America at 250

Unlike authoritarian states, democracies observe national holidays to honor shared values, hopes and history. Think of Bastille Day, Memorial Day, and Canada Day. These are proudly patriotic demonstrations, as opposed to the aggressively nationalistic extravaganzas characteristic of authoritarian regimes.

However in Washington, DC the celebration of the 250th anniversary of America’s independence seems more like some self-serving promotion of the current administration and its purposely rose-colored revision of American history.

Why is this disturbing? Patriotism is a bottom-up exhibition of popular pride and sentiment that exists independently of government approval. In contrast, Nationalism is most often imposed from the top by governments seeking to bend patriotism to serve dubious purposes. An effective tool for accomplishing this is changing the national memory by changing the historical record.

In 1984, George Orwell’s classic exposé of totalitarian control, he observed, “Who controls the past controls the future; who controls the present controls the past.” And so, the Ministry of Truth was dedicated to rewriting the past to align with Big Brother’s constantly shifting propaganda. Reinventing the past is vital to creating that future the regime intends.

The Trump Administration is subtly pursuing a similar program by obscuring uncomfortable historical facts like slavery, and removing signage displaying the contributions of non-white Americans from our national parks and museums. For example, the Great American State Fair in our nation’s capital extols a family-friendly, whitewashed imagination of an idealized America. It celebrates Cowboys but not Indians. It’s no coincidence last week’s 150th anniversary of the Battle at Little Big Horn passed unnoticed.

Sanitizing American history will make our nation more like this president, who never learns from his mistakes because he cannot admit to making any. A truly patriotic reading of American history must be “warts and all.” Past mistakes are instructive. We are not a perfect people, but our patriotic duties call upon us to “form a more perfect union.” Doing so requires we learn from the past.

We are currently living in a dangerous era of distrust, polarization and political extremism. This anniversary of our common social values and democratic institutions offers the opportunity to start the healing. Use it to celebrate with estranged family and friends, to rediscover what we all share. Reasonable Americans can have different views on a variety of social, economic and political issues. Dissent is patriotic. Respectfully consider even points of view you consider repugnant. Lay the groundwork for future discussions of what separates you.

MAGA braying not withstanding, no ethnicity or political faction has a monopoly on patriotism. Don’t let them pretend otherwise. Whether or not you agree with the red-capped cohort, feel free to fly the flag. Today, I hoisted the Stars and Stripes outside our home for the first time since November 6, 2024. For twenty months, that empty flag pole has borne silent witness to my patriotism. The neighbors all understand today’s display has nothing to do with cheering for this administration and everything to do with supporting America.

This July 4th, we celebrate 250 years of No Kings.