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!”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
