July 4th, 2026 was a unique celebration of the founding of the United States—not only because it was the country’s 250th anniversary, but because, for the first time in my life, I am equipped with the mindset and wisdom to view the celebration from multiple perspectives and from an emotionally neutral position. While it is certainly a milestone for any country, for me, it isn’t as simple as blind allegiance or an idealistic level of patriotism. However, before I go any further, I want to make it clear that I believe the United States has the most effective governmental system devised by humans so far. That said, my celebration of Independence Day was much less emotional and vastly more analytical this year.
Even though I stopped to express gratitude for the opportunities available to me as an American, I think it is equally important to consider the state of the country. As we have discussed in other essays, all countries have a genesis, and with time, those countries begin to look very different from what they were at their inception. Oftentimes, this includes the integration of other cultures, ideas, and systems. In the case of the United States, many ideas were borrowed from the Romans. This is certainly a testament to the Roman system and its legacy, but there has not yet been enough time to determine the legacy and longevity of the United States.
The United States formed during the early years of the Industrial Revolution. Hence, industrial development played a central role in the nation’s emergence as a global superpower. But rises are often followed by falls—or at least declines. Two hundred and fifty years is not a long time in the grand scheme of things, and this was at the forefront of my mind as I celebrated on the 4th of July. During its relatively short history, the United States has experienced a significant amount of turmoil, although it is not often acknowledged. A civil war, the Great Depression, tensions between the states and the federal government, and even animosity within states between urban and rural populations are just a few examples.
To America’s credit, the country has continued to persevere in the face of these challenges. Not surprisingly, there are forces that want to integrate the country further into the global community, as well as those who want to return to a more isolationist—or even “America First”—approach. In any case, the United States of 2026 is a much different country than the 1776 version celebrated on the 4th of July. As I watched the country celebrate, I wondered how many people believed they were still living in a 1776 version of the United States and how many were simply yearning for a return to that time. I also noticed a selective framework through which people chose to celebrate based on their political leanings.
Both ends of the political spectrum emphasized the ideals of liberal democracy and classical republicanism that aligned with their beliefs while downplaying those that did not. For example, I noticed many left-leaning people celebrating the ideals of human rights and civil liberties. Contrariwise, right-leaning people tended to celebrate the right to keep and bear arms, as well as economic and religious freedom. While disagreements on these issues are not uncommon, what is so interesting to me is that all of these freedoms and liberties make a country like the United States possible, yet both sides want to cherry-pick which ones apply and which ones do not.
While political debates and philosophical dialogues are never-ending, they do have a significant impact on the direction a society takes. As we have mentioned in other essays, borders, flags, and governments change, but every once in a while there emerges an idea or system that propels humankind forward—such as that of the Romans. Even though the United States is relatively young and its future uncertain, it has played a major role in leading humanity into the modern world. Although I am grateful to have been born into a country with so many opportunities, I also know that it is subject to the whims of human beings and, therefore, its future remains uncertain.
Perhaps several variations of the United States were celebrated on July 4th, 2026. Whether it was the 1776 version with demigod Founding Fathers, the 1950s nuclear family with white picket fences and church on Sundays, or the politically fatigued version of 2026, Independence Day was celebrated by many. In conclusion, as I watched the celebrations, I noticed polarization, but also a collective desire to keep the core principles in place in an ever-changing world. Perhaps, amid the noise from both extreme ends of the political spectrum, everyone in between is realizing that freedom and liberty mean nothing if they are not afforded to every living soul.
Could the extremes on both sides be fading away while the majority evolves? In other words, is the 1776 snake shedding its skin to better fit into the world of 2026? Could the country be recalibrating, with everyone acknowledging that all rights are necessary for a free and just society? Or is this merely the calm before a very ugly storm, with patriotism being the last thread by which everything is hanging?