They could have made their point and actually helped unify the country.
But no, the cast of “Hamilton” had to demonstrate they were self-centered left-wingers without courtesy or discretion when they stepped forward after a Friday night performance to have one of their number directly address Vice-President Elect Mike Pence, who had attended the show.
It was ironic that Brandon Victor Dixon, the actor portraying Vice President Aaron Burr, who killed Alexander Hamilton in a duel, delivered the rebuke. Burr was later suspected of having conspired to traitorously divide the western states and territories from the nascent United States.
“We, sir,” Mr. Dixon said, “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. We truly hope that this show has inspired you to uphold our American values and to work on behalf of all of us.”
It is a measure of Mike Pence’s basic decency that after being booed by a few self-righteous New Yorkers in the audience, who probably don’t know anyone who voted for Trump except maybe their doorman, that Mr. Pence stayed, patiently listened to Mr. Dixon’s supercilious lecture, and then gently took his leave.
Imagine if Mr. Dixon has not displayed such anger at the election but instead found just a few ounces of grace and delivered something along these lines. “We, sir, are the part of the diverse nation that is America. With the election now past, we all hope for your administration’s success in defending our planet, our children, and the inalienable rights of every American. We are grateful you came and hope this show inspires you as you work on behalf of all the people of our common country.”
Mr. Dixon would have made his point but without being condescending or rude. It is a measure of Mike Pence’s basic decency that after being booed by a few self-righteous New Yorkers in the audience, who probably don’t know anyone who voted for Trump except maybe their doorman, that Mr. Pence stayed, patiently listened to Mr. Dixon’s supercilious lecture, and then gently took his leave.
It would have been so easy for Mr. Dixon to have made his point and helped the country heal while doing so. So easy, but apparently that was not the actor’s purpose. Shame.