For the past month we’ve watched the World Cup unfold across the U.S., Mexico and Canada. It’s been truly amazing… thrilling upsets, packed stadiums and so many unforgettable moments.Â
Best of all, Americans gave the players and fans a warm reception, and our guests loved it. Soccer star Erling Haaland raved about how friendly and positive we are, having enjoyed rodeos, blasted country music, and returned to Norway with a stuffed raccoon.
It’s a wonderful reminder that the world still sees the United States as a place of optimism and possibility.Â
Of course, many Americans had hoped this milestone year celebrating two and a half centuries of progress would represent another leap forward – our first female president. That would have been a moment of great pride and competent leadership.Â
But our story has never belonged to any one person. It belongs to all of us.
For 250 years Americans have shown that democracy is strongest not because it is perfect, but because it is resilient. Generation after generation has pushed this nation closer to its founding ideals. We abolished slavery. We expanded the right to vote. We confronted segregation. We advanced equality for women, LGBTQ+ Americans, and people with disabilities. Each chapter has moved us closer to the promise that liberty and justice belong to everyone.
That is our story. The Founders provided an extraordinary beginning, but they also left us unfinished work. Our responsibility is to build upon it with courage, conviction and compassion. The arc is indeed long and must continue to bend toward justice.
Let's make the next 250 years worthy of the first.
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Photo credit: Getty Images
