Name: A Divided America at 250 Is Still the Envy of the World
Uploaded: 2026-06-02T23:24:00Z
Duration: 5 min 15 s
Description: An Editor at Large: Speaking as a recently naturalized U.S. citizen, columnist Gerard Baker makes the case that America’s greatness far outweighs its faults, and can learn from Britain in 1977—the year of Queen Elizabeth II's Silver Jubilee.

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An Editor at Large: Speaking as a recently naturalized U.S. citizen, columnist Gerard Baker makes the case that America’s greatness far outweighs its faults, and can learn from Britain in 1977—the year of Queen Elizabeth II's Silver Jubilee. Photo: Storyblocks

https://m.wsj.net/video/20260602/21499082-8fca-4eaf-b9ed-fc53b302966f/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

An Editor at Large: Speaking as a recently naturalized U.S. citizen, columnist Gerard Baker makes the case that America’s greatness far outweighs its faults, and can learn from Britain in 1977—the year of Queen Elizabeth II's Silver Jubilee.

A Divided America at 250 Is Still the Envy of the World

In August, a clash between right and left wingers produced London's worst street violence since World War II.

Growing up as a teenager in Britain in 1977 was a grim experience. The economy was gripped by stagflation. The public fisc had just been rescued by the International Monetary Fund, and a third prime minister in three years was running a fragile government. Barely a decade after being crown soccer world champions, England was about to miss out on qualifying for the World Cup finals for the second straight time. The Silver Jubilee of Elizabeth II was a welcome relief to forget the nation's problems. As I walked around the streets surrounded by the bunting and the flags, I couldn't help be moved by a profound gratitude, sense of fierce pride that I belong to a nation that could, at least for a long summer weekend, set aside its many flaws and remind itself of a plausible claim to greatness.

The royal year ended with the Queen as a granny. In November, Princess Anne gave birth to a fine bouncing boy.

An American now, following my naturalization, three years ago, I joined the rest of the country in celebrating our 250th jubilee. The writ of the Declaration of Independence has run for 10 times as long as Elizabeth II's reign at that time. And I can say that with no disrespect to her late majesty, the US has given its people and the world something more to celebrate than a constitutionally impotent monarchs smiling ability to bring people together at a time of collective gloom.

Not one Democrat voted for us, only because they hate Trump.

Yet the temper of our nation today is all wrong as illustrated by President Trump following the passage of his one big, beautiful bill the day before the year long celebration began.

But I hate them too, you know that? So it's, so do the, I hate, I really do, I hate them. I cannot stand them because I really believe they hate our country, you wanna know the truth?

Indeed, it seems likely that the 250th celebration won't be much of a jubilee at all with a little less than half the country claiming that America is great again. And a roughly equal number insisting it isn't or never was.

It's a 250th anniversary, the best of the Roman Republic Greek democracy, co-equal branches, the government, the rule of law, popular sovereignty. Tell me that that reflects the America you read about today. There's no rule of lots, the rule of dawn.

It's hardly surprising that the 250th anniversary celebrations have a somewhat MAGA exclusive quality. But Donald Trump's excesses shouldn't let us forget that. A few years ago, we were governed by a national cultural elite whose overriding sense of national purpose seemed predicated on the proposition that America's very founding was irredeemably wicked.

Young women, young men born free in the highlands of Angola, only to be captured, bound, and forced on a death march along this very coast to this spot by slave traders in the year 1619. Our nation's original sin, original sin.

Now, I can't do much to settle this cold civil war, but as an immigrant, I think perhaps I am better placed than most to make the case that America's greatness far, far outweighs its faults. The US economy remains the envy of the world. Its capitalist system is pushing out the frontiers of technology in ways that will transform lives and enhance our already world beating prosperity.

Booster ignition. And lift off.

It remains a beacon of opportunity for the entire world.

Today, you've made history and made all America really proud.

What's most remarkable isn't that our liberal values are under attack once again. But just how long and how firmly those values have endured. Americans embarked on a wild experiment to preserve and advance liberty 250 years ago. How many other countries, institutions that were around in 1776 are still with us today?

You can't tell me 1619 what we can't do in this country. You cannot tell me the liberties and the freedoms that has been afforded to my family. And when it comes to African American history or black history, I teach my children, I have been teaching 'em for 13 years. That is not black history. It's not white history. It is American history. The good, the bad, and the ugly, we're one.

If the British, in the 1970s, a byword for national decline and institutional collapse, could find a way to celebrate what their country stood for. That's by focusing briefly, at least, on America's virtues more than its vices, you'll get a better appreciation for what it is. And if that doesn't do it, there's always that great unifier, World Cup soccer.

And it'd be a heck of a 250th birthday present for America to win it all.

It would be an an incredible present. It would be an an incredible achievement for all the guys here, for the staff, for US soccer, and we're gonna try to make it happen.

WSJ Opinion: A Divided America at 250 Is Still the Envy of the World

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