by Thomas Reiner, Quartz Mountain Commentary, ©2026
(Jul. 3, 2026) — Tomorrow will be the Fourth of Forever, 250th edition. Nothing in the history of our world has come even close to the greatness of America and America’s promise. Nothing.
America was born one bullet away from abortion in 1776. Providence saved us from that fate and we were born a free people even though we were born with a lingering infection of slavery. Like a young child, it took young America time to learn that wrongs must be turned into rights and 700,000 gave their lives to cauterize the evils learned from the Old World. We aren’t perfect because we are human, but America knows how to continue fixing its problems.
America almost always moves forward, sometimes stumbling, but we always get up and dust ourselves off. The same is true of the freedom afforded to all Americans. Our greatness stems from our freedom to fail and to start over to achieve success. Rinse and repeat. In the old Eastern and Western worlds dominated by kings and tyrants, failure by birth or happenstance dooms one to permanently remain in that station. Not so in America.
American society thrives rather than stagnates because of freedom. Where do you think that iPhone in your pocket came from? The same for the internet, airplanes, computers, googly things, GPS, television, computer chips, that package on your doorstep hours after you order it and the footsteps on the moon. American freedom spawns ingenuity which brings prosperity to the inventor as well as the users. Stop listening to the knuckleheads on the boob tube caterwauling about the rich. That is the goal of America, and to say otherwise simply smacks of jealousy. When you think about it, we are already rich living in America. Striving and thriving demands hard work.
Historically, people from all over the world have legally migrated to America to assimilate, knowing they have been bestowed with freedom and opportunity to overcome the adversity from whence they came. The American flag is the flag they now wave side by side with the citizens who invited them to migrate. There is a momentary burp caused by political hucksters who desire to centralize power for their own aggrandizement. The American child is still stumbling but will soon get back up while learning to walk.
The World Cup has given the rest of the world the opportunity to see and share with our greatness. What we Americans take for granted simply amazes our visitors. Who knew that Ranch dressing could have so much power? As they return home, they will become our latest ambassadors.
A little cold beer on this Friday night should get our cowboy hats on, salute the ones who died for us and get us ready to shout “Hell, yeah!” tomorrow on our 250th birthday and celebration of greatness.
Thank you, America, for all the beautiful things you have given us.