You'd have to be living under a boulder the size of Mount Everest to not have heard the epic tale of how VP-elect Mike Pence got a talking to over the weekend. Except here's the thing--he didn't really get a "talking to." Per http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/hamilton-broadway-cast-addresses-mike-pence-audience-work-behalf-all-us-949075, the cast of Hamilton spoke thus:
"We are the diverse America who are alarmed and anxious that your new administration will not protect us, our planet, our children, our parents or defend us and uphold our inalienable rights, sir. But we truly hope this show has inspired you to uphold our American values."
Okay, I'm going to tackle the quote above from an editor's perspective. (Not a woman whose rights are called into question by a lot of what our newly elected leaders stand for. Not someone whose friends herald from a racially, ethnically, and sexually diverse population that is sincerely worried about what their future in this country looks like. Not a mother who has to explain all of these dilemmas to her children while reinforcing that America is built on kindness and compassion. Just an average "did you dot your Is and cross your Ts" editor.)
1) The words "alarmed" and "anxious" do not equal "angry" and "determined to bring you down." You feel alarmed and anxious when your kid is sick--when someone or something you LOVE is seemingly jeopardized.
2) The words "protect" and "defend" (or derivatives thereof) are often heard in the context of a plea. Or in a statement involving patriotic pride. For example, "I am honored to have a father who earned a Purple Heart protecting and defending our nation."
3) The word "sir"--it's not a four- or five-letter word, people. It connotes respect and the notion of one proud American addressing another.
4) The words "hope," "inspired," and "values" . . . need I go there? They are not typically words used to levy an insult or wound the hearer. On the contrary, they're frequently connected to a pretty basic concept--KINDNESS.
Now, let me take off my editor hat and play Mommy for a minute. A lot of critics of the Hamilton cast are decrying that they addressed him in front of his kids. Hmm. As a mom, I personally am pretty damn grateful when my progeny get to see a respectful attitude and powerful advocacy in action. And, if the cast had heckled Mr. Pence or slung insults at him or belittled him in any capacity, you wouldn't be reading this post.
You see, the folks behind Hamilton pulled off something pretty brilliant last week. Yeah, they made a statement, but they did it how it's supposed to be done. Without polling the cast, I'm guessing some of them might fall into one or more of the groups of people who, based on recent events, HAVE been heckled. Who HAVE been insulted and bullied in the wake of the election. Still, they didn't run with Hammurabi's old adage, "An eye for an eye." Instead, their words and actions were more reflective of another famous slogan. Does that "Do unto others" quote ring a bell?
The thing about kindness is that it doesn't have to be a form of retreat. Kindness comes in many forms, and we're capable of displaying it to our friends and our enemies and everyone in between. Kindness is about what we say, but it's also about how we say it. It's the grace we demonstrate as we push for and support the ideals that matter to us. As Americans . . . and, more basically, as human beings. In my book, the Hamilton cast got it right this weekend. I hope--as I'm sure they do--that what they said and how they said it helps Mr. Pence get it right, too.
No comments:
Post a Comment