Great writing, Robert. This is the most compelling version of Shaye and Ruby’s story that I’ve encountered, celebrating these two women who had the moral courage to “stand their ground”.
I'm reminded of the courage of another who stood her ground: Darnella Frazier, the teenager who recorded every second of George Floyd's murder.
The entire country owes a debt of gratitude to these ordinary citizens who did the right thing when called upon, and thereby inspire us all to do likewise.
“Two women who stood their ground.” Like the Minute Men on Lexington Green, the 20th Maine on Little Round Top, the schoolchildren at Central High School in Little Rock and John Lewis at Edmund Pettus Bridge, heroes of Democracy.
I couldn't agree more. These two women were no mere bystanders. Robert's closing message is powerful:
"We will never know which letter, text, door knock, or donation will become a tipping point. But some of them surely will. Indeed, because a tipping point always sits atop every action that preceded it, every letter, text, door knock, or donation contributes to the tipping point. Like Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss, you are part of the guardrails of democracy."
Robert’s closing statement really does sum it all up. The power of the many, working across the country to achieve the goal of keeping our democracy intact. 🤜🤛
Your message tonight, Rob, is infused with a palpable passion ignited by hope, the cause célèbre that has undergirded the entire premise of your newsletter from the very start. I’ll admit I’ve become a fan of listening to you read your newsletter, even though I’m perfectly capable of reading the text with my eyes, in silence. Your delivery is a valuable ingredient in the recipe of what you say to us each night.
Tonight‘s essay is a series of one exhortation after another, and yet another and another, inviting our close attention to every point you make, racking up a composite of so many substantial points that it feels as if, as you speak, a flag is being hoisted to the top of the staff, pull by pull, Old Glory indeed, flying high to declare that our democracy holds strong when we persevere, when we hold fast to faith and proper ethics, collectively doing what we do for the good of all the people of this nation, with strong ripple effect beyond our borders. It’s as if you were moved by the spirit and had no choice but to deliver this significant message to our ears, our minds, our hearts, and our very souls. There’s a cadence of both urgency and uplifting encouragement as you review the saga that unfolded for these two women, choices they made that brought them to today. Certainly it’s a prime example of this timeless wisdom:
It's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters.
Epictetus
Thank you, Rob Hubbell and Jill Bickett, for tonight‘s message.
Since the rise of MAGA I have had an aversion to the American flag - I had begun to look away from the flag as it was drug behind trucks, paired with the Gadsden and other Confederate flags. For a time me seeing our flag manifested in me the deep shame I have had of our country.
And today your message makes my heart swell with pride as I envision “…a flag is being hoisted to the top of the staff, pull by pull, Old Glory indeed, flying high to declare that our democracy holds strong when we persevere, when we hold fast to faith and proper ethics, collectively doing what we do for the good of all the people of this nation…” – for the first time in years I have that old feeling.
If I might, Nikole Hannah-Jones and her father who flew the American flag:
"My dad always flew an American flag in our front yard. The blue paint on our two-story house was perennially chipping; the fence, or the rail by the stairs, or the front door, existed in a perpetual state of disrepair, but that flag always flew pristine. Our corner lot, which had been redlined by the federal government, was along the river that divided the black side from the white side of our Iowa town. At the edge of our lawn, high on an aluminum pole, soared the flag, which my dad would replace as soon as it showed the slightest tatter...
"So when I was young, that flag outside our home never made sense to me. How could this black man, having seen firsthand the way his country abused black Americans, how it refused to treat us as full citizens, proudly fly its banner? I didn’t understand his patriotism. It deeply embarrassed me...
"Like most young people, I thought I understood so much, when in fact I understood so little. My father knew exactly what he was doing when he raised that flag. He knew that our people’s contributions to building the richest and most powerful nation in the world were indelible, that the United States simply would not exist without us."
And when Colin Kaepernick took a knee, many saw it as disrespectful of the flag. I saw it as the opposite, that Colin was saying those who were glorifying the flag and what it represented were the ones who were being disrespectful. Just my opinion.
That is one of the most beautiful comments I have read and it brought tears to my eyes. Your dad was right. The flag is both a symbol and a promise. Trump made a mockery of both when he wrapped himself in it like it was a costume. Thank you for sharing this poignant and powerful story.
This story is beautiful. My dear husband was Black, from Louisiana, passed a year ago after a stroke, but to hear him tell of his childhood, changes that have come about that he never dreamed would happen… It’s definitely a massive tapestry of life across this entire nation, and actually all over the globe… To further what’s right for each and every individual. That tapestry isn’t going to look too fine— will not display a unified image— if it’s tugged and pulled and has holes and threads heading off on their own… eye on the prize!
I feel we need to reclaim the flag despite the shared shame we have regarding how it is often used. I was once at protest against some awful Trump policy and there were counter protesters. Many of us had American Flags. At one point we began to chant USA! The trump supporters became very confused and were silenced. They soon left the area!
I am so glad I read your comment, Karen, about having issues with our American flag. I live in a very red county, in ruby red Ohio. There are many flags flying around here along with or beside the American flag with Trump, the Confederate battle flag,the snake emblazoned Gadsden flag and other right wing messages. We have a big "Let's Go Brandon" flag flying on a main street in our town. There are wearers of all of these various flags on tee shirts. To me, it is disrespectful to our country but then again, the actions of these people are that way too imho. I have never before in my life felt such shame about my country's flag until this scary Trump era. I too am thankful for Robert for this piece giving me new hope for our Old Glory.
Karen, thank you for your commentary. What you describe is the same swelled heart I felt when listening to Robert describe the dangers, defamation, deceit and the perseverance, the bravery… It struck me as OK to extol and revive the times when the hoisting of the flag symbolized a goal to aspire toward and do what’s best for our country at large. Let us shed whatever negativity is part of tribalism. Competition? Compromise and unity? At least this instead of the dangerous and vicious divisiveness we face in these times. I so relate to your description of the flag as co-opted by the MAGA cult. I just read there is Republican pushback about proposed removal of confederate monuments in Arlington cemetery. Of course it’s part of our history, but do we see statues of Hitler in Germany? I don’t think so… And was it in Belarus where the Russians controlled and installed statuary, but as the citizens began to take back some power and expelled the Russians, they decorated the statuary like circus characters… They took it back, made it their own, to reject, shame and eject the Russian control. I certainly don’t have exact knowledge, but I read Heather Cox Richardson, Joyce Vance, and, of course, Rob Hubbell, voraciously (a few others, too, but these are my main three !!!) and I try to pay attention and learn. His piece published close to midnight moved me deeply, and my teacher heart had to respond. I’m fully aware I do not seem capable of substantive information on the political topics covered… But if I’m grateful for the good someone’s doing publishing their writing, informing and uplifting proactivity and hope, it behooves me to thank them, along the order of if you love someone, tell them, because we are not promised tomorrow. Gratitude! Amen! You did the same. TY
I am so disgusted by MAGAtts acting as if the American flag symbolizes the sewage that flows through every vein and artery of their belief system. I almost shudder when I see any flag now, even though I know that so many of us know better. I’m so glad to read this column and these comments.
Lawyer Rob and Managing Editor Jill have created a vibrant community a bit like a living organism, with intelligent, informed energy united for good amid the troubledness. The connectedness is increasingly far-reaching and impressive, enhancing the effectiveness of any anction any of us chooses to do as we work to protect and keep healthy our democracy.
I know how you feel. I think the image of Trump wrapping himself in the flag made me feel both sick and disgusted. The American flag is beautiful and we cannot let MAGA ruin it for us.
You are too kind, Sharon. Second and third grade teacher here, paying close attention to learn, to be informed, regularly updated, and to participate as best I can to support anything that can make a difference for, in the end, working to ensure the health of our democracy. Someone spoke of the dash between the dates on the headstone or the placard… how we spend that dash is our legacy.
Perfect words Katherine. Thank you! And thank you Robert, as always, for putting my raw, heartfelt emotions into words. As I read the verdict yesterday, my first thought was... there is hope for the world. Keep on keeping on!
Katherine, I was delighted to see the quote: "(Experience is) not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters," as I had just read it in David Brooks' "How to Know a Person." Now, David gave credit to Aldous Huxley . .. but I'll bet old Aldous got it from older Epictetus! Regardless, I think it shows that, even over great amounts of time, we are all in this (Life) together.
Similar to the “Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making plans”… Attributed to John Lennon, but then to others as well… No matter if it is shared in the ethos for us all, yes? (In my comment, I looked it up because I had no idea to whom it was attributed.) I never presume mal-intent when someone attributes a quote to someone and I thought a different person said it… If I’m corrected, no biggie. It keeps me busy enough monitoring what happens to me, and in turn weighing options and measuring how I respond (how I react? Respond? Take proactive action?)
The bigger picture of priorities… How one spends one’s days is how when spends one’s life… I have no idea who said that, but somebody did before I did. Lol.
I like your thinking, Katherine. And again, I truly enjoyed your response to me. I was just so taken with the "timing" of it all, so I had to speak up. Looks like we're all connected in this: Epictetus and Aldous and David . . and Katherine and Marcia. Nice!
Marcia, one of my best friends is Marcia (56 years so far… I just did the math, and you could knock me over with a feather) — your response means a lot. Thank you. Timing, synchronicity… I maintain miracles come in all shapes and sizes and are best left unmeasured because what seems tiny can, in the end, have huge consequences whereas something that seems huge at the time can, in the end, be inconsequential. We’re on the ground and just don’t have the long range perspective or the birds’ eye view. My career was in primary grades, mainly, public school teaching, and I loved including instruction on the big ideas… Metacognition… Observing oneself to see how you tackle a task, looking at the big picture of how things work… as our digital devices all communicate through the air, across cyberspace, invisible except for the towers… there is much more in play that we never see, but can be blessed if we are open and paying attention, looking up, inward, down so we don’t trip… Outer space, inner space… It’s bigger than anything we will ever be able to fully know, so just taking in the moment and appreciating is such a beautiful thing. Good morning, Marcia. I fully agree. Very grateful here.
Dec 16, 2023·edited Dec 16, 2023Liked by Robert B. Hubbell
Robert wrote, "The point of the lies is not (only) to injure Trump's enemies, it is to erode trust in the system until there are no guardrails left—hoping to create chaos in which the most depraved believe they have an advantage over those still ruled by conscience, decency, and fealty to the rule of law."
Here we have Putin's long term program of active measures against democracies, particularly with Russian election interference and the psychological warfare of fostering the proliferation of the Big Lie and election denialism. In the face of this, it's easy to feel helpless.
But as Robert frames how Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss heroically stood their ground and the guardrails of democracy held, it brings us to Robert's frequent conclusion--that we have every reason to be hopeful, but not complacent.
Besides eroding trust, the chaos coming from all the lies inspires the belief we are NOT in this together. That these are “every man for himself, dog eat dog” times, and that is normal.
This is just so moving, Robert. I would like to see this as a guest opinion in every US newspaper!
Contrast courage of these two, relatively low paid black women to elite US Congressmen and Senators who were too scared to confront the leader of their party trying to overturn an election and remain too scared today. It’s really quite something.
Cathy, you point to yet another phenomenon of the times. I ask frequently, “How is it that so many Congressional members can continue to stand in silence?”
Where are the “profiles of courage” in this most urgent time as our democracy is under assault? The answer, of course, was written by Robert today. I believe there are many more citizens whose voices will be heard in the months ahead.
John, what you wrote here also speaks to the fact that, after certain Republican members of Congress pushed against an impeachment inquiry, every one of them still voted in lockstep to start it. Hunter Biden stood out among these lowest of the low by giving that six-minute speech to the public about their depraved hypocrisy and lack of respect for other human beings. I think we’re going to see a sizable number of congressional seats flip to Democratic in 2024 simply because of this outrageous act. Outside of the MAGA cult, people are mighty sick of this nonsense.
I really believe that saving democracy will be done mainly by people, not by politicians. Good leaders will help us but we have to stand together and stand up on our own. Somehow I believe we will.
Let me add one more thing. Giuliani's claim that one of the women passed cocaine to the other played on American racism. The item being passed turned out to be a "ginger mint." It is terrible when the innocuous moments of our lives are turned into something nefarious.
Many clear and straightforward statements in this letter, but the most important to my mind is: -"they know that media outlets will dutifully repeat the lies in headlines and news alerts, reserving tepid skepticism for paragraphs buried deep in their coverage." - There are threats and intimidations to journalists too, but that much we must all know as readers.
Have you all seen the Instagram clip of Mitt Romney saying 70 percent of the Republicans still say Trump won the 2020 election and the absurdity of abandoning truth to that degree? Giuliani’s ability to stand in front of a crowd and say he doesn’t regret anything because what he said was true, that what he said Ruby and Shay did was the truth, reflects that capacity for abandoning the truth and persuading others to do the same.
My comment was not so much about Romney himself as about the link between Giuliani’s capacity to separate from the truth to an absurd degree and the same capacity of 70 percent of Republicans. You may think Romney didn’t speak up enough, but he didn’t self-lobotomize from the truth in this manner on the question on election fraud.
Susan, isn’t Giuliani’s performance outside the court house yesterday one of the most evil acts of the Trump era? It is incomprehensible to see such sickening conduct by a man who has allowed himself to be dragged down by the entire enterprise of lies. It is so shamelessly offered by a man who is disgracing himself with every appearance he makes on the public stage.
Let us be thankful indeed for Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss.
Love this: "Every letter, text, door knock, or donation contributes to the tipping point." The perfect lead up to an ask, the perfect way to galvanize volunteers. Elections are binary, progress is cumulative. Running as a Democrat in a red district might mean certain loss but if we think long-term - building the moment of the tipping point - that campaign and the work done in it, is getting us closer to that tipping point.
Speaking of lies and enabling – as you so eloquently have, Rob – and the importance of each action standing up to those lies . . .
I am outraged and disgusted by the Washington Post for one of their top stories (see link below – “biggest Pinocchios 2023). Biden's photo is the largest, front and center, in this story about politicians lying. Its horrendous. They are no different than Republicans impeaching Biden with no evidence. To put forward these unsubstantiated claims of lies in the same universe as what the Republicans are doing is unconscionable. They have passed a line I keep drawing in the shifting sands of irresponsible journalism and I'm cancelling my subscription today. Democracy is definitely dying in the darkness they are creating.
Most of their claims about Biden are not substantiated and so trivial in comparison to trying to end our Democracy, election denying, demolishing our institutions etc etc etc -- all things Republican that we know and endure daily .
For example: And several times when discussing gay issues, he (Biden) offered another implausible tale about words his father supposedly spoke after a teenage Biden saw two well-dressed men in suits kiss each other in downtown Wilmington in the early 1960s. A conversation they — and probably no one else — was privy to, decades ago? Another has to do with denying his son got payments in China. Does it occur to them that Biden might not have known? His adult son has led his own — difficult and substance abuse filled — life, and possibly hasn’t shared everything with his father.
The only substantive issue is his taking credit for reducing the deficit. When we awarded Biden a Bottomless Pinocchio for this statement back in April, we noted that at least 30 times he had falsely taken credit for reducing the budget deficit by $1.7 trillion. Well, that didn’t seem to bother him. . . . The deficit was always expected to fall with the end of the pandemic. But Biden’s policies increased the national debt about $850 billion more than originally projected. So the deficit picture has worsened under Biden, and he’s seizing on a technicality to claim otherwise.
They accuse him of taking credit for the deficit falling at the end of the Pandemic (The deficit was always expected to fall with the end of the pandemic.) Whether or not everyone always expected that (really??), the press is quick to blame Biden for everything that happens during his presidency, no matter the antecedents and/or whether it’s in his control. This is yet another example of how they almost never give him credit, but are eager to blame him and find fault.
While I’m outraged, I won’t give up. I will continue to work as hard as possible for victory in 2024I and as part of what I do, redouble my letter writing to mainstream media. Our “free” press is a huge and debilitating part of the problem we face. Along with the “justice delayed is justice denied” issue, it’s more vexing and likely more costly than returning Dems to the trifecta — House, Senate and Presidency -- through the ballot box. Please all – consider writing -- or increasing your writing -- letters to the editor, to the authors of outrageous articles like this and bring these betrayals to the attention of others.
Thanks for writing this. My second story for this newsletter was going to be the Post's disgraceful story you describe. But when I was done with Freeman and Moss, it did not seem appropriate to add another so story. So, thank you!! and Well said!
Thanks for your comments. This was a long post and I hesitate to post again but . . . when I copied the post to comments, the italics (which made clear the quotes from WaPo) disappeared! Makes it confusing. So, I've added the quote marks since italics don't seen to work. Sorry for the confusion and thanks all for putting up with a long post.
Speaking of lies and enabling – as you so eloquently have, Rob – and the importance of each action standing up to those lies . . .
I am outraged and disgusted by the Washington Post for one of their top stories (see link below – “biggest Pinocchios 2023). Biden's photo is the largest, front and center, in this story about politicians lying. Its horrendous. They are no different than Republicans impeaching Biden with no evidence. To put forward these unsubstantiated claims of lies in the same universe as what the Republicans are doing is unconscionable. They have passed a line I keep drawing in the shifting sands of irresponsible journalism and I'm cancelling my subscription today. Democracy is definitely dying in the darkness they are creating.
Most of their claims about Biden are not substantiated and so trivial in comparison to trying to end our Democracy, election denying, demolishing our institutions etc etc etc -- all things Republican that we know and endure daily .
For example:
"And several times when discussing gay issues, he (Biden) offered another implausible tale about words his father supposedly spoke after a teenage Biden saw two well-dressed men in suits kiss each other in downtown Wilmington in the early 1960s."
A conversation they — and probably no one else — was privy to, decades ago?
Another has to do with denying his son got payments in China. Does it occur to them that Biden might not have known? His adult son has led his own — difficult and substance abuse filled — life, and possibly hasn’t shared everything with his father.
The only substantive issue is his taking credit for reducing the deficit.
"When we awarded Biden a Bottomless Pinocchio for this statement back in April, we noted that at least 30 times he had falsely taken credit for reducing the budget deficit by $1.7 trillion. Well, that didn’t seem to bother him. . . . The deficit was always expected to fall with the end of the pandemic. But Biden’s policies increased the national debt about $850 billion more than originally projected. So the deficit picture has worsened under Biden, and he’s seizing on a technicality to claim otherwise."
They accuse him of taking credit for the deficit falling at the end of the Pandemic (The deficit was always expected to fall with the end of the pandemic.) Whether or not everyone always expected that (really??), the press is quick to blame Biden for everything that happens during his presidency, no matter the antecedents and/or whether it’s in his control. This is yet another example of how they almost never give him credit, but are eager to blame him and find fault.
While I’m outraged, I won’t give up. I will continue to work as hard as possible for victory in 2024I and as part of what I do, redouble my letter writing to mainstream media. Our “free” press is a huge and debilitating part of the problem we face. Along with the “justice delayed is justice denied” issue, it’s more vexing and likely more costly than returning Dems to the trifecta — House, Senate and Presidency -- through the ballot box. Please all – consider writing -- or increasing your writing -- letters to the editor, to the authors of outrageous articles like this and bring these betrayals to the attention of others.
Based on your account, I don’t feel any need to follow the link you offered. Instead, I am affirmed in my continuing reluctance to take the WaPo bait to subscribe.
Thanks for sharing your insights. Congratulations for canceling your subscription.
I'm in tears. Indeed. I hope that Ruby Freeman and Shay Moss see what you've written. While I'm sure winning the suit is its own celebration (how much money will they actually see?) your written homage to them is beautiful.
We must hope that the psychic compensation afforded to Freeman and Moss by your comments, the jury's verdict and the support of Americans who understand and appreciate what they did will sustain them through the aftermath of the decision and allow them some semblance of a peaceful life. They are owed much more than that and whatever pittance they end up with from the bankrupt former "America's Mayor" won't begin to repay the debt.
On a separate note, virtually every jurisdiction in the country needs election workers at every election. The pay isn't much, the hours are long and often boring, but the experience of working with other people of both parties to a common end of preserving our democratic system at the most basic level is well worth it. It also makes it very clear just how ridiculous the notion of stealing an election is.
Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss are very strong. We have to remember the context of women's lives now, because they have so much to do and yet have this strength. They stopped it from being put on young people's lives too.
Great writing, Robert. This is the most compelling version of Shaye and Ruby’s story that I’ve encountered, celebrating these two women who had the moral courage to “stand their ground”.
I'm reminded of the courage of another who stood her ground: Darnella Frazier, the teenager who recorded every second of George Floyd's murder.
The entire country owes a debt of gratitude to these ordinary citizens who did the right thing when called upon, and thereby inspire us all to do likewise.
.
“Two women who stood their ground.” Like the Minute Men on Lexington Green, the 20th Maine on Little Round Top, the schoolchildren at Central High School in Little Rock and John Lewis at Edmund Pettus Bridge, heroes of Democracy.
I couldn't agree more. These two women were no mere bystanders. Robert's closing message is powerful:
"We will never know which letter, text, door knock, or donation will become a tipping point. But some of them surely will. Indeed, because a tipping point always sits atop every action that preceded it, every letter, text, door knock, or donation contributes to the tipping point. Like Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss, you are part of the guardrails of democracy."
Let's all do our part.
Robert’s closing statement really does sum it all up. The power of the many, working across the country to achieve the goal of keeping our democracy intact. 🤜🤛
This flies in the face of non-voters who think both parties are 'the same'.
I couldn’t agree more, Denise. We all owe a lot to Shaye and Ruby.
Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss and Darnella Frazier are just as courageous in this time as Rosa Parks was in her time.
An apt correlation!
Denise, my exact reaction. This is how MSM should be covering.
I agree. I hope it will be widely shared.
Yes. Stand your ground! Fight for Democracy! I love this version too.
Your message tonight, Rob, is infused with a palpable passion ignited by hope, the cause célèbre that has undergirded the entire premise of your newsletter from the very start. I’ll admit I’ve become a fan of listening to you read your newsletter, even though I’m perfectly capable of reading the text with my eyes, in silence. Your delivery is a valuable ingredient in the recipe of what you say to us each night.
Tonight‘s essay is a series of one exhortation after another, and yet another and another, inviting our close attention to every point you make, racking up a composite of so many substantial points that it feels as if, as you speak, a flag is being hoisted to the top of the staff, pull by pull, Old Glory indeed, flying high to declare that our democracy holds strong when we persevere, when we hold fast to faith and proper ethics, collectively doing what we do for the good of all the people of this nation, with strong ripple effect beyond our borders. It’s as if you were moved by the spirit and had no choice but to deliver this significant message to our ears, our minds, our hearts, and our very souls. There’s a cadence of both urgency and uplifting encouragement as you review the saga that unfolded for these two women, choices they made that brought them to today. Certainly it’s a prime example of this timeless wisdom:
It's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters.
Epictetus
Thank you, Rob Hubbell and Jill Bickett, for tonight‘s message.
Katherine,
Since the rise of MAGA I have had an aversion to the American flag - I had begun to look away from the flag as it was drug behind trucks, paired with the Gadsden and other Confederate flags. For a time me seeing our flag manifested in me the deep shame I have had of our country.
And today your message makes my heart swell with pride as I envision “…a flag is being hoisted to the top of the staff, pull by pull, Old Glory indeed, flying high to declare that our democracy holds strong when we persevere, when we hold fast to faith and proper ethics, collectively doing what we do for the good of all the people of this nation…” – for the first time in years I have that old feeling.
Thank you, and thank Robert Hubbell
If I might, Nikole Hannah-Jones and her father who flew the American flag:
"My dad always flew an American flag in our front yard. The blue paint on our two-story house was perennially chipping; the fence, or the rail by the stairs, or the front door, existed in a perpetual state of disrepair, but that flag always flew pristine. Our corner lot, which had been redlined by the federal government, was along the river that divided the black side from the white side of our Iowa town. At the edge of our lawn, high on an aluminum pole, soared the flag, which my dad would replace as soon as it showed the slightest tatter...
"So when I was young, that flag outside our home never made sense to me. How could this black man, having seen firsthand the way his country abused black Americans, how it refused to treat us as full citizens, proudly fly its banner? I didn’t understand his patriotism. It deeply embarrassed me...
"Like most young people, I thought I understood so much, when in fact I understood so little. My father knew exactly what he was doing when he raised that flag. He knew that our people’s contributions to building the richest and most powerful nation in the world were indelible, that the United States simply would not exist without us."
https://courageousconversation.com/the-1619-project/
And when Colin Kaepernick took a knee, many saw it as disrespectful of the flag. I saw it as the opposite, that Colin was saying those who were glorifying the flag and what it represented were the ones who were being disrespectful. Just my opinion.
That is one of the most beautiful comments I have read and it brought tears to my eyes. Your dad was right. The flag is both a symbol and a promise. Trump made a mockery of both when he wrapped himself in it like it was a costume. Thank you for sharing this poignant and powerful story.
This story is beautiful. My dear husband was Black, from Louisiana, passed a year ago after a stroke, but to hear him tell of his childhood, changes that have come about that he never dreamed would happen… It’s definitely a massive tapestry of life across this entire nation, and actually all over the globe… To further what’s right for each and every individual. That tapestry isn’t going to look too fine— will not display a unified image— if it’s tugged and pulled and has holes and threads heading off on their own… eye on the prize!
Dear Katherine,
I’m sorry for your loss… your husband saw and lived so much, what a time was his!
We ce
The vision I have in reading your post is the soldiers on Ima Jima putting the American flag back up.
I see that, too! Thank you! Beautiful!
I feel we need to reclaim the flag despite the shared shame we have regarding how it is often used. I was once at protest against some awful Trump policy and there were counter protesters. Many of us had American Flags. At one point we began to chant USA! The trump supporters became very confused and were silenced. They soon left the area!
Should we wear American flag pins upside down, to express the nation’s endangerment?
That could work!
We have to do more of that. Let’s be Americans first in the best sense of the term.
This is a marvelous story! Really makes me chuckle and see possibilities going forward.
I am so glad I read your comment, Karen, about having issues with our American flag. I live in a very red county, in ruby red Ohio. There are many flags flying around here along with or beside the American flag with Trump, the Confederate battle flag,the snake emblazoned Gadsden flag and other right wing messages. We have a big "Let's Go Brandon" flag flying on a main street in our town. There are wearers of all of these various flags on tee shirts. To me, it is disrespectful to our country but then again, the actions of these people are that way too imho. I have never before in my life felt such shame about my country's flag until this scary Trump era. I too am thankful for Robert for this piece giving me new hope for our Old Glory.
I have developed a shuddering aversion to the word "christian" which is scary considering I am a Christian, or at least I try to be.
It’s mind boggling to think of what the folks calling themselves ‘Christian’ are accepting as normal.
Karen, thank you for your commentary. What you describe is the same swelled heart I felt when listening to Robert describe the dangers, defamation, deceit and the perseverance, the bravery… It struck me as OK to extol and revive the times when the hoisting of the flag symbolized a goal to aspire toward and do what’s best for our country at large. Let us shed whatever negativity is part of tribalism. Competition? Compromise and unity? At least this instead of the dangerous and vicious divisiveness we face in these times. I so relate to your description of the flag as co-opted by the MAGA cult. I just read there is Republican pushback about proposed removal of confederate monuments in Arlington cemetery. Of course it’s part of our history, but do we see statues of Hitler in Germany? I don’t think so… And was it in Belarus where the Russians controlled and installed statuary, but as the citizens began to take back some power and expelled the Russians, they decorated the statuary like circus characters… They took it back, made it their own, to reject, shame and eject the Russian control. I certainly don’t have exact knowledge, but I read Heather Cox Richardson, Joyce Vance, and, of course, Rob Hubbell, voraciously (a few others, too, but these are my main three !!!) and I try to pay attention and learn. His piece published close to midnight moved me deeply, and my teacher heart had to respond. I’m fully aware I do not seem capable of substantive information on the political topics covered… But if I’m grateful for the good someone’s doing publishing their writing, informing and uplifting proactivity and hope, it behooves me to thank them, along the order of if you love someone, tell them, because we are not promised tomorrow. Gratitude! Amen! You did the same. TY
I am so disgusted by MAGAtts acting as if the American flag symbolizes the sewage that flows through every vein and artery of their belief system. I almost shudder when I see any flag now, even though I know that so many of us know better. I’m so glad to read this column and these comments.
Thank you Katherine. You eloquently stated what so many of us have been feeling the past 7 years.
Lawyer Rob and Managing Editor Jill have created a vibrant community a bit like a living organism, with intelligent, informed energy united for good amid the troubledness. The connectedness is increasingly far-reaching and impressive, enhancing the effectiveness of any anction any of us chooses to do as we work to protect and keep healthy our democracy.
I know how you feel. I think the image of Trump wrapping himself in the flag made me feel both sick and disgusted. The American flag is beautiful and we cannot let MAGA ruin it for us.
Very nicely said, Katherine!
Beautifully stated, Kathrine! You should write your own substack newsletter!
You are too kind, Sharon. Second and third grade teacher here, paying close attention to learn, to be informed, regularly updated, and to participate as best I can to support anything that can make a difference for, in the end, working to ensure the health of our democracy. Someone spoke of the dash between the dates on the headstone or the placard… how we spend that dash is our legacy.
Perfect words Katherine. Thank you! And thank you Robert, as always, for putting my raw, heartfelt emotions into words. As I read the verdict yesterday, my first thought was... there is hope for the world. Keep on keeping on!
Katherine, I was delighted to see the quote: "(Experience is) not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters," as I had just read it in David Brooks' "How to Know a Person." Now, David gave credit to Aldous Huxley . .. but I'll bet old Aldous got it from older Epictetus! Regardless, I think it shows that, even over great amounts of time, we are all in this (Life) together.
Similar to the “Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making plans”… Attributed to John Lennon, but then to others as well… No matter if it is shared in the ethos for us all, yes? (In my comment, I looked it up because I had no idea to whom it was attributed.) I never presume mal-intent when someone attributes a quote to someone and I thought a different person said it… If I’m corrected, no biggie. It keeps me busy enough monitoring what happens to me, and in turn weighing options and measuring how I respond (how I react? Respond? Take proactive action?)
The bigger picture of priorities… How one spends one’s days is how when spends one’s life… I have no idea who said that, but somebody did before I did. Lol.
I like your thinking, Katherine. And again, I truly enjoyed your response to me. I was just so taken with the "timing" of it all, so I had to speak up. Looks like we're all connected in this: Epictetus and Aldous and David . . and Katherine and Marcia. Nice!
Marcia, one of my best friends is Marcia (56 years so far… I just did the math, and you could knock me over with a feather) — your response means a lot. Thank you. Timing, synchronicity… I maintain miracles come in all shapes and sizes and are best left unmeasured because what seems tiny can, in the end, have huge consequences whereas something that seems huge at the time can, in the end, be inconsequential. We’re on the ground and just don’t have the long range perspective or the birds’ eye view. My career was in primary grades, mainly, public school teaching, and I loved including instruction on the big ideas… Metacognition… Observing oneself to see how you tackle a task, looking at the big picture of how things work… as our digital devices all communicate through the air, across cyberspace, invisible except for the towers… there is much more in play that we never see, but can be blessed if we are open and paying attention, looking up, inward, down so we don’t trip… Outer space, inner space… It’s bigger than anything we will ever be able to fully know, so just taking in the moment and appreciating is such a beautiful thing. Good morning, Marcia. I fully agree. Very grateful here.
Robert wrote, "The point of the lies is not (only) to injure Trump's enemies, it is to erode trust in the system until there are no guardrails left—hoping to create chaos in which the most depraved believe they have an advantage over those still ruled by conscience, decency, and fealty to the rule of law."
Here we have Putin's long term program of active measures against democracies, particularly with Russian election interference and the psychological warfare of fostering the proliferation of the Big Lie and election denialism. In the face of this, it's easy to feel helpless.
But as Robert frames how Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss heroically stood their ground and the guardrails of democracy held, it brings us to Robert's frequent conclusion--that we have every reason to be hopeful, but not complacent.
And to be inspired to take actions to protect our democracy
Besides eroding trust, the chaos coming from all the lies inspires the belief we are NOT in this together. That these are “every man for himself, dog eat dog” times, and that is normal.
This is just so moving, Robert. I would like to see this as a guest opinion in every US newspaper!
Contrast courage of these two, relatively low paid black women to elite US Congressmen and Senators who were too scared to confront the leader of their party trying to overturn an election and remain too scared today. It’s really quite something.
Send a copy to to your local
Paper
Cathy, you point to yet another phenomenon of the times. I ask frequently, “How is it that so many Congressional members can continue to stand in silence?”
Where are the “profiles of courage” in this most urgent time as our democracy is under assault? The answer, of course, was written by Robert today. I believe there are many more citizens whose voices will be heard in the months ahead.
We shall overcome.
John, what you wrote here also speaks to the fact that, after certain Republican members of Congress pushed against an impeachment inquiry, every one of them still voted in lockstep to start it. Hunter Biden stood out among these lowest of the low by giving that six-minute speech to the public about their depraved hypocrisy and lack of respect for other human beings. I think we’re going to see a sizable number of congressional seats flip to Democratic in 2024 simply because of this outrageous act. Outside of the MAGA cult, people are mighty sick of this nonsense.
Agreed.
I really believe that saving democracy will be done mainly by people, not by politicians. Good leaders will help us but we have to stand together and stand up on our own. Somehow I believe we will.
Great note. Passionate and correct.
Let me add one more thing. Giuliani's claim that one of the women passed cocaine to the other played on American racism. The item being passed turned out to be a "ginger mint." It is terrible when the innocuous moments of our lives are turned into something nefarious.
Racism is the bread and butter of the Trump Administration
And the GOP.'s foundation
Take a good look at all of them and ask yourself honestly if anyone in their right mind could seriously believe in White Supremacy.
Many clear and straightforward statements in this letter, but the most important to my mind is: -"they know that media outlets will dutifully repeat the lies in headlines and news alerts, reserving tepid skepticism for paragraphs buried deep in their coverage." - There are threats and intimidations to journalists too, but that much we must all know as readers.
With all due respect, Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss are not heroes. They are sheroes...now and forevermore!
Have you all seen the Instagram clip of Mitt Romney saying 70 percent of the Republicans still say Trump won the 2020 election and the absurdity of abandoning truth to that degree? Giuliani’s ability to stand in front of a crowd and say he doesn’t regret anything because what he said was true, that what he said Ruby and Shay did was the truth, reflects that capacity for abandoning the truth and persuading others to do the same.
Screw Romney! He didn’t have the guts to say very much until he released his book. Glad he’s retiring.
My comment was not so much about Romney himself as about the link between Giuliani’s capacity to separate from the truth to an absurd degree and the same capacity of 70 percent of Republicans. You may think Romney didn’t speak up enough, but he didn’t self-lobotomize from the truth in this manner on the question on election fraud.
Susan… ‘self-lobotomize’… wowie. That just nails it.
This is true Susan, and I give him a certain amount of credit for two impeachment votes.
Susan, isn’t Giuliani’s performance outside the court house yesterday one of the most evil acts of the Trump era? It is incomprehensible to see such sickening conduct by a man who has allowed himself to be dragged down by the entire enterprise of lies. It is so shamelessly offered by a man who is disgracing himself with every appearance he makes on the public stage.
Let us be thankful indeed for Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss.
Love this: "Every letter, text, door knock, or donation contributes to the tipping point." The perfect lead up to an ask, the perfect way to galvanize volunteers. Elections are binary, progress is cumulative. Running as a Democrat in a red district might mean certain loss but if we think long-term - building the moment of the tipping point - that campaign and the work done in it, is getting us closer to that tipping point.
Really good: "Elections are binary, progress is cumulative."
Speaking of lies and enabling – as you so eloquently have, Rob – and the importance of each action standing up to those lies . . .
I am outraged and disgusted by the Washington Post for one of their top stories (see link below – “biggest Pinocchios 2023). Biden's photo is the largest, front and center, in this story about politicians lying. Its horrendous. They are no different than Republicans impeaching Biden with no evidence. To put forward these unsubstantiated claims of lies in the same universe as what the Republicans are doing is unconscionable. They have passed a line I keep drawing in the shifting sands of irresponsible journalism and I'm cancelling my subscription today. Democracy is definitely dying in the darkness they are creating.
Most of their claims about Biden are not substantiated and so trivial in comparison to trying to end our Democracy, election denying, demolishing our institutions etc etc etc -- all things Republican that we know and endure daily .
For example: And several times when discussing gay issues, he (Biden) offered another implausible tale about words his father supposedly spoke after a teenage Biden saw two well-dressed men in suits kiss each other in downtown Wilmington in the early 1960s. A conversation they — and probably no one else — was privy to, decades ago? Another has to do with denying his son got payments in China. Does it occur to them that Biden might not have known? His adult son has led his own — difficult and substance abuse filled — life, and possibly hasn’t shared everything with his father.
The only substantive issue is his taking credit for reducing the deficit. When we awarded Biden a Bottomless Pinocchio for this statement back in April, we noted that at least 30 times he had falsely taken credit for reducing the budget deficit by $1.7 trillion. Well, that didn’t seem to bother him. . . . The deficit was always expected to fall with the end of the pandemic. But Biden’s policies increased the national debt about $850 billion more than originally projected. So the deficit picture has worsened under Biden, and he’s seizing on a technicality to claim otherwise.
They accuse him of taking credit for the deficit falling at the end of the Pandemic (The deficit was always expected to fall with the end of the pandemic.) Whether or not everyone always expected that (really??), the press is quick to blame Biden for everything that happens during his presidency, no matter the antecedents and/or whether it’s in his control. This is yet another example of how they almost never give him credit, but are eager to blame him and find fault.
While I’m outraged, I won’t give up. I will continue to work as hard as possible for victory in 2024I and as part of what I do, redouble my letter writing to mainstream media. Our “free” press is a huge and debilitating part of the problem we face. Along with the “justice delayed is justice denied” issue, it’s more vexing and likely more costly than returning Dems to the trifecta — House, Senate and Presidency -- through the ballot box. Please all – consider writing -- or increasing your writing -- letters to the editor, to the authors of outrageous articles like this and bring these betrayals to the attention of others.
.https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/12/15/biggest-pinocchios-2023/
Thanks for writing this. My second story for this newsletter was going to be the Post's disgraceful story you describe. But when I was done with Freeman and Moss, it did not seem appropriate to add another so story. So, thank you!! and Well said!
Thanks for your comments. This was a long post and I hesitate to post again but . . . when I copied the post to comments, the italics (which made clear the quotes from WaPo) disappeared! Makes it confusing. So, I've added the quote marks since italics don't seen to work. Sorry for the confusion and thanks all for putting up with a long post.
Speaking of lies and enabling – as you so eloquently have, Rob – and the importance of each action standing up to those lies . . .
I am outraged and disgusted by the Washington Post for one of their top stories (see link below – “biggest Pinocchios 2023). Biden's photo is the largest, front and center, in this story about politicians lying. Its horrendous. They are no different than Republicans impeaching Biden with no evidence. To put forward these unsubstantiated claims of lies in the same universe as what the Republicans are doing is unconscionable. They have passed a line I keep drawing in the shifting sands of irresponsible journalism and I'm cancelling my subscription today. Democracy is definitely dying in the darkness they are creating.
Most of their claims about Biden are not substantiated and so trivial in comparison to trying to end our Democracy, election denying, demolishing our institutions etc etc etc -- all things Republican that we know and endure daily .
For example:
"And several times when discussing gay issues, he (Biden) offered another implausible tale about words his father supposedly spoke after a teenage Biden saw two well-dressed men in suits kiss each other in downtown Wilmington in the early 1960s."
A conversation they — and probably no one else — was privy to, decades ago?
Another has to do with denying his son got payments in China. Does it occur to them that Biden might not have known? His adult son has led his own — difficult and substance abuse filled — life, and possibly hasn’t shared everything with his father.
The only substantive issue is his taking credit for reducing the deficit.
"When we awarded Biden a Bottomless Pinocchio for this statement back in April, we noted that at least 30 times he had falsely taken credit for reducing the budget deficit by $1.7 trillion. Well, that didn’t seem to bother him. . . . The deficit was always expected to fall with the end of the pandemic. But Biden’s policies increased the national debt about $850 billion more than originally projected. So the deficit picture has worsened under Biden, and he’s seizing on a technicality to claim otherwise."
They accuse him of taking credit for the deficit falling at the end of the Pandemic (The deficit was always expected to fall with the end of the pandemic.) Whether or not everyone always expected that (really??), the press is quick to blame Biden for everything that happens during his presidency, no matter the antecedents and/or whether it’s in his control. This is yet another example of how they almost never give him credit, but are eager to blame him and find fault.
While I’m outraged, I won’t give up. I will continue to work as hard as possible for victory in 2024I and as part of what I do, redouble my letter writing to mainstream media. Our “free” press is a huge and debilitating part of the problem we face. Along with the “justice delayed is justice denied” issue, it’s more vexing and likely more costly than returning Dems to the trifecta — House, Senate and Presidency -- through the ballot box. Please all – consider writing -- or increasing your writing -- letters to the editor, to the authors of outrageous articles like this and bring these betrayals to the attention of others.
Based on your account, I don’t feel any need to follow the link you offered. Instead, I am affirmed in my continuing reluctance to take the WaPo bait to subscribe.
Thanks for sharing your insights. Congratulations for canceling your subscription.
Thank you for that encouragement to write to editors. You just pushed me forward 🙏
I'm in tears. Indeed. I hope that Ruby Freeman and Shay Moss see what you've written. While I'm sure winning the suit is its own celebration (how much money will they actually see?) your written homage to them is beautiful.
Thanks for this beautiful, powerful tribute to those two women. Two black women carrying on the tradition of “ain’t gonna let nobody turn me round.”
We must hope that the psychic compensation afforded to Freeman and Moss by your comments, the jury's verdict and the support of Americans who understand and appreciate what they did will sustain them through the aftermath of the decision and allow them some semblance of a peaceful life. They are owed much more than that and whatever pittance they end up with from the bankrupt former "America's Mayor" won't begin to repay the debt.
On a separate note, virtually every jurisdiction in the country needs election workers at every election. The pay isn't much, the hours are long and often boring, but the experience of working with other people of both parties to a common end of preserving our democratic system at the most basic level is well worth it. It also makes it very clear just how ridiculous the notion of stealing an election is.
Precisely why I work elections in my county 🤗
Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss are very strong. We have to remember the context of women's lives now, because they have so much to do and yet have this strength. They stopped it from being put on young people's lives too.
Short, sweet, and to the point, Robert! Have a good weekend.
Thank you for sharing your perspectives with such eloquence.