I love musicals. Hence, Elphaba: the symbol of this blog, NEUROSPICY AND FLYING. Hamilton the Musical was tough to follow at first because, unlike many of the kids who had memorized the lyrics before they had seen the show, I had no idea what the musical was about.
But now I understand more than ever the significance of Hamilton’s contribution to history. I thank Lin-Manuel Miranda for reminding me of what I learned about U.S. History in high school, but at an age when the importance of it could finally make sense. The year was 2016 when I saw Hamilton the Musical, based on the biography Alexander Hamilton. The famous line from the show was often repeated was “immigrants–they get the job done.” We most certainly do.
Today is an important day, too. January 24, 2026. Let’s remember this day. Yes, lots of innocent blood has been shed before today because of all of those supposed “illegal immigrants.” But if you have made excuses before today, it’s time to face the truth of what is happening. It’s time to find out if it is possible to learn from history and steer it in a different direction.
Or is history like trauma? Violence passed down from generation after generation. Never metabolized, never processed, and therefore re-enacted over and over again. Just like I argued in a post from Normal in Training, quoting from Winston Churchill: those that fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.
Not on my watch, is all I have to say. And not on Alexander’s Hamilton’s watch, either. For a long time, I argued that Hamilton was bipolar. Definitely possible. But after reading Divergent Mind, I know for sure that he was neurospicy and brilliant.
In the song Non-Stop, Aaron Burr asks why Hamilton writes like he’s running out of time. Apparently, Hamilton was the only one who understood how fleeting a victory for freedom can be if you don’t protect it with something like, say, the Constitution. It seems that people still have the same problem today. So Hamilton was writing like he was running out of time to save our newly formed United States of America.
This year marks the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. I know because I am a part of a documentary that features people who show what the producer believes are true American values. I am featured because of my first blog, Normal in Training. Show the world who you really are by being authentic, vulnerable, and compassionate, and the world will thank you for it. Or at least the small part of the world that you have carved out so that you can be safe.
I realize that Iately I have been writing like I’m running out of time, because I fear that we are running out of time. And it is concerning to some people who care about me. But perhaps I am like Hamilton, because I understand the fragility of freedom. Maybe we won’t make it to our 250th birthday after all.
But I’m sure as hell going to try. And if that makes me crazy, so be it. I’m crazy.
I have avoided speaking about politics directly in my blogs, but no more. As a daughter of Asian immigrant parents who came to the U.S. traumatized, marginalized, and yet somehow successful enough to give their children a chance to succeed, as well, I owe it to them to stand up. To speak out. To step out of my comfort zone. To do the right thing.
No more silence. Speak the truth with me. Act like you’re running out of time and do something. Whatever it is you can summon the courage to do. And like Hamilton said, I’ll see you on the other side.
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