Standing Tall Together

There is a line from the hit musical, Hamilton, in which the opinionated Alexander Hamilton says to the obfuscating Aaron Burr: “If you stand for nothing, Burr, what will you fall for?”

It is a profound question, one which compels us to explore our beliefs, morals, convictions, and affiliations. It probes our intentions and incites us into action. More importantly, it inspires us to stand strong in a tide as opposed to being swept up in one.

It is a thinking question and it cannot be answered quickly. Or lightly. What do you stand for? The words are important. Life-altering.

What. Do. YOU. Stand. For?

Amid this current political atmosphere, I return to this question again and again, not only asking it of myself, but expecting others to ask it of themselves. And this is where it gets tricky because while I know my thoughts and beliefs, you must TELL me yours, which means I have to be able to trust that what you say—your WORDS—are reflective of YOUR beliefs, morals, convictions and affiliations. Not anyone else’s. YOURS.

And the question does not leave room for obfuscating. To answer honestly and with conviction, one must have a voice that is not simply an echo of what is being said by others. 

What do you stand for? It is a specific question that demands a specific answer; the weight of it pins one down, and to squirm, dodge, or even deflect the question is very revealing.

Conversely, one can broaden the question’s scope to ask this: If you stand for EVERYTHING, then what will you fight for? This, too, is telling. If one believes all things, panders to all people, and tries to be something for everyone … then what does that person ACTUALLY believe?

I think a person who is vague about what he believes is equally as dangerous as someone who believes in everything. Both go wherever the wind takes them. It is only when you have both ends of the equation—knowing where a person stands and knowing where you stand—that you can decide. After that, it takes courage to take a step forward, or honesty if you need to step back and reevaluate.

Politics today may not be any better than they were in Hamilton’s time, but we can glean some lessons. In the election of 1800 Hamilton had to decide whether to endorse Thomas Jefferson (a person he never once agreed with) or Aaron Burr (his political adversary). In the end, Hamilton chose Jefferson, simply because Jefferson had beliefs whereas Burr had none.

What do you stand for?

Ask yourself the question. Delve deep for an answer. And then proceed with strength, conviction, and most of all, understanding of others who are trying to figure this out too.