He can’t take it away.
He can try to erase history, but we will remember. He can try to discourage us, but we will persevere. He will try to be all-powerful, but we will dissent. He can try to silence us, but we will talk. We will write songs and stories in which he will not be the hero. The stories will be of the dystopian leader who tried to change the past and own the future, but he will forever be remembered as foolish, cruel, and greedy. The heroes will be those who refused to follow, who shouted and fought. The heroes will be the ones who have empathy because isn’t that really the big difference? Empathy.
And when it all turns back around, and eventually it will, those with empathy will show it, even for those who worked for or allowed the dismantling of all that is good in this country. To their surprise, they, too, will suffer.
There is a richness to loving and caring for others. Empathy feels good. We are all still loving each other here in Whoville because that is something he can’t take away.