Can we remain hopeful about the future of our nation on the Fourth of July? Can we remain hopeful when we have witnessed multiple shootings in the last two months, extremely high inflation with fears of a coming recession, skyrocketing crime in major cities, and even more extreme polarization following the overturning of Roe v. Wade?
Such events can foster a sense of despair and doubt about whether the holiday is even worth celebrating. But the story of our country has taught us that, despite adversity, the challenges this nation has faced and overcome create an even more durable and perfect union. Despite adversity, we should remain hopeful.
Independence Day is when we remember that life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness animated the origins of our nation. Those memorable words in the Declaration of Independence also animate another guiding ethos of America’s society: the American dream. That dream of the United States as a place where people seek to live better, richer, and fuller lives continues to be an animating vision for the country, in which we can aspire for an ever-improving society.
Take just one instructive example: the story of Frederick Douglass and his famous July Fourth speech . In 1852, Douglass delivered a speech that is unparalleled in its condemnation of the horrors of slavery and the challenges of the times. Yet, despite seemingly insurmountable atrocities, Douglass was able to rescue the goodness and promise of the ideal that is America and maintain the hope that his message would be heeded. He hoped that the nation’s wrongs would be corrected — and his hope was ultimately vindicated.
Stories with redemptive arcs are especially powerful. The redemptive arc of our day corresponds more to a concept than to a person — that is, the concept of the American dream and America itself, which should be understood as inside of an imperfect but ever-evolving redemptive arc.
Continue reading at The Washington Examiner.
Gonzalo Schwarz is the President and CEO of the Archbridge Institute. Follow his work @gonzaloschwarz and subscribe to his newsletter, Living the Dream.
Culture of Flourishing
Can we remain hopeful about the future of our nation on the Fourth of July? Can we remain hopeful when we have witnessed multiple shootings in the last two months, extremely high inflation with fears of a coming recession, skyrocketing crime in major cities, and even more extreme polarization following the overturning of Roe v. Wade?
Such events can foster a sense of despair and doubt about whether the holiday is even worth celebrating. But the story of our country has taught us that, despite adversity, the challenges this nation has faced and overcome create an even more durable and perfect union. Despite adversity, we should remain hopeful.
Independence Day is when we remember that life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness animated the origins of our nation. Those memorable words in the Declaration of Independence also animate another guiding ethos of America’s society: the American dream. That dream of the United States as a place where people seek to live better, richer, and fuller lives continues to be an animating vision for the country, in which we can aspire for an ever-improving society.
Take just one instructive example: the story of Frederick Douglass and his famous July Fourth speech . In 1852, Douglass delivered a speech that is unparalleled in its condemnation of the horrors of slavery and the challenges of the times. Yet, despite seemingly insurmountable atrocities, Douglass was able to rescue the goodness and promise of the ideal that is America and maintain the hope that his message would be heeded. He hoped that the nation’s wrongs would be corrected — and his hope was ultimately vindicated.
Stories with redemptive arcs are especially powerful. The redemptive arc of our day corresponds more to a concept than to a person — that is, the concept of the American dream and America itself, which should be understood as inside of an imperfect but ever-evolving redemptive arc.
Continue reading at The Washington Examiner.
Gonzalo Schwarz
Gonzalo Schwarz is the President and CEO of the Archbridge Institute. Follow his work @gonzaloschwarz and subscribe to his newsletter, Living the Dream.
Share:
Related Posts
Why You Need a Friend From a Different Generation
Why You Should Buy the American Dream at the Point of Maximum Pessimism
What Do Trump, Harris Have to Say About the American Dream? Not Enough