On this Fourth of July, 2025, Americans celebrate the 249th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence—an extraordinary milestone in human history. As fireworks light the skies and parades roll down Main Streets, this moment also marks the beginning of a year-long journey toward the 250th anniversary of American independence in 2026—a quarter of a millennium since the birth of a bold experiment in liberty, equality, and self-governance.

On July 4, 1776, in Philadelphia, 56 signatories affixed their names to a document that changed the world—the Declaration of Independence. Drafted by Thomas Jefferson and edited by John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and others, the document proclaimed that “all men are created equal” and are endowed with “unalienable Rights,” among them “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” With that bold stroke, 13 colonies severed ties with the British Crown and gave birth to a republic founded not on ethnicity or religion, but on ideals.

The United States would go on to adopt a Constitution in 1787, creating a system of checks and balances among three coequal branches: the Executive, the Legislature, and the Judiciary. The Bill of Rights, added in 1791, further secured individual liberties: freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly, and due process.

Where Do We Stand in 2025?

Nearly 250 years later, Americans are justly proud of the nation’s accomplishments: a beacon of democracy, a global leader in innovation, and the custodian of a still-powerful vision of freedom and opportunity. But amid the celebrations, there is an undertone of unease. Voices across the political spectrum now ask: Are we still guided by the vision of our Founding Fathers, or have we strayed from the path?

One of the most troubling signs is the perceived erosion of American institutions. The Legislative Branch, designed to represent the will of the people, is increasingly deadlocked. Bipartisanship has all but vanished. According to Pew Research (2024), just 21% of Americans express trust in Congress, down from over 60% in the 1970s.

Judiciary, once a proud symbol of impartiality and reason, is increasingly seen as politicized. The U.S. Supreme Court‘s decisions on abortion, voting rights, and gun control have split public opinion sharply along partisan lines. Gallup polling from late 2024 showed only 41% of Americans have confidence in the Court, a historic low.

And the Executive Branch, far from being a steward of national unity, has often acted in self-interest. Successive presidents, from both major parties, have expanded executive powers, frequently sidestepping Congress via executive orders or emergency declarations.

The Statue of Liberty, gifted by France in 1886, still stands tall in New York Harbor, holding her torch aloft. But her promise—the sanctuary for the “huddled masses yearning to breathe free”—feels increasingly hollow. U.S. immigration policies have become more restrictive. The number of refugee admissions has dropped sharply: from 85,000 in 2016 to just 25,000 in 2023, despite growing humanitarian crises worldwide. Meanwhile, civil liberties are under strain. In the name of national security and public safety, surveillance technologies have expanded. Laws curbing protests, tightening voting rules, and limiting free speech on college campuses are growing more common.

Even economic liberty, once considered America’s strong suit, is faltering. Income inequality is at a record high. According to the Congressional Budget Office, the top 1% of earners now hold more than 30% of the nation’s wealth, while nearly 40 million Americans live below the poverty line. The American Dream is no longer a given; for many, it’s a memory.

 Is the American Nation Losing Its Compassion?

America has always prided itself as a nation of compassion—evident in its philanthropy, its welcoming of immigrants, its role in rebuilding Europe after WWII, and its commitment to civil rights. But in recent years, critics say, the nation has grown harder, more divided, less empathetic.

A January 2025 poll by the Brookings Institution found that 57% of Americans feel the country has “become more selfish and less community-oriented” than a generation ago. Homelessness has risen in major cities, mental health support remains underfunded, and health care continues to be a struggle for millions, despite being the world’s most expensive system.

Worse, political discourse has become toxic. Social media platforms are battlegrounds of disinformation and vitriol. Civil disagreement has devolved into cultural warfare, making compromise seem like betrayal rather than democracy in action.

Greatness Misunderstood

In recent years, slogans like “Make America Great Again” have animated political movements. But what is greatness? If it is power, America remains unmatched: a military budget of $816 billion (FY2024), more than the next 10 nations combined. If it is wealth, the U.S. GDP of over $28 trillion (as of early 2025) is still the world’s largest.

But if greatness means moral leadership, compassion, unity, innovation with purpose, and global goodwill—then America’s position is more precarious. Once widely admired, the U.S. is now often viewed with skepticism or fear. A 2024 Pew Global Attitudes survey found that favorable views of the United States have declined in major European and Asian democracies, particularly due to perceptions of domestic instability, racial inequality, and inconsistent foreign policy.

So, as we stand at the threshold of America’s 250th birthday, the celebration must not be merely ceremonial. It must be reflective and aspirational. The spirit of 1776 was not static—it was revolutionary. It was meant to evolve, to perfect, to be self-correcting. That’s why the Constitution begins with “We the People”—a mandate for every generation to uphold and renew the social contract.

The founding fathers, though products of their time and flawed in many ways, envisioned a government of laws, not of men. A republic where truth mattered, institutions endured, and power was exercised with humility and restraint.

In his farewell address, George Washington warned against the “spirit of faction” and urged Americans to place national interest above personal or party ambition. Today, those warnings ring louder than ever.

The path forward requires courage—not the kind displayed on battlefields, but in town halls, courtrooms, classrooms, and voting booths. Courage to listen, to compromise, to reform, to dream again.

The next year—leading to the 250th anniversary in 2026—should be a national period of introspection. Civic education must be revived. Electoral reforms must be pursued. Judicial independence must be restored. Compassion must be rekindled.

Only then can we say with honesty that the United States is still a “more perfect union.”

So, congratulations to the free and the brave on this 249th Independence Day. May we celebrate not just with fireworks, but with a fiery determination to live up to the ideals of our forefathers. In trying to become great again, let us not lose the greatness we already have—the greatness of our Constitution, our diversity, our values, and our enduring hope that tomorrow can be better than today.

The American experiment is not over. It is merely at a crossroads. Let us choose the road that leads not backward into fear, but forward into freedom.

God Bless America!