America at 250

This Fourth of July, the 250^th anniversary of the founding of the United States, has special meaning for our nation. But what the Semiquincentennial means to individual Americans reflects the diversity of the country itself.

A survey of Rochester Beacon readers conducted this week underscores that point. Respondents expressed a wide range of thoughts and emotions—from pride and belief in the country’s core values to sadness and fear for its future.

“We should be proud of the ‘American experiment’ and continue to believe in it and support, defend and protect it with all our collective hearts,” wrote Ed Palumbos.

JoAnn Beck echoed him, writing that “we are still perfecting both the ideas and practice of ‘life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.’” 

Sandy Mayer views the Semiquincentennial differently. He believes that “this anniversary underlines that we are no longer united.  We are as polarized as I’ve ever seen during my lifetime, half of the country vilifying the other.”

And Lynn Braband wrote: “I usually fly the flag on July 4. This year I did on Juneteenth but not sure I will do so on the 4th.”

July 4, 1776, is the date when the Second Continental Congress representing the 13 American colonies adopted the Declaration of Independence, formally separating from Great Britain.

The beliefs stated in the Declaration include the idea that all people are created equal and that they have fundamental rights, such as liberty, free speech, freedom of religion, due process of law, and freedom of assembly. As the Library of Congress exhibit titled “Creating the United States” notes, many Americans agreed with these ideas, but for some they were “far more acceptable in the abstract than in practice.”

The tension between the country’s founding ideals and the reality experienced by many of its people has existed for two and a half centuries.

The new republic displaced Native Americans from their ancestral lands, did not outlaw slavery until after the Civil War, and did not extend the vote to African-American men or to women until 1870 and 1920, respectively.

When the country’s independence was declared, the city of Rochester did not exist. This region was home to the Seneca Nation, and it remained so until they lost claim to most of their land in the Treaty of Big Tree in 1797, signed near present-day Geneseo.

Rochester and the surrounding region have significant links to the Declaration of Independence, however. In 1848, the first American Women’s Rights Convention, held in Seneca Falls, adopted a “Declaration of Sentiments” that demanded an end to unequal treatment of women. This document, modeled on the Declaration of Independence, helped fuel the push that led to passage of the 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote.

In 1852, at an Independence Day event held at Corinthian Hall in Rochester, Frederick Douglass gave a keynote address in which he asked, “What to the slave is the Fourth of July?”

It became one of the most famous anti-slavery speeches in the nation’s history.

“Fellow Citizens,” Douglass said, “I am not wanting in respect for the fathers of this republic. The signers of the Declaration of Independence were brave men. They were great men, too, great enough to give frame to a great age.”

But, Douglass continued, Independence Day celebrations revealed “the immeasurable distance between us.”

“This Fourth July is yours, not mine,” he concluded. “You may rejoice, I must mourn.”

Yet for all its flaws and often slow progress toward “a more perfect union,” the United States today is the world’s oldest continuous democracy and the Declaration of Independence has inspired movements for freedom, self-determination, and human rights globally.

“America has made mistakes, sometimes serious ones. But America has also shown a remarkable ability to correct itself, expand opportunity, and move closer to its founding ideals,” survey respondent Mark Gianniny wrote.

The survey’s first question asked readers whether America has lived up to the principles stated in the Declaration of Independence. More than two-thirds—68%—said “very much” (14%) or “somewhat” (54%). (In a May Gallup poll that asked a similar question, 69% of respondents replied either “a great deal” or “a fair amount” when asked whether the United States has succeeded over the last 250 years in “achieving the ideals for which this country was founded.”)

Asked about where the country has seen the most progress since its founding, economic opportunity and democratic government were at the top. Immigration and citizenship, and racial equality have seen the least progress, readers said, although majorities responded “a lot” or “some” for both.

Looking ahead, a narrow majority—54%—believes the country’s best days lie in the future. In this respect, Beacon readers appear to be more optimistic than Americans nationwide. In a Pew Research Center survey conducted in January, only 40% answered “ahead of us” when asked this question. Forty-four percent of respondents to an Ipsos poll conducted in March and April gave the same answer.

Readers who took part in the Beacon survey were asked about their political affiliation. As in previous Beacon surveys, Democrats accounted for nearly two-thirds: 63%. Among the rest, 11% said they are Republicans, 4% belong to other parties, and 22% are unaffiliated. By comparison, the breakdown in the June 2026 Monroe County Board of Elections enrollment report was Democrat, 41%; Republican, 25%; other parties, 2%, and unaffiliated, 32%.

The survey results diverged, in some cases widely, by party affiliation. For instance, while 56% of Republicans think the country has “very much” lived up to the principles of the Declaration of Independence, only 4% of Democrats chose that answer. Republicans also were much more likely than Democrats to say the country has made progress on democratic government, economic opportunity and social issues like racial equality.

Nearly 150 readers took part in the Beacon’s survey, conducted June 29-30. (The survey took place before the U.S. Supreme Court announced two major decisions: in Trump v. Barbara, rejecting President Donald Trump’s attempt to end birthright citizenship, and in another case, in which the court majority struck down limits on how much political parties can spend in coordination with candidates.)

The following are all signed written comments of survey participants. Many additional unsigned responses were submitted. As a matter of policy, the Beacon does not post unsigned comments.

In your view, what ideas or achievements exemplify the best of America?

Diversity. The fact that New York City has one of the densest concentration of languages spoken at home in the world. So many different people from different cultures all identifying as New Yorkers and living together is one of the most moving examples of what America can be at its best.
—Maria Evans

The resilience of Native Americans to retain their culture and language, Black Americans claiming and living their value and power, immigrants, migrants, and refugees making a place and contributing to American democracy and emerging culture.
—Kara Wagner Sherer

Generous caring for the poor and underdeveloped nations is a vital part of our nation. Freedom of expression is a native right and while it is under attack right now, it is an ideal that we continue to embrace.
—Ed Palumbos

The ability of so many people over the decades to immigrate to the U.S. and work their way upward economically, educationally and socially without government interference and with the same rights as everyone as those born here. Unless we are native Americans, we all are descended from immigrants and share in this achievement.
—Michael DeMott

Women’s sufferage; ending slavery and then Jim-Crow; university research and education system; freedom for individual creativity and thinking—but we still have a long way to go.
—Larry Broser

Election of Barack Obama. Establishment of the Peace Corps. Establishment of Medicare and Social Security.
—Tim Farnum

1. Gettysburg Address
2. 13th, 14th & 15th Amendments
3. 19th Amendment
4. Brown SCOTUS decision
5. 1965 Voting Rights Act
6. Obama’s election
7. Zinn’s “People’s History of the U.S.”
8. The 1619 Project
9. Frederick Douglass’s Independance Day Speech
10. Biden’s defeat of Trump
—Dan Drmacich

The Voting Rights Act of 1964 and all ADA legislation and local support for ADA.
—Mary Lynn Vickers

The legal end of slavery.
—Daniel Holland

I believe the writers of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights were inspired to think beyond the then known forms of government to create a system of government that relied on the people (everyday citizens) to participate through their vote and the selection of government representatives. Citizen participation at all levels of government is at its best when individuals remain aware of and respond to the actions of their representatives.
—Rick Iekel 

There has been no specific, set time in the country’s history that has met the high bar set by the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. We have wobbled around, as in the ’50s, when we provided a good balance of taxing the rich and making sure working class folks are secure financially, but unfortunately it was also a time of dreadful racism. Equality must be created; it will not arise naturally as long as people in the country put their personal greed and racial/other personal prejudices first. Community and acceptance of difference are the keys to attaining the American ideal. We have a long way to go.
—Janette Keene Taylor

The fact that a “melting pot” design for our country has made us richly diverse up until now, presently endangered.
—Sandy Mayer

America’s investment in a professional civil service, with programs that invest funds in medicine and scientific research based on peer-review has made America the world leader in many scientific fields. The abrupt shift in policy by the Trump administration has squandered decades of steady federal investment in science. America may never return from this.
—Aaron E. Wicks

The best of America is the idea that our rights come from God, not from government. The Declaration of Independence did not create those rights. It recognized them. That idea remains one of the greatest political achievements in human history. America has not always lived up to its founding principles, and no honest person would say otherwise. But the story of America is also the story of expanding those principles over time. We fought a Civil War to end slavery. We expanded the vote. We opened doors of opportunity to people from every part of the world. We created a system where citizens can criticize their government, worship freely, build businesses, raise families, and pursue a better life. My concern today is that government at every level has grown too large, too complicated, and too involved in the day-to-day lives of ordinary citizens. The founders objected to the overbearing burden of King and Parliament. Two hundred and fifty years later, our federal, state, and local rules, taxes, fees, mandates, and regulations could fill a library. That is not what liberty should feel like. I remain very optimistic about America. Our best days can still be ahead of us, but only if we remember that government is supposed to serve the people, not manage them. The Declaration of Independence should be read not just as history, but as a warning and a guide.
—Mark Gianniny

Concern, when it occurs, for the most vulnerable.
—Lynn Braband

When I was a child in the 60’s, women rarely held positions of leadership, people of color rarely held positions of leadership, LGBTQ people hid in the shadows. While many many barriers still exist, equality has advanced significantly. This is what makes America great.
—Martha Bush

Women’s Suffrage, Civil Rights Act, Affordable Care Act, equality of marriage decision exemplify the best of America and its progress.
—John Osowski

Land Grant Colleges and the Space Race. Both had ulterior motives to benefit individuals and the government, but they had broader implications for a wide variety of Americans and helped spur development, innovation, and economic progress.
—Pat Gooch

The US was and still is the land of opportunity. Those things we take for granted—large homes, high average incomes, air conditioning—are luxuries anywhere else, including Europe. The engine our lifestyles in the free enterprise economic system which fosters innovation, economic efficiency, and opportunities for the higher incomes we enjoy.
—John Calia

The continued (until recently) march towards more and more inclusion of more and more people in the democratic process as well as the welcoming of peoples from around the world.
—Peter Knapp

Freedoms as listed above. We are the only country where immigrants can actually become “Americans”/naturalized citizens.
—David Terp

The industrial revolution as well as the 1970s-2000’s. They were periods of great innovation.
—Remy Fenster

The best of America is its imperfect but enduring experiment in pluralism. As a public historian, I’ve found countless forgotten stories of immigrants and neighbors of different faiths who built communities together without giving up their distinct identities. Those stories remind me that America’s greatest strength is its ability to make room for many traditions while encouraging a shared commitment to civic life.
—Austin Albanese

The election of Barack Obama (TWICE!) was a high peak in our history as a democracy.
—Janice Bradley

All you have to do is travel to other countries. When you return, “the best of America” is right in front of you in terms of all the things we take for granted that aren’t as prevalent, if at all, elsewhere.
—Geoff Rosenberger

Democratization of wealth and income by employee ownership beginning with the 1792 Act to rebuild the post-Revolution cod industry and progressive income taxation first implemented in 1862 and Constitutionally sanctioned in 1913.
—Robert E. Brown

For a start, Constitutional amendments 1, 13, 14, 15, 19. Civil Rights Act of 1964, Voting Rights Act of 1965, the Social Security Act of 1935, Supreme Court decisions: Brown v. Board of Education, Loring v. Virginia, and all presidential/congressional acts protecting federal lands and national air and water.
—Len Sheldon

Abolishing Slavery, Civil and Voting Rights expansion, World-Leading Economy, reduction of poverty, NATO/UN (deterrence of WW3), and Religious Freedom.
—David Powe 

America is at its best when the majority “gets it” and accepts more people into our big tent. The moments when we showed grace to women, the formerly enslaved, and immigrants are accomplishments that stand out. The times when we exclude and mistreat those same populations, and others — hopefully setting the stage for our future moments of greatness.
—Dave Garretson

The slow, uneven, sometimes backwards movement towards greater social and political status. This is a retrograde time in our 250 years, but I’m confident the “better angels of our nature” will prevail.
—Bill Lindenfelser

My opinions of the “best of America “lies within these negative comments that follow. I do believe that the best days are ahead of us, but perhaps not led entirely by America. I imagine a softening of national boundaried prideful identities. If only because humans seem destined to swing from one expression of our nature to the opposite, the current exploration of the extremes born of fear and the attraction to greed experienced by some who favor white, male domination  will become countered by the inevitability of racial mixing that is occurring. Will equality of genders, and care for the natural environment become, once again strongly favored and prevail is a larger concern and question as male fear of collaborative leadership with women and non-cis gendered others promotes dominance and violence in all racial groups and onto our earth. My personal current effort at this time of the 250th is to soften the urge to collapse into fight, flight and freeze while nurturing the loving energy that IS the true nature within every conscious being. I love the idea of America, and mourn for and work to heal the trauma within the fabric of our national history, from the beginnings of western exploration of “the new land” while displacing and erasing the cultures of and genocide of the native people, to the enslavement of Africans all over the western world. In short, our country is in a messy, disturbing time of change. The current government of “We the People” is an embarrassment for me to be identified with. I am humbled by how much the minority of those who participate in voting have abandoned the principles in our founding ideals … but again, the defunding of public education, coupled with the ending in 1987 of the Fairness Doctrine in public broadcasting probably make this turn of events inevitable.
—Sue Elliot

I feel there is nothing which exemplifies the “best” of the United States that could not be found in other countries.
—Vincenzo Mercurio Vincitore

Obama’s presidency was our high water moment. I felt like we had turned a corner and began to live our values. Our economic growth has made our economy very comfortable for the upper middle class.
—Clyde Comstock

With some notable exceptions, equality under the law has progressed. Voting rights have expanded. Freedom of religion has fulfilled its promise. The question of whether wealth makes a difference in power relations has progressed, faltered. We seem to have dropped our premise that America is exceptional in its adherence to helping others, however. Somehow walls, jails, and overdeveloped military might have become our answer to the rest of the world.
—Stephen Lewandowski 

Centers for Disease Control, NASA, Labor Unions, Medicare, Social Security, Clean Air Act.
—David Newman

The best of America is currently under threat. Nevertheless, most Americans are decent, kind and generous.
—Deborah Onslow

Women’s rights.
—C E. Daly

The anti-slavery amendments, the Keynesian New Deal, the defeat of fascism in WW II, and the Civil Rights and Voting Rights legislation of the 1960s. All of these have been weakened or destroyed by attacking the equal rule of law corrupting all branches of government by the wealthy.
—James Bertolone

Lunar Landing, Civil Rights Movement, Minnesota protestors.
—Victoria Robertson

Obama being elected as the first black president was a start. Enacting the Affordable Care Act was a major accomplishment, especially for someone like me—that is a college lecturer, whose health insurance was determined by the number of classes taught per semester. Some semesters, I had full coverage while other semesters where I was only assigned two courses, I had no health insurance. ACA ended all of that, enabling me to have health insurance all year round, even during the summers when I didn’t teach.
—Calvin Collins

Please share any other thoughts on the 250th anniversary of America’s founding.

We should be proud of the “American experiment” and continue to believe in it and support, defend and protect it with all our collective hearts.
—Ed Palumbos

It is unfortunate that we arrive at this juncture in our history at the same moment when the highest court in our land is back-tracking on important civil rights, such as voting and the rights of minorities, while inflating the power of the country’s executive branch far beyond that which was framed in the Constitution. I have a sense of being cheated from enjoying the fruits of freedoms that so many fought and died for over the centuries.
—Michael DeMott

Unfortunately, what should be a positive, forward thinking time for our country is being destroyed by a “little” man and his cadre of sycophants. I hope that November starts the reversal of our backsliding for both our country and our place in the world.
—Larry Broser

We are currently in a very troubled time, and the administration has worked diligently to erase all the progress this country has made. I remain optimistic and will not give up on United States of America, nor our American flag.
—Patrick Tobin

We have always been a fractious society, fraught with conflict between the opposing forces of enlightenment and the status quo. It’s what makes us yearn to a return for what was, or what could be.
—Steven Jarose

I am sad that the months since Donald Trump’s second election have seen such a backsliding on our ideals of freedom, justice, and inclusivity. I don’t think President Trump is the only cause of this backsliding, I think it is a tendency that has been building for some time and that, maybe more importantly, has not been pushed back hard enough on. I am hopeful that the founding ideals will prove stronger than the regressive forces we are experiencing now, but that is hope tempered with the understanding that it will take many of us, using our freedom of speech and assembly, to win back the advances we have lost.
—Ginny Maier

I hope and pray that America’s leaders and citizens will show compassion and understanding to each other as we move into the next decade. The coming ten years will be critical.
—Mary Lynn Vickers

It’s frustrating that more citizens don’t actively inform themselves about who represents them in Congress, nor do they actively participate in our democratic process. Too few people vote. Too few actually read or view curated, truthful news. Even TV news that was once the gold standard has now become more “entertainment” than objective reporting. But, I do believe that for every step back we do take two steps forward. Every student from K-12 should read both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution and discuss it once a year to more fully understand our collective aspirations. We also need to teach more civics. As someone who came of age in the 60s, I’ve seen both the best and worst of us, and I am still hopeful and optimistic that we will keep moving forward.
—Frank Orienter

The U.S. Constitution will be 250 years old in 2039. While solid overall, it is showing its age in some areas, resulting in too much government dysfunction. During the next few years, we need to have a constitutional convention to propose some constitutional amendments that will make our government more effective. To be approved by 3/4 of the states, those amendments will need to contain something for “both sides” of the political aisle, for example limiting budget deficits while allowing a wealth tax. Let’s celebrate our current semiquincentennial by taking steps to have a “more perfect” Constitution by its 250th anniversary!
—Peter Collinge

Sadly, this anniversary underlines that we are no longer united.  We are as polarized as I’ve ever seen during my lifetime, half of the country vilifying the other.
—Sandy Mayer

I am anticipating that any celebrations of our 250th Anniversary promoted by this current regime will be nothing more than a sham.
—Jayne Morgan

America was founded on aspirational principles that, admittedly, we weren’t even practicing at the time. The Founders are rightly criticized for this hypocrisy—but the aspirational principles are still good ones. If America can use the 250th anniversary to take a hard look in the mirrror and recognize that we have not only fallen short of those principles, but seriously regressed—then there is some hope we can recommit to them, and perhaps achieve them. This is a time to embrace the concept popularized by Antonio Gramsci: “Pessimism of the intellect, optimisim of the will.”
—Aaron E. Wicks

We are still perfecting both the ideas and practice of “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”
—JoAnn Beck

The 250th anniversary of America’s founding should be a moment of gratitude, reflection, and recommitment. We should be grateful for the courage of the founders, for the brilliance of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, and for the generations of Americans who sacrificed to preserve and improve this republic. At the same time, we should remember that freedom is never guaranteed. Each generation has to decide whether it will protect liberty, self-government, personal responsibility, free speech, religious freedom, private property, and the rule of law. These ideas are not old-fashioned. They are the foundation of a free society. America has made mistakes, sometimes serious ones. But America has also shown a remarkable ability to correct itself, expand opportunity, and move closer to its founding ideals. That is one of the great strengths of our system. As we mark 250 years, I hope we do more than celebrate fireworks and history. I hope we reread the Declaration of Independence, think seriously about what it means, and remember Lincoln’s charge that this nation must remain a government of the people, by the people, and for the people. Government exists to protect our rights, not to control our lives. If we can recover that balance, America’s best days are still ahead of us.
—Mark Gianniny

About one million American service members, mostly young men, gave the last full measure of devotion fighting in various wars to establish (Revolutionary War), preserve (Union soldiers in the Civil War), or protect (WW I, WW II, etc.) our country. Contrast that with today’s congressional Republicans, where almost every member places the perpetuation of his or her political career above doing the right thing for our country.
—John Jaenike

I usually fly the flag on July 4. This year I did on Juneteenth but not sure I will do so on the 4th.
—Lynn Braband

I remember the excitement around the 200th anniversary. Despite Watergate, despite Nixon, despite race-based protests, we were all excited and proud. Today, with the despicable, corrupt, racist administration in office, many of us are plain embarrassed about where America is today. Celebration seems hypocritical.
—Martha Bush

The racist, anti-LGBTQ+, anti-women’s rights, anti-immigrant, anti-science Trump administration and its millions of supporters are a very disturbing development in our history.
—John Osowski

It’s hard to feel celebratory at a time when a portion of the nation and our elected leaders want to take us backwards. We’ve lost forward momentum as a country, instead we are looking to the past for answers to the problems of our day (many self created).
—Pat Gooch

It’s noteworthy that our 250th takes place at the same time as North America hosting the World Cup. Europeans visiting here are awestruck at all the advantages of American lifestyles. Americans should take note. Every nation has its challenges, including the US. But no other nation can provide the luxuries we take for granted.
—John Calia

We were and are an imperfect union striving for a wonderful ideal. We have lost momentum towards that ideal at points in history but have always returned to it. I am less hopefully at this juncture but … still hopeful.

—Peter Knapp

Over time we have gradually removed God from our governmental framework, something very detrimental to our future.
—David Terp

The 250th anniversary has the founding fathers turning in their graves. Many of the rights given to the people have been trampled on by this administration and the supreme court.

Remy Fenster

Anniversaries are an opportunity not only to celebrate, but to remember. I’ve learned that many of America’s most meaningful stories were never considered important enough to make it into textbooks. They survive instead in local newspapers, cemeteries, family papers, and small community archives. As we mark 250 years, I hope we take time to recover those overlooked histories alongside the familiar ones. They remind us that the American story has always been larger, more diverse, and more interconnected than we often imagine.
—Austin Albanese

Our nation has weather a lot over the last 250 years and we’re still standing. But we can’t take the next 250 years, or even the next 50 years, for granted.  We have to come together again.
—Geoff Rosenberger

I remember the Bicentennial and it was a huge celebration. The 250th anniversary does not feel like something to celebrate. Our current occupant in the White House is actively eroding all our country’s founding principles and destroying so much of the progress we had made as a democracy. I am hopeful that we can turn this around, but I’m not sure we’ll recover to 2016 levels in my lifetime.
—Janice Bradley

I fear that we are on the precipice of becoming the Roman Empire as it began its descent. Our growing lack of caring for all members of society, including people from other countries seeking refuge and economic safety, coupled with our increasing worship of the super rich and our acceptance of bigotry and demonization of people who disagree with us lead me to worry that our very foundations are being eroded and we are letting ourselves be led by a would be monarch who will lead us down a path of no return.
—Clyde Comstock

I created this essay series a year ago precisely because I don’t think Douglass, King, and Hughes would say that we’re anywhere close to what the Founders created 250 years ago. So please see this link and see what you think! July 4th epitomizes “No Kings! Happy 250th!
—Bill Wynne

Our current malaise will pass. This birthday will be remembered as one we didn’t celebrate.

America needs formal mechanisms to mitigate the kind of wealth and income concentration that resulted in violence for 30-40 years following the “Gilded Age.”
—Robert E. Brown

Event has been stolen and misdirected by Trump admin. Hope we see some wonder and marvel appear at last minute. And—would love to see a bold and generous undertaking to help the world.
—J. Neil Stalter

We’ve made signific progress “since our founding” in opportunity, personal liberties, gender equality, racial equality, etc. … but we’re currently in a period of decline. It’s common to hear people wonder “Will the United States be here for another 250 years? Or 50?”
—Dave Garretson

Unfortunately, in recent years, we have lost much of our freedom from fear and being positive towards others.
—Michael Bausch

The constitution is a moldy old document written by wealthy classist slave-holding misogynists who NEVER imagined free people of color, women as anything more than property, gay people, transexuals, disabled people, religious fanatics working their way into government positions, uneducated voters, corporations as political entities, multi-BILLIONAIRES, dark money funding political empires, immigrants, organized crime, communications through any means other than paper, and the list goes on. Our current system firmly based on this stick-in-the-mud document makes it damned difficult to amend the constitution, and the ruling class is deeply entrenched in exploiting its flaws. At the same time, our militarized local law enforcement only knows how to violate human rights, and knows literally nothing of the laws which they are supposed to enforce. Our lawmakers are entrenched in keeping their seats and kowtowing to big money rather than protecting the Constitution and doing the people’s will. It’s time for a revolution.
—Vincenzo Mercurio Vincitore

Not much to be proud of these days.
—Miriam Rudnick

The current administration has given me a great deal to be worried about. The amount of corruption that is present is frightening. I am very anxious about election interference.
—Deborah Onslow

It is my hope that this anniversary will result in millions rededicating themselves to justice, that we will stop labeling anything that helps the average person as “Socialism” as Harry Truman and FDR pointed out, and we will stop allowing the fascist wealthy to blame non-whites and non-white immigrants for stealing the wealth worker’s productivity has created when this enormous theft has been by the very rich. Facts and math and science should matter.
—James Bertolone

I’m mourning, not celebrating, the 250th. The current occupant of the White (and Gold, Gold, Gold) House, and his sheep, are such a national embarrassment that he and they negate any reason to celebrate.
—Len Sheldon

It’s beyond unfortunate that on 250th anniversary of America’s founding that America is so deeply divided on SO many issues, that we’re involved in an unnecessary war at the expense of US taxpayers and the nation is being led by (someone) who ultimately disregards the needs of the common people and whose only GENUINE concern is the accumulation of money and how well the stock market is performing. How did such a great nation become so UN-great?

—Calvin Collins

We have the privilege of living in the world’s greatest country, but I am concerned that the divisiveness that currently exists is threatening to undo a lot of progress. Let’s not blow it for our descendants!
—David Powe

Paul Ericson is Rochester Beacon executive editor.

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