Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the president of Ukraine, has one unmistakable quality: courage despite his flaws and hubris.
That became clear during a memorable incident more than three years ago when Russia invaded Ukraine.
A pincer-like column of Russian tanks and other armored vehicles had crossed the border in a foreboding, never-ending pattern.
Destruction seemed in imminent danger in the halting presence of such a terrifying display of overwhelming force.
Kyiv appeared to be on the verge of collapse. As a lethal exclamation point, Zelenskyy and company would be detained or killed while Vladimir Putin, the puppet government, was installed to bow and obedient.
The unlikely wartime leader turned comedian had no flinch. On Ukraine’s holy soil, he stood his ground.
Zelenskyy posted a short , video  on social media that featured him surrounded by a number of solemn-looking officials and cabinet ministers to reassure worried Ukrainians.
He claimed, “The president is here.” “We are all here, protecting] our independence,” the statement read.
As I read accounts from a diverse group of Americans, including artists and academics, leaving their beloved country in the agonizing wake of President Donald Trump’s startling return to the Oval Office, I was reminded of that remarkable scene.
I must make two instructive points before I can move on.
First of all, I don’t mean to say that enlightened Americans who choose to forgo living and working in the United States lack courage by referring to Zelenskyy’s pledge to remain in Ukraine despite the ominous risks.
Not at all.
To stay or to leave, each of us has encountered or will face in the future.
Can be sparked by answering the wry question to make people feel uncertain. Making a choice, regardless of the direction, is a brave decision. The familiar must be replaced by the unknown, in a way that requires resolve.
Second, I have avoided using the word “flee” to explain why some Americans choose to immigrate because of Trump’s egregious tactic. Instead of thoughtful, thoughtful decision-making, “Flee” evokes impulsive panic or self-preservation.
Zelenskyy provides a compelling illustration of why staying is necessary in order to avoid fleeing to Canada or Europe when a bully threatens your values and beliefs: fairness, truth, empathy, tolerance, justice, diversity, and intelligence.
So I ask you to insist like Zelenskyy did, educated Americans: We are all here.
You have a duty and responsibility to defend America’s promise.
You can create an unbreakable, immovable buttress in opposition to Trumpism’s vile rhetoric, defiance of democratic norms, acceptance of authoritarianism, and corrosive division and fear.
Far from the decisive moment of the conflict, this contest is unattainable. It must be fought face-to-face with a steadfast adversary and with other wise Americans who are underprivileged and lacking in the resources that have allowed your exit.
When the opposition retreats, Trumpism thrives. Absence opens the door for extremism to spread even more deeply and widely into America’s already discordant and frail fabric. Trumpists’ desire to overthrow opposition through edicts, threats, and coercion only serve as comfort for those who withdraw.
A country that has been wracked and divided can also be seen as a declaration of defeat by a departed nation as a concession that there is no way to redeem itself.
Dynamic governance is not self-sustaining; it requires people to continue to fight, especially when necessary. Some enlightened Americans forfeit their ability to influence both the present and the future by leaving the arena.
Standing alongside and against the restless, enlightened Americans confirms that all of its citizens are Americans, not just those who demand the most attention or are loudspeakers.
Trump, who is president, welcomes the idea of despondent Americans relocating to new communities. It’s a source of pride, in my opinion, because it suggests his vindictive agenda is successful.
The exodus of “liberal elites” or “out-of-touch” entertainers, in Trump’s opinion, shows that the old establishment, who never accepted his conceit of America’s “greatness” is losing its authenticity.
Of course, this response is a sign of Trump’s wider political strategy, which is to draw a line between “real” Americans, his supporters, and everyone else.
He promotes the conceited notion that protest is a necessary component of a mature, confident nation by celebrating the phenomenon of Americans parting in protest.
Trump doesn’t care about persuasion or unity. He sees his presidency as a sign of faithfulness because of it. You are encouraged to join the despondent diaspora and, in his jaundiced opinion, good riddance if you don’t worship him.
Americans face an uncomfortable reality: despite their , arguments , and reservations about resettling to avoid the depressing capitulation of major
In the classrooms, on the airwaves, and in town halls, scholars and intellectuals with the will to challenge obstinate power should resurrect.
Even though they are poignant, declarations from abroad can’t substitute for speaking out in person repeatedly to show how much kindness, resiliency, and decency matter.
Few people more than celebrities comprehend the power of spectacle, which is how Trumpism thrives.
Many bidding America adieu did it in self-righteous fashion while armed with a righteous pulpit from foreign shores. Even so, meaningless symbolism is hollow.
Returning means confronting the mess, contradictions, and tarnished ideals of a battered country head-on, which is still worthwhile effort and imagination.
Public figures should use their popular media platforms to galvanise, not just to condemn, but also to acclaim opposition as elitist scorn rather than as a shared obligation. That would stand out more than a blatant opinion piece in the New York Times or a thread of disparaging tweets would ever be able to do.
Zelenskyy is aware that work is always carried out on-site. Returnees can make a real difference in this by acting as like-minded collaborators who do the work without giving a damn about it.
Trumpism may have ascendant status, but it is not unstoppable. It is most concerned about solidarity that transcends class, racial, and background; solidarity that affirms that Donald Trump is not intended to define or disfigure America.
If they return home, the wounded and disillusioned exiles can reclaim their rightful place in that agonizing conflict.
