In today’s political environment, contentious conversations and disagreements can seem to overwhelm our discourse. This Independence Day provides us an opportunity to celebrate what we have in common through our shared love of United States history and our country.
The Fourth of July is dedicated to the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, which asks us to consider individual rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Each Utah citizen’s journey resonates with stories of hard work, doing our part, innovation and entrepreneurship.
Like most Americans, as I’ve read and watched the news, I’ve been thinking about our “ideological silos.” We may rightly be concerned about these divides, yet I’m heartened to realize some 72% of Americans agree we have a responsibility to connect with people who are different from us, according to one recent survey.
I know making these connections isn’t easy to do on a daily basis. What inspires us to come together is a question I keep thinking about in my position as co-chair of the America250 Utah Commission. My assignment is to lead the Unite committee, planning initiatives to promote community conversations and workshops about our civic responsibilities. I believe we can celebrate courage, liberty and sacrifice while also reckoning with difficult truths of division and injustice.
This is our opportunity: Next July, America250 Utah will start a year-long celebration of unity, education and engagement to culminate on July 4, 2026, for the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. This semiquincentennial anniversary provides an invitation for all of us to come together and to feel part of this major milestone for our country.
The commission has been charged by Gov. Spencer J. Cox and the Utah Legislature to “think big” as we create opportunities for every Utahn to celebrate during the upcoming years. Our vision is to facilitate America250 celebrations to generate a wider appreciation of history’s relevance to contemporary challenges. We hope to inspire people to take well-informed, good-faith steps to improve our communities, state and nation.
In this America250 assignment, we are inspired by reflections of our country’s history. Through formal politics, grassroots organizing, litigation and a wide range of other mass and individual actions, citizens have continually challenged our country to live up to our highest ideals.
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