Across the United States, many Americans are celebrating their country’s 250th birthday by focusing on their personal concepts of America the Beautiful. In interviews with citizens, people shared their thoughts on what makes the country great, with some citing resilience and others mentioning the importance of freedom and equality.

Unity and Division

Some Americans, like auto technician Joe Fuqua-Bejarano in Topeka, Kansas, emphasized the need for unity, saying, ‘We’ve just all got to find unity somewhere, whether that’s in laughter or perseverance, and keep everybody cool.’ Others, like special-education teacher Madeline Capodilupo in Boston, felt that patriotism has become associated with one political party, making it difficult to celebrate.

Veterans, such as Ronald Hall, who spent 18 months in the Air Force, and his wife, Karen, who served two years in the Army, reflected on the promise of freedom and equality that America represents. Hall said, ‘I grew up remembering the promise. That’s what we celebrated: the promise, not the country.’

Hope and Concern

While some Americans, like Nabeel Mawari, a security guard in Dearborn, Michigan, expressed hope for the country’s future, others, like veterans Leo LeClerc and Tom Gaumont, voiced concerns about the state of the nation. LeClerc said, ‘I believe this country is the greatest that ever existed,’ but added, ‘I don’t like what’s going on in this country.’ Gaumont expressed sadness, saying, ‘I’m kinda sad at this point with what I anticipate.’

Original reporting: Texarkana Gazette — read the source article.