From the editor: A more perfect union

Each Fourth of July, Americans across the nation gather to celebrate Independence Day with fireworks, barbecues, parades and patriotic displays.

While the holiday commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776, it has evolved into a day when we stand as one — transcending the political, cultural and social divisions that can enter daily life.

The unifying power of July 4 lies in its ability to connect Americans to a shared foundational story.

Regardless of when their families arrived in America, whether as early colonists, enslaved, immigrants fleeing persecution and poverty or more recent arrivals seeking opportunity, all Americans can claim ownership of the principles declared on that historic day in Philadelphia.

The Declaration’s assertion that “all men are created equal” and are “endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights” represents an aspirational ideal that continues to inspire and unite.

The day also serves as an annual reminder of American resilience and the ongoing project of building a “more perfect union.”

The holiday allows us to reflect on how far the nation has come while acknowledging the work that remains.

The same declaration that proclaimed liberty in 1776 later inspired abolitionists fighting slavery, suffragists demanding voting rights and civil rights leaders seeking equality.

Independence Day is not just a celebration of past achievements, but a call to continue expanding the reach of American ideals.

Perhaps most importantly, the Fourth of July represents a choice to emphasize what unites Americans rather than what divides them.

For one day, Americans can focus on shared values — freedom, opportunity, self-governance and the belief that people can come together to solve problems and build better communities.

The enduring appeal of July 4th lies in its fundamental optimism about the “American experiment.”

The holiday celebrates not a perfect nation, but one founded on perfectible ideals.

It reminds Americans that despite their differences, they share a common commitment to the concept that people can govern themselves and that individual liberty and collective responsibility can coexist.