Independence

Happy fourth of July! This year, and every year, let’s remember that patriotism is more than a flag pin; it is, or ought to be, a desire to leave our American nation, and the American state, better than we found it. 231 years ago, our Founders gave their lives and their livelihoods, in the hopes of doing just that. Though their sacrifice bought us the right to relax in prosperity, and ensured that all of us need not lay our lives on the line this year, we owe America the same commitment to progress this year, and every year.

While we’ve faced our share of obstacles, especially in the past decade, I have no doubt that we can overcome them. Although it’s an odd source, I’ve always thought that Stephen Sondheim, in the musical Assassins, spoke well on the continuing vitality of the American experiment. Singing on the threat violence poses to the national consciousness, Sondheim concludes that America’s vitality is not lightly depleted:

Someone tell the story; someone sing the song. Every now and then the country goes a little wrong; everyone now and then a madman’s bound to come along. Doesn’t stop the story; story’s pretty strong. Doesn’t change the tune.

We’ve been through a lot, and we’ve come back stronger each time. Although it requires our help each time, the idea of America is a hope for the future, one that’s never disappointed yet. Our story’s pretty strong.