The 61st Annual Freedom at the Arboretum event begins at noon this Fourth of July at John A. Finch Arboretum with an opening concert and a meet-and-greet candidates program at 1:15 p.m.
Yet our adolescent democratic republic remains unfinished. Despite its influence on the world stage, it struggles to live up to the potential embodied in its name
Movie musicals are fantasies, in general. But there is real history in “1776,” compressed, synthesized, and often subordinated to narrative drama, of course. But that history, such as it is, is more relevant now than when the film debuted.
Actually, we declared independence on July 2 (and because of the times) it took until Aug. 12 for everyone to come together for the full signing of the Declaration: a grand idea that became one of the greatest nations in history.
As we celebrate our freedoms this July 4th, we are being challenged, both nationally and globally, to protect those freedoms from the agenda of those who are motivated by their political or religious ideology to exert ultimate control over others’ lives.