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We are a fractured country. I won’t deny the reality that over the last decade there has been a seismic shift in how we relate to each other and in how we view the world. Social media invites bad actors. The chaotic news cycle never stops. In the world where we used to receive the news twice a day, we are now bombarded with nonstop access to the brokenness we see in our world.
No wonder our mental health has plunged. We used to know our neighbors, now we draw lines in the sand over non-issues. The more we separate from our communities, the more radicalized we become.
In our newsletter from last year’s 4th of July, our Executive Director, Napp Nazworth outlined that for the American experience to succeed, we had to remain faithful to six principles:
1-Religious Freedom
2-Reject Christian Nationalism
3-Pluralism
4-Tolerance
5-Limited government
6-Rationality
These remain the core pillars that make America strong—even great.
Two esteemed newspapers we appreciate, The Free Press and The Dispatch, launched initiatives inspired by next year being our 250th anniversary. Both projects overlap in a desire to have a forward-looking perspective on what comes next. How do we build a successful future for generations to come? How can we make this country even better for all Americans?
These are also the questions we are constantly asking ourselves at American Values Coalition.
The reality is, and I say this as someone who’s worked in politics for nearly a decade, the more time I spend politics, the wiser I’ve become in battling my cynicism. I’ve seen how over time, things get bad and then they get better again. Critically, this is not to minimize gross abuses of power we see or deny the innocent in pain. But in spite of it all, I’ve also seen how dedicated citizens heal the problems in their communities by uniting under the principles listed above.
At the end of the day, we always find our way through it. The first Trump presidency broke me, the second has shown me how resilient we are as a country. I’ve learned to focus more on the things that matter—immerse myself in nature, touch grass, strengthen the bonds I share with my loved ones who surround me. Have you had a similar experience?
Start in your communities, make them stronger, and then grow the impact. Only then do we have a chance to unite the larger community—our shared America.
So we hope you reflect on the ideals outlined above while celebrating the miracle that is this imperfect, yet glorious country today! Happy 4th of July!
Pastors: Check out J29 Coalition
Our latest J29 episode: “From Cable News to Communion Tables, with Benji Bruneel and Ben Marsh”
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What We’re Reading:
The Dispatch: “What Reagan Taught Me About Civility”
“We can disagree without despising and debate without dehumanizing others…Reagan taught us a crucial lesson that’s in short supply today: In a healthy democracy, everyone needs a way to leave the room with dignity.”
New York Times: “Bush, Obama and Bono Commend USAID Staff Members on Their Last Day”
“President Barack Obama…said the decision to dismantle U.S.A.I.D. would ‘go down as a colossal mistake.’ ‘Ending your presence & your programs out in the world hurts the most vulnerable, & it hurts the United States.’”
The xxxxxx: “Despite It All, I’m Still Patriotic”
"As Immanuel Kant said, 'Out of the crooked timber of humanity, no straight thing was ever made.' America *is* the greatest nation in the history of the world. And here are a few of the reasons."
The Free Press: Bari Weiss: American Regeneration
“This Independence Day, we don’t just celebrate the birthday of the words that made us—but the choice to live by them two and a half centuries later.”
New York Times: “A.I. Is Starting to Wear Down Democracy”
“Artificial intelligence has long threatened to transform elections are around the world. Now there is evidence from at least 50 countries that it already has.”
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