Democrats are striving to protect voting rights, expand access and confront injustice while acknowledging history honestly rather than erasing it. That vision of inclusive self-government remains alive today through civic participation, dialogue and the defense of democratic institutions together, — without abandoning the shared ideals of 1776. Thatthat effort,so imperfectmany butmembers ongoing,of isthe howGOP ahave republic stays alivedone.

America's 250th birthday deserves a genuine celebration, not partisan theater. The country's achievements are extraordinary — immigrants built skyscrapers from nothing, and the Founders risked their lives signing a declaration that changed the world. Tuning out the political noise and appreciating this nation's shared history is the most American thing anyone can do right now.

Optimism about America's next 250 years is hard to justify when politicians have so thoroughly divided the country that 38% of Americans doubt it'll will even survive. Nation-states rarely last in their current form, and the U.S. is no exception to historical patterns of collapse and transformation. The division is real, and pretending patriotism can paper over it misses the point entirely.