USA At 250

At the conclusion of the Constitution Convention on September 17, 1787, Elizabeth Willing Powel asked Benjamin Franklin, "Well, Doctor, what have we got, a republic or a monarchy?"

The Great American Statesmen replied, "A republic, if you can keep it."

And so, on the sesquicentennial celebration of the founding of the United States of America, we have managed to keep it so far. It has not been without its trials and tribulations; any cursory glance of a history book will confirm that. Sometimes the growing pains involved bloodshed. But we still are a country. We are, in spite and despite our differences, E pluribus unum.

We were conceived in liberty as it is rightly understood. We are an experiment in freedom as it is rightly understood. We are still a land of opportunity as it is justly pursued. When we are united in a common purpose, we are seemingly unstoppable. We are the most unique nation-state which has ever existed.

We have lasted 250 years. We have our flaws and foibles. We have not formed that more perfect union. But we have persevered and prevailed.

There are some people who contend we are at the end of our usefulness, that the country as we know it now will cease to exist. They argue we have outgrown our founding documents. We need to change our fundamental approach to how we see ourselves, how we govern ourselves, and how we should relate to the rest of the world.  These people may have legitimate arguments; after all, we have created compromises between two proposals countless times in the past. But does these people sincerely want to keep the form we have right now? Is what they propose an exercise in organic development or a razing and beginning anew? Personally, I would rather have the devil I know than the one I don't. I can review history, come to understand it, and work to improve what we have, as long as I have the vision of our Founding Fathers and their blueprint.

And it all started on this day two-and-one-half centuries ago, with one of the most important documents ever drafted. It is a tradition in many parts of the county the Declaration of Independence be read aloud to a gathering of the people. If that doesn't occur where you are, wait about an hour and come back to this infinitesimal corner of the universe. You can read it for yourself.

So, Happy Birthday to the USA!

May God shed His grace on us.

Then perhaps we can truly become that shining light on the hill "We the People" are intended to be.