As we celebrate America’s grand 250th birthday, a sweet, timeless song resonates across this great land, carrying the weight of two and a half centuries of history:
“O beautiful for spacious skies, For amber waves of grain, For purple mountain majesties; Above the fruited plain! America! America! God shed His grace on thee, And crown thy good with brotherhood; From sea to shining sea!”
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Amazingly, this poetic sentiment is also echoed in the Chinese translation of America — MeiGuo — which literally means “Beautiful Country.” America is beautiful because it embraces democracy, freedom, faith, the rule of law, and science. It is beautiful because it has elevated economic development, technology, higher education, military might, and cultural soft power to an unprecedented level in human history. This remains a country where, as long as you have talent, effort, and determination, a bright path forward exists for your success.
Recently, a poll asked me what my top three wishes for America would be on its 250th birthday, beyond just chanting “Happy Birthday.” It prompted some deep reflection on the country’s history, current situation, and future. Here are my three best wishes:
Best wish #1: Stick to ideals, but beware the utopia trap
My first wish is that America always sticks to its ideal of a better, freer world, casting off the shackles that still haunt the old world. Meanwhile, the people must keep a cool head and watch out for the traps that have decimated older civilizations — most notably, the pursuit of a manufactured utopia.
When a country becomes as strong and wealthy as America, a naive temptation rises to pursue social perfection. The so-called “democratic socialism” sounds fancy as a slogan, but the reality is a different story. It’s a reminder that soundbites can be deeply misleading — after all, North Korea’s official title is the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
We must remember that in this flawed human existence, imperfection is the only realistic perfection. A utopia is always too good to be true. It is a philosophical illusion or, worse, a sugar-coated poison. The old world has tasted this poison long enough, and the results have been disastrous, written into history through tyranny and economic collapse.
There is no need for America to try that poison again today, no matter how sweet the coating. A wise nation does not step into the same dead water twice. We must champion progress, not a flawless illusion that requires the destruction of individual liberty and the market economy to achieve. America should lead the rest of the world rather than following some obsolete missteps.
Best Wish #2: Let common sense and wisdom reign
My next wish is for the return of unyielding common sense. Freedom and liberty do not mean individuals can simply do whatever they want without consequence. On the contrary, true liberty includes the right to undo mistakes, to self-correct, and to establish boundaries so that society can remain balanced and harmonious. We must appreciate freedom, but we must never abuse it. When you abuse a right, you are bound to lose it.
Consider the years leading up to 2025, when political leaders went to the southern border, sending a message to large crowds attempting illegal entry: Welcome to America, this country is your safe harbor, no matter the process. In those moments, we could hear freedom crying out in its abuse. A responsible, civilized country should never compromise its legal principles or its borders. Doing so harms the nation rather than benefits it.
How do we prevent such abuse going forward? The answer lies in using common sense and wisdom — like the golden mean — as our guide. Common sense and wisdom reject extremism and radicalism. Where radical paths only exacerbate our problems, steady wisdom delivers the real, lasting cures for the challenges now and ahead.
Best Wish #3: Keep stature up and high
My final wish is that America keep its stature held high on the global stage. Achieving peace through strength is the only viable path when facing adversaries in an increasingly volatile world. This strength must encompass both hard military power and soft cultural influence, and the United States must maintain the upper hand on both fronts.
Crucially, America must never surrender its moral high ground to level the playing field with a lesser adversary. The moment we adopt the despicable tactics of authoritarian regimes, we enter their arena and play by their rules. We must also maintain a clear distinction when dealing with global rivals: Some adversaries try to claim they represent their entire countries, but in fact, they only represent themselves. The people are the many. The regimes are the few.
America must hold on to the confidence that virtue, combined with strength, will ultimately prevail. History shows that aggressive, autocratic adversaries will mostly strangle themselves under the weight of their own corruption and paranoia, much like the Soviet Union did during the Cold War. America does not need to mimic them. We simply need to outlast them by staying true to who we are.
PRIDE IN BEING AMERICAN REACHES NEW LOW AHEAD OF 250TH ANNIVERSARY
Let these beautiful lyrics echo far and wide, serving as both our shield and our reminder:
“Oh beautiful for glory-tale, Of liberating strife, When once and twice for man’s avail Men lavished precious life! America! America! God shed His grace on thee, Till selfish gain no longer strain; The banner of the free!”
David W. Wang is a senior international business executive, geopolitical affairs consultant, analyst, and writer based in the Washington, D.C., metro area. David can be reached on X @DavidWWang203.
