In my first post, I shared that I went through a season of disconnect and that it was evident in my passion for music. I retreated into a land of acoustic covers, 90s music, and a place where there was a lot of Everclear and Weezer. I couldn’t connect to new music. So it was like I was trying this nostalgic route back to my love of music. But in reflection it was much more like a detour.

And then one day, I watched this show about a Broadway musical taking over the world with its innovative storytelling through hip hop. And the story was about our Founding Fathers, our revolution, our constitution….I love our constitution! I love hip hop! I love our founding fathers! . . .So I looked it up on Spotify to listen to as I plugged away at work.

And just to be clear, I have never been someone who listens to Broadway tunes or musicals outside of a theatre. I think it’s a little weird. It feels like you need the visual, right? But then Hamilton, blew my mind. (The video below is long, but worth it.)

It wasn’t just the songs, the lyrics – it was the heart of the revolution, the heart of men and women who truly loved our nation and the cause of freedom. Despite some differences on how to govern – there were common grounds about basic God-given freedoms and the love of our country.  The choice of having minorities cast in the show is simply genius in making this story assessable to others who likely haven’t connected to the stories of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams or Hamilton for that matter. And I love how it shows how these figures were not free from struggle or scandal, and that they were also more than their historical narratives that we often reduce to a sentence or two; or worse an option on a multiple choice quiz. They were courageous, dynamic, and represented the best of us in their day -and in their leadership. Hamilton himself overcame so much to be a military leader, an influential writer, and politician – but he was also human and flawed. And for so many, he was just that guy who did something with the bank system and got shot by Aaron Burr. (And most of us only know that second fact because of a milk commercial.) Hamilton’s success has opened many eyes to seeing that history is full and rich of much more than these reduced narratives.

And through Hamilton – the musical, we’re invited to just get back to this place where we honor this amazing thing that happened – when men (and this led the ground work to eventually all men and women) not of royal blood establish their freedom, their equality against years of aristocracy, and this ground breaking new form of government changed everything – and the ‘world turned upside down.’

Confession time: I love the American Revolution. I’m nerdy.  I love our Constitution. Our nation’s birth is my favorite time in all of U.S. History. The best underdog story every told. I maybe had forgotten that a little. In fact, I cried while listening to “Yorktown”, thinking about the men and women who led our Revolution  because I felt a different kind of revolution happening in me. It started to feel connected to my identity as a history geek, connected to music again. But more than that, I was renewed in my desire to honor those who led, those who debated and fought endlessly over the writing of our Declaration, our Constitution, who died fighting whether in 1776 or just yesterday fighting in our own war torn world.

I listened to Hamilton every day. All day. For weeks. Ok… months. And found myself emotional at new songs and getting pumped about the election (this was during the primaries.)

I tried to engage back into politics during the primary. I even changed my party from independent because I was excited about one of the candidates. And then the world starting turning upside down, but in the worst way possible. And now it feels like the election is being held hostage, stolen from us. Tensions are high. Relationships are on the rocks. Civil discourse, with robust debates seem to be replaced with zinging tweets and distasteful memes (both sides guilty.)

Isn’t it sad that I think most people, regardless of political beliefs, deep down feel the same way too. Like on election day, many will vote for one of the two major candidates but feel a little dirty about it afterwards. Sidenote – friends: stop shaming people who vote for a third party or plan to write in. Your vote is your voice, and each of us has to look at ourselves in the mirror the next day. Some are enthused about their candidates and the mirror will not disturb them one bit. However, it seems most will be voting for who they believe will do the least harm and there are varying degress of how those folks come to terms with their choice . . . But what about the rest? Maybe others feel like the election is already lost, the ‘least harm’ isn’t clear and at least they can do the one thing by voting their conscience, the one thing with their voice.

Now to people who are thinking they might not show up…STOP IT, snap out of it, SHOW UP. Even if you write a candidate in or scribble “None of the above”, studies will poor in on what people do this year! AND it will influence the next election. If you feel lost in this election and don’t even show up, history won’t know if you just didn’t care, were lazy, or checked out. At least a write in or 3rd party vote communicates something.

The sad reality for me is that in a year when my passions of music, history, politics were renewed and rediscovered – this election day will be a somber one for me.

Where is today’s Thomas Jefferson? Madison? Adams? Where are the George Washingtons? The leader, who never really wanted to be a President, but felt it was his duty. A President who showed restraint and discernment. (I always liked Washington’s years as President. His policy of neutrality, his willingness to hand over power and not run though he could have easily won.)

I pray that this election, this next President (and no matter the choice, its bound to be a bumpy four years), will inspire those of character, wisdom, discernment to rise up, lead. Please. History has it’s eyes on you – and our nation was built with the hands of people who simply were scrappy, resourceful, and felt that they couldn’t ignore the need. I pray that I can find the way that I can fulfill that duty too.

PS I’m really disappointed that my Hamilton blog took such a somber turn. What you need to know, is that it’s the most amazing, innovative, musical creation in my lifetime. (Pause…whoa….That feels like a big statement, but YEA. I’m going to stand by that.) I mean, have you ever listened to a hip-hop history album day in, day out for months and not get sick of it? I’m completely surprised by it too – but it’s brilliant, fun, funny, sad, powerful, moving. So if you haven’t listened – GO NOW. No, seriously, now. Don’t ‘wait for it’. (See…I ended on a pun. Cheer up!)