Heros and Monsters of 2022

Happy New Year, 2023!

The past year has seen a number of heroes, anti-heroes, villains, and outright monsters in the news. While I have not been updating this blog to discuss these heroes, I’m still posting frequently at:

Maefood.blogspot.com

Michigan Local Hero

Gretchen Whitmer, Governor of Michigan.

Two retiring heroes, may we long remember them:

Nancy Pelosi and Anthony Fauci

From the Washington Post:

"Dr. Fauci turned into the country’s family doctor, capable of convincing any given president of the correct course of action and then selling the nation on the president’s decision: on AIDS, on bioterrorism, on Ebola and, finally, on covid-19."

From the NY Times:

"In her two decades leading House Democrats, Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California has been one of the most powerful and iconic women in Washington. When she was sworn in as speaker in 2007, surrounded by the children of members of Congress, she became the first woman to serve in that post. And over the years, Ms. Pelosi was often photographed as the lone woman in rooms full of men, even after the ranks of Congress became more diverse." 

Hero of the year: Volodymyr Zelensky: May he be victorious in 2023

Monsters and Villains

A quote from Robert Reich:

“Trump, Bankman-Fried and Musk are the monsters of American capitalism – as much products of this public-be-damned era as they are contributors to it. For them, and for everyone who still regards them as heroes, there is no morality in business or economics. The winnings go to the most ruthless. Principles are for sissies.

“But absent any moral code, greed is a public danger. Its poison cannot be contained by laws or accepted norms.” (source)

If only we would be allowed to forget our most terrible and persistent villain whose latest stunts include increased support of antisemites and continuing racism.

"Will Trump finally be held accountable?" By Ann Telnaes, Washington Post, December 19, 2022.

And one accidental martyr who behaved heroically:

Brittney Griner, held hostage for months by the evil Russians.

Blog post © 2022 mae sander.

This Year’s Hero

Volodymyr Zelenskiy (born January 25, 1978) is obviously the principal hero of the civilized world this year. As shown in this current photo, he has acted as a military leader, a diplomat, a political leader, and a hero of his own country in the face of months of invasion of Ukraine. The Guardian article: “Ukraine president urges world not to give in to Russia’s ‘nuclear blackmail’ during Australian address" from October 6 describes this recent event:

Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, has urged world leaders not to give in to Russia’s “nuclear blackmail” and has appealed to Australia for help in a critical UN vote next week.

Addressing the Sydney-based Lowy Institute by video link on Thursday evening, Zelenskiy revealed Australia was offering heavy arms to Ukraine in its next package of military support to defend against Russia’s invasion.

The UN general assembly will consider a resolution condemning Russia’s purported annexation of four partly occupied Ukrainian regions, but Russian officials are lobbying for a secret vote so countries don’t have to make their positions public.

Although I have generally stopped writing articles about Jewish heroes in our time, I felt that it was time to include this new one, whose actions have been more and more heroic in his country’s struggle for existence against a more and more outlaw enemy led by the deranged Putin. In view of the threats of nuclear war, we all need Zelenskiy to succeed!