Weekly Wisdom | 250 Years of Greatness
Thoughts on America's Semiquincentennial
Despite the political and economic challenges facing our country today, this Substack maintains that the United States was, is, and will remain the greatest nation in world history. On the eve of our 250th birthday, America still stands as the world's preeminent military, economic, and cultural power. Our citizens enjoy a level of material prosperity that even history's greatest economists and political philosophers could scarcely have imagined. Just as importantly, 250 years after our founding, Americans continue to enjoy the fundamental liberties enshrined in the Bill of Rights—the freedom to speak, worship, assemble, and participate in civic life without fear of government coercion or punishment.
Personally, when I reflect on America's 250th birthday, I'm filled with immense pride and gratitude. The freedoms Americans enjoy—to chart their own destiny, start a business, pursue opportunity wherever they choose, worship freely, participate in self-government, innovate, and advance economically—are unprecedented in human history. When I consider that the United States has underwritten global security, helped defeat both fascism and communism, and championed a global economic system that has lifted billions of people out of poverty, I'm reminded just how extraordinary our nation's story truly is. I'm enormously proud to be an American for all that our country has accomplished over the past 250 years.
It's my hope that everyone reading this shares my sense of gratitude for this remarkable country. Out of more than 8 billion people on Earth, we were extraordinarily fortunate to be born in the United States. Most of humanity has never experienced the political freedom, economic opportunity, or standard of living that Americans too often take for granted. So, as we celebrate our nation's 250th birthday this weekend, take a moment to thank God for the blessings He has bestowed upon our country—and for the privilege of calling yourself an American.
As we celebrate our nation’s 250th birthday tomorrow, it’s my sincere hope that my readers will continue to learn about and celebrate America’s remarkable history. Many of the semiquincentennial events will continue long after Independence Day, so there will still be plenty of opportunities to participate.
Above all, remember that the future of these United States rests with each of us. If we remain people of good character, deepen our civic knowledge, participate in the democratic process, and extend a helping hand to our more vulnerable fellow Americans, our nation will remain free, prosperous, and worthy of celebration for generations to come.
May God’s blessing rest upon us as we turn 250!
-Derek Stottlemyer
July 3, 2026
