"if you can keep it”
I went to the Freedom 250 celebration hoping to feel inspired. Here's what I came away thinking
As he left the Constitutional Convention in 1787, Benjamin Franklin was asked, “Well, Doctor, what have we got—a republic or a monarchy?”
His reply: “A republic, if you can keep it.”
I thought about those words today as I made my way to the Great American State Fair on the National Mall. I wanted to feel inspired. Instead, I felt sad. Sad that the moment felt too politicized for many Americans to see themselves in it. And yes, angry that the story being told did not fully reflect the diversity, sacrifice, struggle, and hope that make America what it is.
But maybe that is the point. A republic does not keep itself. Each generation has to renew it, defend it, and widen its promise.
My parents came to the United States in the 1970s seeking what millions of immigrants have sought: the chance to build a better life. America gave them that opportunity. They worked hard, raised a family, and taught us that citizenship is a responsibility.
Immigrant families are not on the sidelines of the American story. We are part of its fabric. We strengthen this country not despite where we came from, but because of it.
Keeping the republic means ensuring every generation has the opportunity to contribute, belong, and build. It means building bridges, not walls. It means being kind to our neighbors, supporting one another across difference, and refusing to let fear define who belongs.
That is the America my family believed in. That is the America I will always fight for.
Happy Independence Day to all Americans.
