There is little reason to be overly optimistic. Little reason to expect a contentious presidential campaign or worries about an uncertain world to suddenly dissipate.
But, as Americans pause today to celebrate the Fourth of July, it seems an appropriate time to remember what unites us. To focus upon the grand experiment that is the United States. To embrace a nation that began with the seed of a desire for freedom and grew to become the most powerful on earth.
The holiday, of course, commemorates the American colonies’ declaration of freedom from the British government. The Second Continental Congress had voted on July 2 to assert its independence, leading John Adams to write to his wife: “The Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.”
Missed it by that much. Two days, to be exact. Because the pomp, parade, and illuminations came to take place each July 4, celebrating the day the Second Continental Congress signed the Declaration of Independence penned by Thomas Jefferson.
That was 240 years ago today, and while this nation has experienced times of strife and times of triumph in the intervening years, the ideals expressed at its formation remain powerful and sturdy. There is the notion of “Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness,” perhaps the most eloquent seven-word phrase in the English language. There is “we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor,” a powerful closing testimony. And there is, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal” — although we appreciate the idea expressed by the Angelica Schuyler character in “Hamilton: An American Musical” when she adds, “And when I meet Thomas Jefferson, I’m ‘a compel him to include women in the sequel.”
While July 4, 1776, serves as a touchstone to the United States’ history and a beacon of the promise that rests ahead, what often goes neglected is the fact that it was followed by five years of warfare before independence was secured. It was followed by blood and toil before the memorable Epocha (we’re not sure what that means either, but we’ll defer to John Adams) could come to fruition.
Many people these days question whether this nation and her people retain the kind of resolve that pays appropriate homage to the Founding Fathers. The focus, all too often, is upon what separates us rather than those traits that bring us together.
Yet we retain great faith in the ideals of the United States and the resolve of her people. The fact is that we pledge allegiance to the same flag (yes, most school kids still say the Pledge of Allegiance). We remain one nation, indivisible, even as we allow room for disagreement. And we recognize that a willingness to embrace those disagreements makes us stronger as a nation.
Because of that, the United States will endure and thrive. Sure, you can find critics from both ends of the political spectrum who insist that one candidate or another will destroy America. But we think this nation is a little stronger than that, a fact that makes today worthy of celebration.
