It seems like it’s de rigueur these days to bash America. Expose our sins. Lift them up so as to decry the faults of the grand experiment. It should come as no surprise but I’m a fan of laying our sins down and asking for forgiveness.

But, I’m also a student of history, something that is in constant flux. I have studied most civilizations, ancient, classical and modern. There is not a one that has not been punctuated by violence and viciousness. Well, at least not a one of any consequence.

As we are flawed, so is human society. We have a choice. Do we value the freedom that allows people to make choices about what to believe? Do we value community that is not enforced but is raised organically?

I’m sorry but utopia is a pipe dream. There is no perfection in human society. Neither anarchy nor strongly centralized government are the solution. After all, people are people and power corrupts. Always.

So, on this day, I celebrate the birth of an idea. An idea that a free people who treasure liberty and, fundamentally, believe that all are equal is worth pausing to give thanks. Today, we don’t criticize and search for fault. Today, we realize that this remarkable occurrence that began well over 200 years ago changed the history of the world.

Tomorrow we will mourn for our nation. For the divisions and strife that seem to daily consume us. But today we are thankful. Thankful for the minds and lives that have carved out this grand experiment. We hope that it continues to flourish and be a beacon for the rest of the world as has been its nature from the beginning. There are some days I shake my head and question what this country is all about. Today, however, I’m blessed and proud to be called an American.