Happy birthday, America! Yes, today is Independence Day, our 248th birthday.

And let’s leave aside the absurd hysteria being spewed by some in the media. (You are welcome to point and laugh at it, though.)

pic.twitter.com/PpICxRUAbL

— Jeremy Redfern (@JeremyRedfernFL) July 4, 2024

Instead, let’s focus on how this day should be celebrated. John Adams once wrote this to his wife Abigail, on how independence should be commemorated:

I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.

Despite our many divisions and difficulties and struggles, America possesses one great talent – we never forget.

Though people may be more ignorant of history than they should be, we never forget to celebrate Independence Day. All across America, there will be parades and fireworks. People may be gathering around barbecue grills and bonfire pits. While the solemnity of the day is often lost, the desire to throw a party never is. And despite the commercialization of most holidays (what store isn’t having a sale this weekend?), there is still a sense among the “normies” that America is a good thing and worth celebrating.

The flip side of America’s long memory and inability to forget? We never forget who has wronged us. Consider the story of Benedict Arnold. The first word that comes to the mind of any American who has heard his name before? Traitor. Arnold won a great victory at the Battle of Saratoga, but his betrayal cost him any respect in posterity.

America also remembers dates. July 4, 1776. April 15, 1865. December 7, 1941. June 6, 1944. September 11, 2001. Even people who don’t have living memory of these dates know of their significance, even if they are light on details. Yes, there are plenty of ignorant people out there who don’t know history. (Again, educate your kids.) But America remembers not only the good days, but the bad ones, too. Even as some wish to erase history if it doesn’t fit their narrative or world view, there are always people who do remember and somehow, a date or event will start trending on Twitter/X, lodging itself back in our collective consciousness.

Now, America is capable of acknowledging change. Witness our relationship with Japan after the end of World War II. Who would guess that they would now be one of our closest allies in the Pacific? We will never forget Pearl Harbor, but we can recognize that things have greatly changed over 80 years. It’s not forgiveness, because that’s not ours to give, but it is a recognition that time passes and people do change.

But we, as a people, do not forget. Today, we celebrate the independence that was so costly won by those who decided that they would not be ruled by a distant king’s tyrannical whims. No, the country that was created was not perfect. It still isn’t perfect. It will never be perfect. But still, we celebrate. Still, we remember. Still, we light off fireworks and enjoy the spectacle. Even in our hardest and darkest moments, we celebrate.

Party on, America – and never forget that we are supposed to celebrate this day. Our independence and our freedom is worth celebrating.

Featured image via Ray_Shrewsberry on Pixabay, cropped, Pixabay license