Of Bicentennials and Semiquincentennials - Soapbox Jr.

That summer, I was 11-years-old, and I remember it well. Being anti-American wasn’t really a widespread thing at the time, so the stars and stripes motif was everywhere and the national “malaise” of the late 70s hadn’t really kicked into high gear yet, so patriotism was proudly on display.

Bicentennial celebrations and merchandise were aplenty, small independent boxing movie called “Rocky” even incorporated the upcoming celebration into its story by heavyweight champion, Apollo Creed, gave an unknown Italian fighter a shot at the title in celebration of the upcoming up Bicentennial, Creed even decked himself out in stars and stripes trunks and topping it off with an Uncle Sam style top hat.

It was a big deal.

Being just a child at the time, it wasn’t until later on that I really understood the significance of what it was all about.

The American experiment was still working.

At no other time in history had a nation attempted to govern itself with restraint rather than authoritarianism, and the founders knew the pitfalls of unchecked governmental power, because the Colonies were under the thumb of the British crown.

Famously, Thomas Paine wrote in “Common Sense,” “Society in every state is a blessing, but Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state, an intolerable one.”

So therein lies the rub, how to keep government in check, and to keep it from taxing its citizens into ruin and respecting personal property rights.

This was radical thinking in the 1700s.

It took critical “outside the box” thinking by some very passionate souls in order to support cutting ties with England, but even more importantly, “What comes next?”

What came next was our founding document, the Declaration of Independence, a document which was not taken lightly by its proponents, this was of the utmost importance to build a solid foundation, or this fledgling young nation wouldn’t have a prayer.

Here’s a few excerpts:

“WHEN in the Course of human Events, it becomes necessary for one People to dissolve the Political Bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the Powers of the Earth, the separate and equal Station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them,”

“We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness—-That to secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed,”

"we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor"

This was not a position that these men took lightly, and they knew that there was always the potential for it to all disintegrate and slide backwards into monarchy.

Years later, our founders were still trying to devise a better system as the original governing documents, The Articles of Confederation, proved to be deficient for the nation’s needs. 

Federal government had been purposely de-emphasized so much that it was nearly irrelevant with almost all power lying with the individual states. There needed to be a better power balance which led to the establishment of the United States Constitution.

After the vote on adopting the Constitution, Elizabeth Willing Powel asked Benjamin Franklin, “Well, Doctor, what have we got, a republic or a monarchy?” to which he replied, “A republic, if you can keep it.”

Even Franklin was skeptical that the pendulum wouldn’t swing back the other way.

But somehow, we have managed to keep it, not that there haven’t been small bumps and huge mountains along the way, but the great experiment continues.

On July 4, 2026, we’re celebrating the U.S.’s Semiquincentennial (who knew that was a word?)

In 1976, Mom, Dad and I were blessed to celebrate 200 years of American independence, and now – Lord willing – 250 years, something I couldn’t have even begun to fathom in 1976. 2026 might as well have been Star Trek’s 23^rdCentury when you’re eleven years old, but here it is upon us.

I wish Dad was around to see America 250, he’d have a lot to celebrate and no shortage of words.

I just turned 61, so the odds of me seeing the American Tricentennial in 2076 aren’t so good. In the brightest statistical terms, I’ve got two chances, slim and none.

I just pray that the American experiment continues to endure through 2076 and beyond, until our Lord returns.

We will be celebrating America 250 and Dad at Ft. Campbell on July 4th. Admission is free, y’all come celebrate with us! It’s gonna be something special.

What do you think?

Let’s all make the day count!

Pray for our troops, our police, the Peace of Jerusalem and our nation.

God Bless America!

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