A long walk is always time well spent. Find a place where you can let go of the craziness and uncertainty that fills our days in these troubled times. Let the fresh air fill your lungs and clear your head. Or have a quiet conversation with yourself or your maker, and take count of your blessings.

    The text of the Constitution of the United States was completed in September of 1787, roughly 11 years after the first shots were fired in Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts. And as Benjamin Franklin exited what is now known as Independence Hall in Philadelphia, he was asked by a local woman, what had we wrought, "a republic, or a monarchy?" "A republic," Franklin replied. But the second part of his answer belied his grave pessimism for our nation's future, "If you can keep it," he quipped. 

    At 250 years, we are a young nation, just a kid in comparison to other nations and cultures. And yet, we are the oldest surviving democracy. The juxtaposition of these two facts is worrisome. It implies that other cultures have tried democratic rule- and failed. Franklin was not alone in his fears. James Madison, who is known as the "Father of the Constitution," for his vital work in the writing of that document, was in fact, the only Founding Father who felt confident about the long-term viability of our American experiment. These men were men of faith, but also students of history. They knew the many ways that democracies could backslide into something less, or something worse, or fail entirely.

     Throughout our 250 years as a nation, we have survived many challenges: the growing pains of a fledgling nation, a civil war, two world wars, social upheaval and the struggle for civil rights- the true reconciliation to the concept that all men are created equal. Today, our nation and the world, face so many daunting problems. And democracy seems as fragile as ever. I guess it always will- as long as it relies on a belief that men are essentially good, and capable of self-governance; while, at the same time, the frailties of our nature make us susceptible to demagoguery and the corruption of principles.

    As we mark the milestone of our 250th year and move forward, we should take stock of ourselves, and address as best we can, those aspects of our nature which are an impediment to true freedom and our ability to form "a more perfect union," as aspired to in the Preamble to the Constitution. We must find a way beyond the irascible nature of our current culture wars. Competing ideologies are in conflict across our country and the globe. But it is only through respect and love for one another that we can prove that we are deserving and capable of democratic self-rule. Only a strong, thriving democracy can counter the rise of authoritarian and tyrannical regimes. We must win the battle for the hearts and minds of the world with "the power of our example" not the "example of our power*"

    Benjamin Franklin died in 1790, not long after the Constitution was ratified. He had his doubts about our democracy till the end. And the rest of the Founding Fathers died disillusioned as well- save for James Madison. Why such a paradox? It is because the Founding Fathers put their faith in the people, and people are flawed, capable of heroic virtue or unspeakable cruelty, and everything in between. Madison put his faith in the Constitution. He designed a system of laws that could withstand our reckless nature. Madison died in 1836, the last of the Founding Fathers to pass. He watched the Constitution he fathered hold for nearly fifty years while he lived. But even he feared at the end of his life that the question of slavery would one day destroy the country.

    I think if our forefathers could see how their American experiment has held up, they would be pleasantly surprised about two things- First, that we have survived 250 years- And that, though the passions of the factionalism that they feared would destroy us are still with us, the Constitution that they crafted to constrain those passions, is holding, even if it is stressed to the hinges. Franklin's words would echo from 1787. We have a republic. Let us see if we can keep it.

    Please check out my USA at 250 page in the Featured Collections Gallery. Unfortunately, we here in Chicago, were unable to celebrate our 250th birthday with fireworks. Most shows were rained out. So I published my favorite fireworks photos from the past couple of years. I hope you enjoy them.

(*The quote is attributed to Bill Clinton, from his speech at the 2008 Democratic National Convention. The concept of "soft power," which Clinton was referring to, is attributed to Joseph Nye, a political scientist in the late 1980s.)