Lessons from 2024: You might as well be yourself

Maya Angelou said, “When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time.” But what if someone doesn’t show you their true selves? Or they turn out to be different from what they claim to be? The media outlets who declared themselves defenders of the truth became purveyors of disinformation. Media personalities who attacked Trump every morning for months were the first to go to Mar A Lago to kiss the ring (and I don’t mean the one on the finger). Full-chested defenses of democracy turned into cowardly silence in the face of oligarchy.

I admit my first reaction to the election was also retreat. As time has gone on, I came to a realization: I might as well be myself.

The worst people in the world — the hateful, the greedy, the cruel — have no problem showing who they are. They elected people who gave them freedom to be their most awful selves. But those of us who are humane, we always feel like we must hide away. We bought into the belief that compassion is a weakness, courtesy is effete, and kindness makes us an easy target. It’s easier to fall into the nasty zeitgeist. If they curse at you, you curse them back.

It’s more revolutionary to stay true to who you are. Remain as decent as you’ve always been. Continue to express the views you’ve always had, even if you need to be more careful of how you…