As the United States approaches its 250th birthday, many Americans find themselves conflicted. This is not a moment for blind celebration, nor is it a moment for despair.
After visiting the new Thaddeus Stevens and Lydia Hamilton Smith Center for History and Democracy in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, I found myself reflecting on what it means to be an American citizen during difficult times. Thaddeus Stevens understood that America often falls short of its ideals. Instead of abandoning those ideals, he dedicated his life to bringing the country closer to them.
In this opening installment of a new series leading up to the Fourth of July, we explore the concept of stewardship: the responsibility each generation inherits to preserve the rule of law, constitutional government, and individual liberty.
The Constitution does not promise a perfect union. It challenges us to build a more perfect one.
Topics discussed:
• The 250th anniversary of the United States• Thaddeus Stevens and Lydia Hamilton Smith• The Reconstruction Amendments• The concept of a “more perfect union”• The rule of law and constitutional government• Citizenship as stewardship• Why patriotism requires responsibility, not complacency• Preserving the republic for future generations
As America approaches its 250th birthday, this is not a time for complacency or despair. It’s a time to renew our commitment to the ideals that make self-government possible and to become better stewards of the republic we’ve inherited.
