The date, in truth, is of secondary importance. While the Fourth of July has become ingrained in the American psyche, the ideals it represents are what demand primacy.
After all, the annual celebration acknowledging the United States’ independence could easily have fallen on June 7 — honoring the date in 1776 when Richard Henry Lee introduced in Congress a resolution declaring that the states should be free from British rule. It could have fallen on July 2, the date that resolution was adopted; indeed, Founding Father John Adams believed July 2 would be one for celebrations “from this time forward forever more.” Instead, the date of honor has been July 4, when a draft of the Thomas Jefferson-penned Declaration of Independence was adopted.
Regardless of the date, as the nation celebrates its 241st birthday today, pausing to reflect upon the magnificence of that achievement, it is essential to focus on the meaning behind such a celebration. With civility and unity and foundational institutions under frequent attack, today represents an opportunity to remember what binds us together as Americans.
There is strength to be found in a shared belief that this nation can serve as a noble example for the rest of the world. That it can present its citizens — all citizens — with the opportunity to improve their lot in life. That it can live up to the notion that, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”
Those are among the most famous and most powerful words in the English language, and they tend to overshadow the eloquence of the rest of the Declaration of Independence. The bulk of the document is a list of specific grievances against “the present King of Great Britain,” concluding with an assertion that the colonies are “free and independent states.”
That freedom and independence has cultivated the world’s pre-eminent economic and military force, turning a grand experiment in democracy into a raging success. But with much power comes much responsibility, and that includes a duty for this nation and her people to act in a dignified manner.
The loss of such dignity is among the most disturbing results of these contentious times. The political climate has devolved to a point where verbal — and, increasingly, physical — attacks on political opponents are viewed as acceptable discourse, diminishing the stature of this nation in the eyes of the world. The Declaration of Independence called for the people of the United States to righteously stand and represent the power of the individual, not to be insufferable bullies.
And still, we have much to celebrate and much to joyfully anticipate today. The spirit that was encapsulated on July 4, 1776, and the philosophy that led to the creation of the U.S. Constitution in following years resulted in a system of government that has outlived despots and tyrants from within and beyond our borders. It led to a nation that established peace through victories in World War I and World War II, that has been a consistent leader in technological advances, and that has persistently demonstrated that American exceptionalism refers to the strength of our foundation rather than some untoward arrogance.
That exceptionalism remains unshaken, even in difficult times and moments of disagreement. Thanks to the vision of this nation’s founders, the ideals of this country remain timeless.
