Happy early birthday, America

Just last weekend, I had the honor of placing second in the San Andreas Lake Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizens Award and Scholarship Contest. At the ceremony, I read that same essay aloud, centered on the given theme: Our American heritage and our responsibility to preserve it as we approach the nation’s 250th birthday. 

Yet as I made eye contact with the audience, reading paragraph after paragraph about continuing the legacy of the patriots and sustaining democracy, my essay felt increasingly out of place in the context of our country today. I remember feeling embarrassed, not because I was sharing personal work, but because it felt ignorant and even selfish to read an essay devoted solely to praising our nation in the midst of such division, violence and uncertainty. 

Make no mistake when I say this — I am deeply grateful for the Daughters of the American Revolution and their mission to preserve American history, and I am well aware of the vast, unique opportunities this country has already provided to my family and me as proud American citizens. The following words are a reflection of my own perspectives, not a critique of any organization or individual.  

As I read my essay, I was confronted with a larger question: Is this the future we want for America? A country deeply divided after the Minneapolis tragedy, where clashes between federal immigration officers and protesters continue as President Donald Trump threatens to invoke the Insurrection Act? A country where, according to the American Public Health Association, gun violence is the leading cause of premature death? A country where 76% of Americans said just last year that our country’s divisiveness poses a serious threat to the core American value of democracy? 

These realities contrast starkly with the America I wrote about in my essay, one that was rooted in strength, beauty, equity and freedom — a dream that, at times, seems far-fetched when we look around and see the constant stream of devastating headlines. 

But frankly, I think that’s where I went wrong with my essay. Yes, America will indeed be celebrating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, an occasion that calls for patriotism, fireworks and barbecue provisions. But in celebrating, let us not forget the ways our nation has fallen short, the divisions that persist and the struggles that many American communities continue to face today. Let us not use ignorance to deflect from or forget the foundation upon which our nation is built. 

Two weeks ago, I was asked to reflect on a specific question for The Futures Commission, a local youth-led initiative I’m involved in that recently made history by helping San Mateo County become the first local jurisdiction nationwide to adopt the United Nations Declaration on Future Generations. The question was this: What story do you want your descendants to live in? 

It was that question that made me realize the true meaning of historical preservation and patriotism. It’s about taking action. Uniting as one. Amplifying voices. Advocacy. 

Active responsibility. 

Not passive admiration. 

And with that, I truly do wish a happy early birthday to America — the home of the brave, not because it’s perfect, but because its people are willing to confront, reflect and act. 

Iny Li is a senior at Burlingame High School. Student News appears in the weekend edition. You can email Student News at news@smdailyjournal.com.