In a heartfelt Independence Day speech, former President Joe Biden talked about the promise at the heart of what America stands for.
He said, “Two hundred and fifty years ago, a group of Americans signed their names on a piece of paper and made a promise that no country had ever made before: that everyone is created equal, given certain unchangeable rights by their Creator — life, freedom, and the chance to seek happiness.”
“We still haven’t fully lived up to the promise of America … but we’ve never walked away from it”
He went on to say, “We’re the only country in history that was built not because of shared race, blood, or land, but because of a shared idea.”
Biden also spoke out against the weakening of our democratic values during the time of the Trump presidency, saying that our democracy is not guaranteed and that it’s something we must fight for, protect, and work hard to keep.
He said, “That’s not a burden.That’s what it means to be an American.”
He ended with a message of hope.
“Even after two hundred and fifty years, we still haven’t fully lived up to the words in the Declaration.But we’ve never given up on them.And this July 4th, I hope all of us can agree on one thing: that we will never stop trying to live up to them.”
At a time when many Americans disagree on nearly everything, Biden reminded everyone of a simple truth: the United States was built not on shared heritage, but on a shared promise.
Two hundred and fifty years later, that promise is still not fully realized.
And the question for every generation is whether we will keep trying to make it come true.
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