This year, I have been dismayed at the lack of excitement associated with the 250th anniversary of the United States. I am old enough to recall the general excitement that surrounded our country’s Bicentennial back in 1976. At that time, the enthusiasm around that 200-year milestone seemed to permeate the country. I do not see the same level of enthusiasm for our current Semicentennial.
Some friends have suggested that this is a reaction to the general political divide in the nation. The politicization of the lackluster National State Fair on the Capital Mall has done nothing to raise excitement. But political divisions and politicization by those in power of publicly-funded endeavors is not unique to this era. The ’70s were fraught with divisions and economic stress: we had just lost a war that had divided the nation for a decade, and school busing and the elimination of racial covenants in housing inflamed segments of the population. In the summer of 1976, the nation was led by its first unelected president in the wake of Richard Nixon’s resignation. The public was divided on the topic of Nixon’s pardon, and many clashed over the thought of pardoning Vietnam War draft evaders. The Bicentennial came as the nation was reeling from rampant (at time, double-digit) inflation, souring gas prices and shortages, and the beginnings of the crumbling of U.S. manufacturing.
Despite all the chasms and challenges of the ’70s, the nation felt more unified during the Bicentennial era. Unlike today, the political leadership at the time did not breed division, but instead maintained a public demeaner of respect for the ‘loyal opposition’. In that era, the politicians on both the Right and the Left tried to bridge the divide, not out of altruism, but rather to capture the votes of the vast swaths of Americans whose views were somewhere in the middle. But the knock-on effect was that we felt more unified, despite people’s different perspectives.
That sense of unity in the mid-70s was further fostered by the limited sources of information we all shared. With only three broadcast networks, we watched the same news and entertainment together as a nation to a much greater extent than we do today. That shared experience fostered a sense of unity. During the Bicentennial era, no matter where you the stood on the issues of the day, or the nature of your day-to-day struggles, we shared a sense of being united as fellow countrymen (or women).
I hoped that this country could use the 250th Anniversary as a way of recapturing some of that sense of national unity. It is helpful to remember what we are celebrating when we speak of the founding of America: we are celebrating the signing of the Declaration of Independence. It is worth noting the words of that document’s preamble. These words set out the vision and mission statement for our new nation.
“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”,
……and ….
“Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed…, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness”.
America has not always lived up to the aspirations laid forth in the Declaration, but overtime, while not always traveling in a straight line, we have moved in the direction of perfecting those goals. As Dr King said, ”The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.”
That our nation was founded on these ideals is worthy of celebration, no matter what your views on any remaining shortfalls of our country and its leadership. I know I have many concerns about the actions of our current political leadership. But just as you would celebrate the birthday of a child that is not, at present, living up to its full potential, so, too, we should celebrate the 250th anniversary of the birth of this great nation. We are a nation that is diverse in terms of our origins, creeds, means, and outlooks but, as encapsulated in our nation’s motto, E Pluribus Unum: Out of many, one.
We should celebrate that despite our diversity, or perhaps because of it, we have been inexorably moving towards those lofty ideals expressed at our founding.
Happy 250th, U.S.A.
Mike, in 1976 I was 9 yrs old. In Dundalk, Md it was the first year of the Heritage Fair, a local community fair put together to celebrate the Country’s 200 years!!! This year it celebrated its 50th year! The pride is not lost at the local level, but is suppressed at the national level! 250 should be celebrated by all! It is here!!
Yes, there are local pockets celebrating this, but I just don’t see the same national focus as I did in 1976. Right now, the national media is either bitching about the reflecting pool, the National State Fair, or trying to “sell” that same state fair that is poorly attended compared to the old Folk Life Festivals of the past. You would think someone would have done a Franklin bio pic or some other historical drama on one of the many streaming channels. I would like to have seen each of the major networks put on a variety show focused on the 250th anniversary. Heck, Fox could even tied it to the World Cup. I am just sad that we lost an opportunity to come together as a country.