Celebrating an historic anniversary of the founding of our nation at a time of profound (and discomfiting) technological change, growing material abundance, a booming stock market, and a rise in totalitarian regimes across the globe? No, I’m not referring to 2026. The year was 1926 — the 150th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Shakespeare was right…the past really is prologue. The year 1926 must have felt a bit like today. Having survived a global pandemic and a world war, the country found itself at a time of incredible prosperity — but not for everyone — and radical political shifts. Things were getting cheaper, faster and better: cars and planes shrunk the world, and the radio brought news, music, and politics into every home. And yet, many people felt adrift. The country was straying from its moral foundations. The Roaring 20’s could hardly be described as a time of virtue —and the founders knew our experiment in self-government could only succeed with an informed and virtuous people. Like today, Americans never had more. And yet too many wondered why we’re doing any of this in the first place. On that anniversary day 100 years ago, the President of our Country, Calvin Coolidge, stepped to the podium in Philadelphia to celebrate America’s success and to issue a warning. I’m grateful that “Silent Cal” was not on that day…and his words might be more important 100 years later. “We live in an age of science and of abounding accumulation of material things. These did not create our Declaration [of Independence]. Our Declaration created them. The things of the spirit come first. “Unless we cling to that, all our material prosperity, overwhelming though it may appear, will turn to a barren scepter in our grasp. If we are to maintain the great heritage which has been bequeathed to us, we must be like-minded as the [Founders] who created it. “We must not sink into a pagan materialism. We must cultivate the reverence which they had for the things that are holy. We must follow the spiritual and moral leadership which they showed.”  In other words, and more succinctly, if America ceases to be good, she will cease to be great. It’s been said that, if you want to hate America, watch the news. But if you want to love America, take a road trip. Over the past few weeks, the world has been taking a road trip across our great country. Hosting the World Cup has been one of the unexpected highlights of my life. Watching our new friends from all over the globe discover unlimited chips and salsa, ranch dressing, Costco, air conditioning and Buc-ee’s has been a delight. And watching Kansas embrace Algeria, the Scots drink Boston dry and the Vikings row through Time Square has warmed my soul. Even better, we’ve discovered that our foreign friends are pretty great—and they’ve discovered that we are too. Oh, and the soccer has been pretty good. And maybe that is the lesson our country needs in 2026. Half of us need to be reminded that the rest of the world is awesome and more like us than we realized And the other half need to be reminded that America is freaking amazing and we are incredibly lucky to live here. Remember that America has never been a president or a political party or even our government. America is, and always will be…well…us. We the People. To paraphrase one president, there is nothing so wrong in America that it can’t be fixed by what’s right in America. Today, and every day, I’m proud to be an American. Happy 250th!