Copyright Anchorage Daily News
America is a nation I have many mixed feelings about. Currently, I take issue with our administration and find it hard to feel hopeful for our future. I am ashamed, scared and frustrated. More than frustrated, I am furious with the bastardization of the Constitution and the American Dream. This is not what our nation should or could be. But I find comfort in what I know: music. The symphony of America. A powerful metaphor that I believe perfectly encapsulates a powerful nation. Growing up, my favorite part of church was when the choir would sing. I would close my eyes and just ... listen. And every once in a while, the harmonies would blend just so; tempos would pull me in, and crescendos would culminate in a sound so powerful that it moved the congregation to stand and applaud. Thus, when I think of America and I feel ashamed, scared, frustrated and furious, I remember the symphony. In music, there’s this thing called dissonance. Dissonance occurs when two notes played together sound bad. They don’t harmonize. They fundamentally disagree. And yet, composers have found ways to use dissonance to their advantage, creating unique and beautiful works of art that would otherwise be impossible. In America, there’s this thing called dissent. Dissent is, as defined by Oxford, “the holding or expression of opinions at variance with those commonly or officially held.” In other words, to fundamentally disagree. Time and time again in our history, we see examples of dissent, where one voice is dissonant with an otherwise perfect harmony. And that is just one aspect of our sweet symphony that gives me hope. We have the right to be dissonant — to disagree with what others say, no matter their standing or power. And in that same vein, the symphony of America is a collaboration including all Americans. What makes a symphony worthwhile is the diversity of instruments — a diversity America has in great abundance. Each American’s contribution to the music is invaluable. Without every individual and their personality, culture, passions, lived experience and beliefs, this great nation could not exist as we see it today. The symphony would be nothing short of lackluster. But thank God, America is not known to be lackluster. [Opinion: The moral costs of cheap labels] In my choir class, my teacher hounds us to give each song our all — to find the passion and purpose in the song and sing it with our full chest. In the symphony that is America, passion and purpose are pursued to the highest degree. Harmonies form, the tempo becomes too strong to ignore, and before we know what has happened, a crescendo culminates in a sound so profound we have no choice but to stand and applaud. In other words, dissenting opinions form, the drive for change becomes too strong to ignore, and before we know what has happened, the combined power of our voices culminates in a change so profound we have no choice but to stand and applaud. We have seen it before, we are seeing it now, and we will see it again. To those with mixed feelings regarding America, I say this: Do not lose hope. The symphony of America, despite its many shortcomings, is still beautiful. It is so beautiful. It is worth protecting. It is worth saving. It is worth loving. So when you feel ashamed, scared, frustrated and furious, close your eyes and listen to the harmonies, tempos and crescendos. Listen for the America you know can exist, and then play your hardest to incite the standing ovation we deserve. Hilary Hanson is a senior at South Anchorage High School.
