#BoycottHamilton ? Really?
In my US History class, we’ve been studying the foundations of America and the first peaceful transfer of power between two opposing parties. John Adams, a Federalist, left office to make room for Thomas Jefferson, a Democratic-Republican. It became the foundation for the future transitions that would allow the democracy of the United States to endure.
Now, I don’t think I have to tell you that this election has been anything but peaceful.
I ask you, for a moment, forget who you supported in the election. Forget the hateful words, forget the drama, forget the chaos that has been the popular state of our nation since November 8th. Whether or not you agree, it is a fact that many Americans are scared by the outcome of the election.
Vice President-elect Mike Pence was in the audience of the musical, Hamilton, on November 18th. When he arrived at the theater he was booed and at the end of the performance, as he was leaving, the cast had a message for him. He stopped and listened. They declared that they were members of the America who is so fearful of the new administration, and stated that they hoped their show had inspired him to work on behalf of all Americans and to uphold the values that we, as Americans, must all hold so dear.
The backlash they have received blows my mind. Not only did Donald Trump tweet that the future vice president had been harassed and call for an apology, but #BoycottHamilton is currently trending number one on Twitter.
Are we serious? Are we, as a nation, serious? The speech given at Hamilton was a cast exercising its right to free speech. They wanted to make their voices heard so that the future vice president would take notice and make changes.
What is wrong with that? They could have been hateful, but they were not. They could have yelled at him, but they did not. They stated their beliefs and their hopes for the future.
The election is over. Whether you like it or not, we can’t change who won.
But here’s a heads up. To all you #NotMyPresident people, who are praying that Trump fails so that they can prove they were “right,” you’re praying for all your fears to come true. Wanting Trump to fail means that you want the racism, xenophobia, and sexism that you see as an issue to continue, because if Trump fails as president then that is what will have happened. Why? Why would you want that?
We are America. We are the people who must stand together and love each other whether we like the person who won the election or not. Such is democracy.� Tom Hannah says that “tolerance and celebration of individual differences is the fire that fuels lasting love.” There is no point in hatred, and there is no point in wanting the new president to fail.
Hamilton’s cast urged their audience that it was not a time for booing, and America should heed their pleas as well. This is not a time for booing. This is a time for love and acceptance, and it's our time.
