“I confess that in America I saw more than America; I sought there the image of democracy itself,” French nobleman Alexis de Tocqueville wrote regarding his tour through the United States in the early 1830s. This summer, World Cup fans from around the world have taken to social media to document what they, too, saw across the country. It’s all in keeping with a long tradition of non-Americans illuminating essential truths about the United States, which then help Americans see their country in a new light.
As Americans mark the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence this July 4, we asked several Atlantic Council fellows and staff not from (or not originally from) the United States to continue this tradition by reflecting on what America means to them.
Click to jump to reflection:
András Simonyi: A catalyst for my country’s freedom
Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib: A spirit of individuality that’s made me who I am
