A moment to reflect on America鈥檚 ideals
America is at a pivotal moment. It鈥檚 not just because the nation is marking 250 years since the Founders signed the Declaration of Independence in a Philadelphia hall.
It鈥檚 also a moment in which many are deeply concerned about the direction of the country, its ideals, and how to best bring those out today.
Those concerns echo from the rugged mountains of the West to the marble halls of Congress, from the crisp Boundary Waters in Minnesota to the humid Gulf Coast of Texas. Monitor reporters have scribbled down such sentiments as they crisscrossed the country in recent years, covering everything from agriculture to immigration to election security and integrity. Those scribbles have served as a seismograph of sorts, tracing the inflection points and rising intensity of the national conversation.
Why We Wrote This
As the semiquincentennial approaches, Americans from all corners of the country are grappling with the question of where we go next. The answer may lie within the nation鈥檚 past, and the indomitable American spirit.
Yet we often hear, in our travels as well as interviews with historians, that America has faced tough moments before. The Civil War. The Depression. The 1960s, with its social ferment and strife over the Vietnam War. Writer Victoria Hoffmann had such periods in mind as she searched for quotes about American ideals to highlight in this week鈥檚 edition.
鈥淎 good thing to help us move forward is to look back at where we鈥檝e been and where we can go,鈥� says Victoria, who chose quotes ranging from political philosopher Thomas Paine to former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. 鈥淭his is just reminding everybody that we鈥檙e all here for the same purpose.鈥�
As you flip through these pages, you might notice small American flags hidden throughout the magazine. Can you find all 18? Be sure to look for both a flag from America鈥檚 founding and the flag we fly today. Check The Home Forum to see if you鈥檝e found them all.
We hope this issue gives you a moment to pause and reflect on America鈥檚 history and ideals, from letters between John and Abigail Adams to a portrait of rugged self-reliance in Kentucky harking back to 1776 to a tailor鈥檚 work sewing reenactment costumes. In turn, we鈥檇 love to hear your reflections on this semiquincentennial year.
