Each year on July 4th we celebrate our country’s founding, an event that was a truly remarkable achievement.
Our founders achieved the overthrow of what was the most powerful empire in the world and birthed a system of democratic governance that had been largely extinct for millennia.
This story of origin set us on a path to be a unique development in the world.
We wrote a constitution, promised freedoms to the citizens of the early nation, and over time spread those freedoms to more Americans.
More than that, similar freedoms spread across the world. Kings fell in Europe and people looked towards the United States for guidance and inspiration.
The generations who built our country’s foundation had a clear purpose. Later generations similarly aspired towards great ends.
They defeated the Nazis in Europe and the Japanese Empire in Asia, worked to free millions from the tyranny of the Soviet Union and built an international system that has promised relative stability and lifted billions out of poverty globally.
But as I write this today, I am sadly at a loss to define my generation’s purpose.
As a young American, I am remarkably fortunate to have grown up in a country that affords me immeasurable liberties and freedoms, many of which I cannot imagine having to live without.
However, I fear there is a certain sense of purpose within our nation that is lacking. The achievements of those who came before us were reached with a sense and desire for national unity that one would be hard-pressed to find today.
Our political culture has been largely corroded, with many of our leaders far more intent to define themselves in opposition to the “other” than in a desire to seek a greater end to unite our nation around. Of course, opposition can be warranted, but opposition alone cannot be what defines us.
Above all, we must seek unity towards such a purpose before we are pulled further into an ever-increasing divide that risks leaving us vulnerable to forgetting what has made American history special.
Sadly, I do not have the answer to what our next unifying purpose might be.
I, and I expect most of you, are looking for it.
As Americans we have it hardwired into our DNA to look toward something greater than ourselves. We have historically aspired to be a light onto the world and with the proper focus, we can regain this destiny.
I am hoping that on our next July 4th we will again have a common purpose to aspire in our sights. If we wait too long such an opportunity may pass us by.
Peter Fishkind
Roslyn Heights
