July 4 2026 / 250 years

[Bootstrap]

i’d like to visit The Henry Ford Museum. with my family.
https://www.thehenryford.org/visit/venu ... innovation

^^looks like they have “The Spirit of America” tonight.

Greenfield Village
https://www.thehenryford.org/visit/venu ... ld-village

I really like Greenfield Village. Definitely worth visiting. I like open air museums in general. There's an old Moravian settlement down here called Old Salem that I like to visit.

[temporal1]

“Informed patriotism?”

Not a bad summary.
i appreciate his description of 1976, 200 years.
We were young+busy, and i agree with Dr Phil on this, there were LOTS of serious problems going on.
This is a fair reminder for perspective.

The strongest impulse is navel-gazing.

Dr Phil / “Afraid to Say You're Proud to Be an American? Watch This.” / -11min

As America marks 250 years, Dr. Phil challenges the narrative that our best days are behind us.
Looking at the facts, not the headlines, he makes the case for informed patriotism.
A conversation about progress, perspective, and personal responsibility.
Happy Birthday, America.

The headline could be better. It’s not the worst.

i, personally, avoid using the word, “proud” at all times. pride is a sin. i’m not a hardliner, i think it’s best to remember.
as well, there are usually better words to convey emotions. i think the word is generally overused.

example:
i’m proud of my granddaugter.
instead -
i’m pleased with my granddaughter.

i’m so much more at ease with the latter.

[Bootstrap]

This Dr. Phil video really doesn't speak to me.

I don't think it represents what the Founders were doing, the Declaration of Independence, or the Constitution.

It's not a call for unity, it's positioned as a fight. He could, for instance, simply say that he is proud of his country, but instead, he tells you you don't have to be afraid to say that you are proud of this country. People say that every day, I don't think they have anything to fear when they say it. There's also no need to speculate about those other people who might not say they are proud of this country. That doesn't lead to unity either.

Culture wars do not promote unity. There's nothing more obvious than that. And they are rarely about the principles in the Declaration of Independence or the Constitution.

And then he starts talking about how America is the "Greatest nation in the world". In what way? In some ways, certainly not. We're really good in other ways. We have a lot we can learn from other countries, and they from us. The Founders did not believe in American Greatness either, and would generally see themselves as citizens of a particular state, a citizen of VIrginia or Massachussetts or New York or Pennsylvania, not America. They also wanted to limit the power of the central government. Certainly Britain, France, Spain, and the Dutch did not see America as great, they would have found that proposition laughable at the time. The principles in the Declaration and the Constitution, however, have proven themselves over time. And they are really the one thing that holds Americans together in times of disagreement.

But most importantly, I am a Christian, my faith is not in "American Greatness" or anything like that. This is how I think Christians should regard this country:

Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.

At the same time, I clearly am an American. And I believe in the principles found in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. If we really believe in those principles, we need to keep our eyes open, because they are always under threat.

[Valerie]

This Dr. Phil video really doesn't speak to me.

I don't think it represents what the Founders were doing, the Declaration of Independence, or the Constitution.

It's not a call for unity, it's positioned as a fight. He could, for instance, simply say that he is proud of his country, but instead, he tells you you don't have to be afraid to say that you are proud of this country. People say that every day, I don't think they have anything to fear when they say it. There's also no need to speculate about those other people who might not say they are proud of this country. That doesn't lead to unity either.

Culture wars do not promote unity. There's nothing more obvious than that. And they are rarely about the principles in the Declaration of Independence or the Constitution.

And then he starts talking about how America is the "Greatest nation in the world". In what way? In some ways, certainly not. We're really good in other ways. We have a lot we can learn from other countries, and they from us. The Founders did not believe in American Greatness either, and would generally see themselves as citizens of a particular state, a citizen of VIrginia or Massachussetts or New York or Pennsylvania, not America. They also wanted to limit the power of the central government. Certainly Britain, France, Spain, and the Dutch did not see America as great, they would have found that proposition laughable at the time. The principles in the Declaration and the Constitution, however, have proven themselves over time. And they are really the one thing that holds Americans together in times of disagreement.

But most importantly, I am a Christian, my faith is not in "American Greatness" or anything like that. This is how I think Christians should regard this country:

Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.

At the same time, I clearly am an American. And I believe in the principles found in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. If we really believe in those principles, we need to keep our eyes open, because they are always under threat.

In my opinion or understanding, it seems to me that we may have a difference of opinion as to what the word “great” means regarding making America great again.
I like some of the ideas Trump had had in reversing some things that seemed to make it “not so great” but t gf at will be a matter of opinion. If you were “for” Roe v Wade, and for abortion, his direction to reverse that would be great to some, not great to others. If you were good with transgender men in women’s bathrooms, women’s sports, then you would see what he has accomplished reversing that as helping to make America great again he is for two genders. Period if you are for many genders, you would see that as not making America great again. There are many things he is working on to accomplish for example make America healthy again to Senator Kennedy as helping to make America great again because we have become a very unhealthy nation there’s lots of examples of things that he stands for that I think would improve our country that we have allowed to deteriorate in some ways. Many ways. I don’t agree with him on everything.

I do spend time listening to his thoughts on what changes to America that has upset him- indoctrinating children in school with teaching that should not be. He holds more press conferences than any president I’ve known so you can hear his explanations through all the questions that are fired away of him. At 80 years old, you’ve seen a lot of changes to America that you’re not pleased with. I don’t fault him for wanting to reverse a lot of that.

[Bootstrap]

And then he starts talking about how America is the "Greatest nation in the world". In what way? In some ways, certainly not. We're really good in other ways. We have a lot we can learn from other countries, and they from us. The Founders did not believe in American Greatness either, and would generally see themselves as citizens of a particular state, a citizen of VIrginia or Massachussetts or New York or Pennsylvania, not America. They also wanted to limit the power of the central government. Certainly Britain, France, Spain, and the Dutch did not see America as great, they would have found that proposition laughable at the time. The principles in the Declaration and the Constitution, however, have proven themselves over time. And they are really the one thing that holds Americans together in times of disagreement.

But most importantly, I am a Christian, my faith is not in "American Greatness" or anything like that. This is how I think Christians should regard this country:

Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.

At the same time, I clearly am an American. And I believe in the principles found in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. If we really believe in those principles, we need to keep our eyes open, because they are always under threat.

In my opinion or understanding, it seems to me that we may have a difference of opinion as to what the word “great” means regarding making America great again.
I like some of the ideas Trump had ...

I can't think of any definition of great that would change a word I said above. If we are celebrating something 250 years old, it's not "American Greatness", MAGA, or Trump, who is only 80 years old. If we are looking for what unifies Americans, I think we can find those things in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, but not on one side of the American culture wars.

I'm against abortion, I believe there are only two genders, and health is certainly a good thing. I don't know why you would imply otherwise. In general, I really would like to speak for myself.

The 250th anniversary is not about Trump. And making it so would not be unifying. Since April, his approval ratings have hovered between 38% and 39%. But really, that's completely irrelevant regardless, the 250th is not about Trump, one way or another.

[ohio jones]

There are many things he is working on to accomplish for example make America healthy again to Senator Kennedy as helping to make America great again because we have become a very unhealthy nation there’s lots of examples of things that he stands for that I think would improve our country that we have allowed to deteriorate in some ways.

That's a great example of a Pauline sentence. Do you mean Senator Kennedy or Secretary Kennedy?

At 80 years old, you’ve seen a lot of changes to America that you’re not pleased with.

Is Bootstrap really that old?

[Valerie]

There are many things he is working on to accomplish for example make America healthy again to Senator Kennedy as helping to make America great again because we have become a very unhealthy nation there’s lots of examples of things that he stands for that I think would improve our country that we have allowed to deteriorate in some ways.

That's a great example of a Pauline sentence. Do you mean Senator Kennedy or Secretary Kennedy?

At 80 years old, you’ve seen a lot of changes to America that you’re not pleased with.

Is Bootstrap really that old?

Whoops meant secretary Kennedy & was referring to Trump being 80, should have said “he’s “.

[Valerie]

And then he starts talking about how America is the "Greatest nation in the world". In what way? In some ways, certainly not. We're really good in other ways. We have a lot we can learn from other countries, and they from us. The Founders did not believe in American Greatness either, and would generally see themselves as citizens of a particular state, a citizen of VIrginia or Massachussetts or New York or Pennsylvania, not America. They also wanted to limit the power of the central government. Certainly Britain, France, Spain, and the Dutch did not see America as great, they would have found that proposition laughable at the time. The principles in the Declaration and the Constitution, however, have proven themselves over time. And they are really the one thing that holds Americans together in times of disagreement.

But most importantly, I am a Christian, my faith is not in "American Greatness" or anything like that. This is how I think Christians should regard this country:



At the same time, I clearly am an American. And I believe in the principles found in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. If we really believe in those principles, we need to keep our eyes open, because they are always under threat.

In my opinion or understanding, it seems to me that we may have a difference of opinion as to what the word “great” means regarding making America great again.
I like some of the ideas Trump had ...

I can't think of any definition of great that would change a word I said above. If we are celebrating something 250 years old, it's not "American Greatness", MAGA, or Trump, who is only 80 years old. If we are looking for what unifies Americans, I think we can find those things in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, but not on one side of the American culture wars.

I'm against abortion, I believe there are only two genders, and health is certainly a good thing. I don't know why you would imply otherwise. In general, I really would like to speak for myself.

The 250th anniversary is not about Trump. And making it so would not be unifying. Since April, his approval ratings have hovered between 38% and 39%. But really, that's completely irrelevant regardless, the 250th is not about Trump, one way or another.

Opinions noted.
Approval ratings I’m sure he knew would be affected by his decision to bomb Iran & that ongoing conflict. People don’t like paying more at the pump. A lot of Americans don’t realize the threats of Iran & until they actually carried out their threat of death to Israel & death to America we all sit here feeling safe from that. Trump was given valid information- however his popularity was hurt by $$$ because basically that’s what most people care about the most. I think Iran is playing him. However the average American doesn’t seem to care he’s trying to protect us in the long run because they seem to know little about the threat or care. Trump has been talking about Iran since 1981-I saw the interview replayed recently.

[ohio jones]

This thread is in History, not Politics.

[Valerie]

This thread is in History, not Politics.

They’re somewhat intertwined?