COREY STRONG

America turns 250 this year.

For a lot of people, that feels like a reason to celebrate. For others, it feels complicated.

I understand both.

If I’m being honest, I’ve never considered myself an especially patriotic person. Even before our current administration entered the White House, patriotism wasn’t something I wore on my sleeve. I’ve always believed that loving your country doesn’t require pretending it’s perfect.

And America has never been perfect.

Its history is filled with extraordinary achievements alongside painful chapters of racism, discrimination, inequality, and injustice. Those truths deserve to be acknowledged, not ignored.

Still, I don’t think we should lose sight of what we do have.

We still have people willing to speak up.

We still have communities organizing for change.

We still have journalists asking difficult questions.

We still have neighbors helping neighbors.

And while many people feel our democracy is under tremendous strain, we still have opportunities to participate in it. We can vote. We can organize. We can contact our elected officials. We can peacefully protest. We can support causes we believe in. Those are things worth protecting.

Sometimes, when the world feels heavy, I remind myself that hope isn’t denial. Hope is a decision.

It’s choosing not to surrender to cynicism.

Earlier today on my vlog, I shared that I’ve decided to celebrate America’s 250th birthday in my own way.

For me, that meant putting on some music that has always moved me. I listened to Whitney Houston’s unforgettable performance of the National Anthem. I listened to Sandi Patty sing “God Bless America.” Those songs remind me that patriotism can sound different depending on who’s listening.

You don’t have to celebrate the same way everyone else does.

You don’t have to wave a flag if that doesn’t feel authentic.

You don’t have to ignore what’s happening around you.

Celebrate, if you choose to, in a way that reflects your values.

But I also believe the greatest way to honor America isn’t with fireworks.

It’s with action.

Call your members of Congress.

Write letters.

Volunteer.

Knock on doors.

Support organizations doing meaningful work.

Attend local meetings.

Have difficult conversations.

Stand up against racism, bigotry, hatred, and injustice wherever you encounter them.

The future of this country won’t be decided by one holiday or one anniversary. It will be shaped by ordinary people deciding that they won’t sit quietly while others determine the direction of their communities.

That’s how democracy survives.

Not through blind loyalty.

Through active participation.

America at 250 isn’t just about looking backward at where we’ve been.

It’s about deciding where we’re going next.

Whether you’re celebrating today, reflecting quietly, or struggling with complicated feelings about this country, know that all of those emotions can exist at the same time.

Loving the possibility of America doesn’t require ignoring its failures.

In fact, believing we can be better may be one of the most patriotic acts there is.

So wherever you find yourself this Independence Day, celebrate in a way that feels true to you.

Then tomorrow, get back to the work of building the kind of country future generations deserve.

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Photo by Fernando Strabuli on Unsplash.