America's 250th Birthday: Which side are we now?
As that great comic strip character Pogo said: We Have Met the Enemy and He Is Us. Happy Birthday America! Democracy and individual liberties have survived for 250 years. Slavery was eliminated after a long and bloody civil war. The right to vote and civil liberties were extended to all Americans. America innovated the Industrial/Information Revolution and made the country the largest and most technologically-advanced economy in the world. In the 20 th century, America opposed and helped defeat authoritarian and totalitarian regimes. America was an inspiration to all people who opposed tyranny and oppression. From 1607 onwards, America was a special country built by immigrants and their descendants. This celebration should commemorate the 250 th birthday of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, which stated the basic rights of Americans and denounced the “tyranny” of King George. The preamble is a statement of the ideals of individual liberties...