250 years on, US mixed on legacy

When Richard Woo first arrived in the United States from Taiwan, China, as an international student nearly five decades ago, he remembers a United States that embodied opportunity, optimism and affordability.

"The economy was much stronger and the cost of living was much lower," said Woo, a former technology executive who has lived in Southern California for about 50 years. "Today, political polarization and social divisions have, in my view, weakened many of America's traditional values and institutions."

As the US prepares celebrations on Saturday to mark 250 years since declaring independence, Woo believes the country has reached another pivotal moment in its history.

"America's traditional values are facing significant challenges," Woo told China Daily.

Woo said the United States built its postwar strength on abundant natural resources, geographic advantages and an open society that attracted talented people from around the world, helping it lead successive waves of technological innovation.

Today, however, he believes a widening political divide, geopolitical tensions and higher living costs have left many in the US less optimistic about the future.

Woo's observations mirror broader concerns reflected in recent public opinion surveys.

An AP-NORC survey found many respondents remain proud of the country's founding principles while expressing concern about political division, democracy and the nation's future. Gallup polling shows most people in the US still regard the "American dream" as worth pursuing, though fewer believe the country provides equal opportunity to achieve it.

Those mixed sentiments are also reflected in conversations with people from a variety of backgrounds.

Vietnam veteran Duane Mitchell of Montana told The Associated Press he plans to celebrate Independence Day by driving his restored 1954 Chevrolet in a local parade, saying the holiday is a reminder that "freedom is not free". Chicago resident Laura Davis questioned what she described as "American grandiosity", while Maine resident Sydney Crispin said the anniversary should celebrate the nation's achievements while encouraging reflection on areas that still need improvement.

For Stanley Renshon, a professor of political science at the City University of New York and a scholar of presidential leadership and political psychology, those differing perspectives point to a deeper question: what kind of country the US wants to be.

According to Renshon, disagreements over immigration, education, cultural values and the role of government increasingly represent broader debates about national identity rather than ordinary policy disputes.

"There are fundamentally different conceptions of what America is and what it should become," he said.

Rather than viewing today's divisions as simple partisan disagreements, Renshon argued they reflect competing understandings of US history, citizenship and national purpose.

Despite political divisions, polling suggests the US public continues to share broad attachment to many of the nation's founding ideals.

The AP-NORC survey found large majorities across party lines continue to regard freedoms such as free speech and religious liberty as central to the country's identity, even as they differ over whether those ideals are being fully realized today.

Reuters reported that the anniversary is unfolding amid continuing political polarization, with many US citizens viewing the milestone through sharply different political lenses.

Competing visions

US President Donald Trump has made the America250 event a centerpiece of his second administration, launching the anniversary with a campaign-style rally on the National Mall centered on patriotism and his "Make America Great Again" message. Supporters described it as a celebration of US history, while critics questioned whether it blurred the line between national commemoration and partisan politics.

Renshon said Trump's appeal reflects one of the competing visions shaping today's United States.

"President Trump represents one vision of America's future," he said, adding that his movement resonates with voters seeking to preserve what they see as the US' traditional institutions and identity, while others hold fundamentally different visions for the country's future.

Economic opportunity remains another defining theme of the anniversary.

Gallup polling shows that while most people in the US continue to believe the "American dream" is worth pursuing, fewer believe the country provides equal opportunity to achieve it. Pew surveys similarly identify inflation, healthcare costs and the federal deficit among their leading concerns.

CBS News polling likewise found confidence in the "American dream" under pressure, with only about half of respondents believing it remains attainable today.

Renshon said economic insecurity increasingly shapes confidence in the country's institutions.

"When people feel less secure economically, they're also more likely to question whether institutions are working for them," he said.

The anniversary also comes amid renewed debate over the country's international standing.

A Pew Research Center survey found declining confidence in the US as a reliable international partner in many countries surveyed, suggesting international perceptions remain closely connected to views of US domestic politics and leadership.

Renshon acknowledged those perceptions evolve over time but argued the US' influence should be assessed over the long term rather than through any single administration.