As we approach America’s 250th birthday, I’m seeing increasingly more buildup around it; t-shirts, social media posts, highway billboards, commemorative beer cans, etc. It’s nice to see in the sense that this is something that should bring Americans together. You’ve probably previously read my blogs wherein I have discussed how divided we are as a country. But my hope is that a celebration like this would transcend some of our differences and allow us to come together as Americans, instead of going to our teams of conservatives vs liberals, republicans vs democrats, metro vs rural, and all the other dividing lines which seem to be ever-present in today’s political and social discourse.
My hope is that Americans can put down their proverbial swords for the next six weeks, allow all Americans to enjoy the lead-up to July 4th and to celebrate America in the way that seems fit for them as free individuals (Truth bomb – I’ d love to see us put the swords down for quite a long time AFTER July 4th, as in like forever). It should not be a contest in terms of how one celebrates the occasion (or if one even wants to celebrate it at all – which is their right!). But in my view, we live in a country which, despite its flaws, still offers so much to so many. It’s not a coincidence that there are still millions of foreign-born people who want to come to this country. My hope is that Americans can celebrate the historic milestone of existing for 250 years, as well as have some appreciation for what the country still has to offer – which is much.
I frequently recall the gratitude my grandfather had for America and what he called the “greatest country on Earth”. He emigrated from Albania as a teenager, didn’t have a dime to his name, and couldn’t speak a word of English when he arrived. In the subsequent years after his arrival in America, through hard work, an ambitious mind, and the freedom to start new businesses in his new homeland, he had built a tremendous chain of businesses, many of which still stand in operation today. As America’s 250th approaches, I’m doing my best to channel my grandfather’s energy by celebrating our country, being grateful for the values it stands for, and consciously enjoying the freedom it provides me. I acknowledge our shortcomings as a country but still know there is no place I’d rather live.
Happy Birthday, America. God bless the country and every single soul within it.
