still holding, and, finally, back to our country's continuing struggle to maintain and improve Democracy; the Letter had circled the wagons. There could not have been a better way for it to end 2022 than with Congressman John Lewis (D-GA), who almost died in his quest to protect the right to vote. He spoke directly to us when he wrote before passing: ‘Democracy is not a state. It is an act, and each generation must do its part.’
Amen.
Thank you, Heather Cox Richardson and LFAA subscribers, for your wisdom, fortitude, caring spirit, humor and friendship. Happy New Year!
“…and each generation must do its part.” This year, I think Gen Z played a huge part in these outcomes in a way that makes me slightly more optimistic about the coming decade.
A year full of all kinds of events I said, right up to just before they happened, "that's not gonna happen!" A year in which I am very glad to have been proven wrong.
And we all did it.
"The story of 2022 turned out to be how many folks both abroad and at home stepped up to the plate." I will add my praise for how you told that story. Lucid, inspiring, and as comprehensive as possible in such a brief note. Thank you.
Thank you , Heather, over and over, for being one of the articulate voices for democracy, for your dedication to the historical perspective, and for your balance based on reality. Happy New Year
“…the list of accomplishments for this Congress rivaled that of the 1960s’ Great Society and the 1930s’ New Deal.”
And those accomplishments were made in spite of an opposition party whose one and only political goal still is to make the duly elected sitting President of the United States fail.
Well done, Joe Biden and congressional Democrats. Well done.
This new year methinks one can reasonably be more optimistic than the last several new years.
I felt that not enough people would wake up, but enough did. Well, our voter participation is abysmal, but we can battle another day. Ukraine resilience reminded us of the fighting spirit we once had, despite republicans siding with the enemy, as many did before WW2, when Japan solved that problem. The do nothing Congress did something, not enough, but more than most dreamed, including me. Especially since republican obstruction is at an all time high during my long life.
My wishes for 2023. May the republicans jump the shark, may Rupert be deported, dead or alive, and may hate and greed take back seat to love, empathy and a renewed commitment to our pale blue dot.
Heather, your letters are ever hopeful , none more than this one. Thank you for your dedication to this very meaningful project, chronicling the political developments of our time. But more than that, thank you for buoying your readers with your belief in our democracy, our power as citizens, and our institutions which still hold, though threatened. 2023 holds promise. We must work to fulfill it.
‘Democracy is not a state. It is an act, and each generation must do its part.’” Thank you for the part you have taken on. I wish you, Buddy, and your family a 2023 (it is the morning of New Years Eve here) of kayaking, sunrises, sunsets, love, and new memories.
Great summary of a challenging year!!
Thanks for all you do!!
What an eloquent and powerful year’s end summary. Thank you for all that you do to inspire us, Professor Richardson, and to give us hope through history.
You, Heather, helped so many of us "step up to the plate." Thank you for all you do and for this community. Happy new year!
It still has a bit of that hanging-on-with-teeth-and-fingernails feeling, but we've proven that those putatively fast-moving dictatorships aren't anywhere near as slick and flexible as their proponents claim.
What a great Letter! Thank you so much for its brilliant clarity with a message of hope to carry into the New Year.
My wish for tonight is that you post a beautiful photograph and take some time for yourself and Buddy!
Thank you for this brilliant summary, Professor.
Of all the things that happened this year, perhaps the most infuriating thing to my way of thinking, was the collective actions made by this Supreme Court. With that, I’m going to shut up and practice my resolution of trying to be kind; but you get my drift.