Hamilton taught a good lesson of being willing to set aside personal preferences for the better good

This last weekend Cathy and I had the opportunity to see the Broadway play “Hamilton” at the Morrison Center in Boise.  We had seen the play on TV through a streaming service, but also wanted to see it live.  
 There are two aspects that really make this play remarkable – the actual history of Alexander Hamilton’s story and then how well the play captured both the detail and essence of the story in a moving way. I had read Ron Chernow’s “Alexander Hamilton”, the basis of the play, before I had ever heard much about the play, which helped me appreciate the production even more.   
 Hamilton’s story is amazing. In a nutshell, Alexander was born on a tiny Caribbean backwater island to a mother who was not married to his father, who later abandoned his mother and him. His mother died when he was still a child. Schooling opportunities were limited and now immaterial, so, he went to work.  
 By the age of 14 he was managing an import/export business. To do so, he had to know and use the relative values of the five different currencies used in the Caribbean and understand and speak about the same number of languages. While still a teenager, due in large part to a hurricane on the island, he went to New York to study.
 While in New York, Alexander was caught up in the revolutionary spirit of the time, writing convincing articles and speaking in public about the need to stand up to the British.  
 He wanted to be a soldier and then make his mark as a leader of troops. Instead, George Washington recognized this 19-year-old’s talents and made Alexander his assistant.  
 Soon, Hamilton was composing Washington’s letters, petitioning the Continental Congress, and essentially being Washington’s stand-in on administrative matters. Later, at Yorktown, he was able to lead troops in battle and performed heroically.  
 After the war, Hamilton began practicing law, became a member of the Constitutional Convention, authored most of the Federalist Papers to promote the passage of the Constitution, became the nation’s first Secretary of the Treasury, lobbied Congress to establish a pair of central banks, convinced the various States to consolidate their war debts, and thereby put the new nation on a solid financial footing.
 Hamilton’s story is one that if an author tried to make it up, would sound about as credible as “Gulliver’s Travels.” 
 There is more, but I will let you find it out by going to the Weiser Public Library and checking out Ron Chernow’s “Alexander Hamilton.” It is well worth the time to read about this incredible and underappreciated Founding Father.
 I love to read in-depth accounts of how our nation started. When you dive into the history and realize the obstacles that had to be overcome, the risks that were taken, and the fact that the Founding Fathers were creating not only a new nation, but a new system of government, it is fascinating and inspiring.  
 To me, what seems to have made it work, was their knowledge of governmental systems throughout history as well as their knowledge of human nature. They listened to each other and were therefore able to work through various beliefs to a system that would work for all.  
 Hamilton in the Continental Convention had proposed an entirely different governmental system, but he became one of the champions for the passage of the Constitution. Compromise and willingness to set aside personal preferences for the greater good, was key to forming the United States and is still essential at all levels of our government. I’m just thankful for those who came before us.
 Moving on to City news this week, since Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve falls on a Friday this year, the garbage that is normally picked up on Fridays will be picked up on Thursday Dec. 23 and Dec. 30.
 The leaf pickup continues. Most of Weiser, west of State Street has now been picked up and collection on the east side will begin. Next year, the east side will be picked up first. The starting side rotates every year.
 Well, that’s it for this week. My hope is for you to have a very Merry and bright Christmas Season! See you next week.  
 

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