The birth of our nation on July 4th, 1776—with the signing of the Declaration of Independence—launched the great American experiment. Its core principles–a republic under the rule of law; a commitment to freedom and opportunity for all; and a welcoming of diversity and our connection to one another–remain as relevant as ever. But those attacking these principles–by promoting lawlessness; embracing corruption and promoting systems that cement privileges for a wealthy few; and fostering rising hate that divides us–pose fundamental threats to our nation. We must resist them and overcome these challenges.
A foundational principle of our democratic republic is that, in America, there are no kings. In America, we have an independent judiciary, the rule of law, and freedoms—these are not dependent on the whims of a single executive. Just last week, a court reminded our current President of this principle in striking down an illegal executive order that attempted to take federal control over elections, a responsibility the U.S. Constitution assigns to the states.
A second foundational principle of America is that regardless of who your parents were, you could get ahead. To be sure, when the Constitution was ratified, that promise was hollow for many Americans, as slavery, inequality, and injustice was accepted by the U.S. Constitution. And the Constitution failed to honor and live up to the Declaration of Independence’s recognition that everyone is created equal. That promise of equal opportunity for all and that people could have a better life than their parents–commonly known as the American Dream–feels less attainable than ever.
A third foundational principle is that, in America, everyone could “live safely under their own vine and fig tree” and join with one another in community to build a better future for all of us. President Washington famously quoted this passage from the Book of Micah in a letter to a Rhode Island synagogue, stating that “in America, bigotry has no sanction and none shall be afraid.” By creating an open society and inviting connections between diverse individuals, the American experiment gave birth to a nation of joiners, where citizens had both the opportunity and call to join associations to solve community problems. As Alexis de Tocqueville observed in 1831, “America has taken greatest advantage of association and has applied this powerful means of action to the greatest variety of objectives.”
As we reflect on our 250 years of history, we can celebrate the importance of We The People working together to perfect our union. The alternative–fostering rising hate and demonization of others, ignoring the public interest, and undermining our nation’s future–is unacceptable.
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I recognize, particularly for younger Americans, that there are a set of interlocking challenges–to our democracy, to our climate, to people’s ability to afford to live a decent life, and more–it is easy to be angry and cynical. My answer is that our nation has faced challenging moments before–and we met them with clarity, courage, and a commitment to advance our foundational principles. Together, we can do so again if we “mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.”