Trump Said Pence Was Harassed At The Theater. This Hamilton Actor’s Response Is So Classy
Last night, Vice-presidential nominee Mike Pence attended a production of Hamilton, the hit musical about Alexander Hamilton and the birth of the American nation. The story of how our nation was forged in blood and steel against an oppressive tyrant and the values that shaped the revolution, Pence’s attendance made the show’s message even more poignant.
The cast of the show directly called out Pence at the end of the show, imploring the anti-choice and anti-LGBT religious extremist to uphold American values of tolerance and diversity in his office. “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. We hope this show has inspired you to uphold our American values and work on behalf of all of us.”
Donald Trump, of course, is incapable of ignoring the most insignificant of perceived slights, and tweeted an angry tantrum at the Hamilton actors, saying that the theater must be a “safe space” and that the actors should apologize. Mr. Dixon, who plays the role of Aaron Burr in the theater, responded in the most classy manner possible.
@realDonaldTrump conversation is not harassment sir. And I appreciate @mike_pence for stopping to listen.
— Brandon Victor Dixon (@BrandonVDixon) November 19, 2016
Trump has a lot to learn. Making polite and peaceful appeals to whatever shred of humanity remains in the black and tainted soul of Mike Pence is not harassment; that’s how discourse and debate occur in polite society.
The four hundred-plus racially motivated attacks by your supporters – attacks that you will not condemn – is harassment and worse. The atmosphere of fear that you are cultivating by hiring white supremacists to your cabinet is harassment. Your plans to accelerate the registration and surveillance of Muslim-Americans is worse than harassment.
Please take the message of Hamilton to heart and remember what this country really represents.
