The 250th arrives, in a ‘proper country’ 

It is now less than two weeks until the nation’s 250th anniversary. Those of us who lived through 1976, and who are approaching this event, cannot help but think wistfully about how important the Bicentennial was in recasting and rebuilding a post-Watergate United States.

Last February, The New York Times, in a Sunday front-page article, looked back at the Bicentennial and quoted the Boca Beacon. For us, a singular visual memory of 1976 was the scores of painted fire hydrants across the nation, turned into little Minutemen soldiers. The painted hydrants were everywhere, and with them came a year of sophisticated commemorations, ceremonies, parades and books from every office and business.

As far as we can determine, DeKalb, Illinois, is the only one painting hydrants; a news story showed one painted as Bluey. There well may be others online.

Say what you will about our president, he is right to clean up streets and monuments in D.C., and to encourage events, though some may not be to every liking. And this was to be expected; Trump gained his fame and admiration from everyday people for his efforts in the 1980s making the Wollman Rink work in Central Park. Folks remember that.

Politicians of all stripes should know that heroic efforts and fixing up closed and ugly public parks (hint-hint, Charlotte County and the Placida Pier and Boat Ramp) will get you votes, attention and love. Think creative and cheap, not bureaucratic. And for our friends at Lee County, could we maybe have proper steps down to the beach at 5th Street, pretty please, to bookend the wonderful work done by Lee County Parks & Recreation and The Gasparilla Inn in fixing up the Veterans Monument on Gilchrist?

The 250th events, even the reflecting pool issue, are both/and issues, not and/or. That means there is plenty of space for anything that commemorates the nation’s 250th and celebrates aspects of our country’s history. Part of the genius of 1976 was that there was so much interest in all 200 years, and there was an anything-goes aspect to it, as it was all in fun, as any birthday party should be.

For this 250th, our governor has been dedicating statues of U.S. presidents in the Florida counties that are named for them. In this day and age, we should appreciate any official who is in the historic statuary business. For Florida, there has also been a steady stream of news stories about early Florida.

The thesis of the Times article was that the nation was so divided, it may not have planned well. Perhaps let us enjoy that there is a happy Fourth of July parade on the island, and for our readers back home in little towns in Michigan, New Hampshire, Maine or North Carolina, there are appropriate local celebrations.

It is both not a good time for America and a very good time.

In recent weeks, the explosion of concern about AI data centers, even nearby, has exposed a destructive financial class that seeks to destroy countryside and suburbs. It has come at a time when unchecked illegal immigration has upended our housing and employment markets and made a mockery of the hard effort and price paid by legal immigrants of goodwill and honesty. We are also facing developmental pressure as Americans flee old cities in the north and pave over the Rural South.

But that is the half-empty side. The nation’s media, social and otherwise, has been transfixed with stories of visitors from overseas here in the States for the World Cup, seeing the U.S. firsthand. They have been posting their own scrapbooks of natural wonders, bountiful restaurants and the joys of everyday Americans. They value the ease of American suburbs and the friendliness of the people they find.

Perhaps a useful lens through which to view the present and past is the meme phrase, “This used to be a proper country!” It began appearing five or so years ago, alongside two photos juxtaposing something old with something ruined, or stupid. Sometimes, the saying would have a kid drinking out of a hose. Other times, the saying could be affixed to an old photo of a busy 1980s mall or a 1920s street. Always, the subtext is that we should appreciate what we had, and that much of what we put up with now is stupid, junk or useless.

There is one consolation. Our companies are pulling out all the stops with commemorative merch and promotions. Even airlines are wrapping planes, and Greyhound (did you know they were still around?) is making commemorative bus designs, an echo of their old AmeriCruisers. McDonald’s has even brought back deep-fried apple pies, for a limited time.

What fun a Greyhound adventure could be across America. But if you can’t “Go Greyhound and Leave the Driving to Us,” maybe we can at least head up to Englewood, for a fried apple pie.

Garland Pollard is editor of the Beacon. Email editor@bocabeacon.com