How To Celebrate America In A Hyper-Political Partisan Era

“The politicization of politics” sounds like a contradiction in terms, but since the duplicitous Obama era, it has been the sorry norm. When President Barack Obama wasn’t giving obviously partisan speeches for Democrat causes but speaking more formally as president, on behalf of the whole country, he would appear to speak magnanimously, with high-flown rhetoric about the good of the country, coming together, and common sense. Yet those seemingly non-partisan speeches almost always bore a snide, partisan subtext. And now, post-Obama, in the Trump era, subtext has become text. What Obama often slyly implied about his opponents, Trump brashly trumpets about his own political rivals.

This new politicization of politics, in which the partisan fight is almost never switched off, presents a real problem for our country’s Semiquincentennial: how do we celebrate the birthday of America, the signing of the Declaration, and the American Revolution as a whole and unified country, without either the Obamian undertones of partisan sniping or the Trumpian overtones of political bombast?

Byron York seems to have hit on the solution, which, to be fair, Trump’s Freedom250 office has already begun to implement in large part.

First, York suggested on X: “Stick with the Great American State Fair concept. Make it a sprawling display of the local economies and cultures of each of the 50 states.” Already happening with the pavilions featuring American industry and the arts, with themes for each day, including “Engines of Enterprise,” “The Next 250: Innovation,” “The American Canvas,” and “Faith, Values, and Inspiration.”

Second, York recommended that they “[d]e-celebritize the events. Don’t try to book stars. Republicans have always lost at that game, and doubly so with Trump.” Well, it seems the celebrities are, in large part, taking care of that themselves, as the Left and their media henchmen have put the screws on performers, many of whom have now backed out of an original “yes” to perform. Byron York is right when he adds to his point that “show business appears to be largely made up of a) entertainers and businessmen who hate Trump, and b) entertainers and businessmen who are scared of being accused of not hating Trump.” Personally, I think that celebrity fear that York mentions comes from both an elite threat (“You’ll never work in this town again!”) and a mob threat (“What is that celebrity’s home address, so we can threaten their family and property?”).

Third, Byron York counsels the organizers to “[m]ake music a big part of the events by showcasing U.S. military bands. There are a lot of military bands and orchestras, and they are very, very good.” A good suggestion, but one the organizers have already taken, I’m sure. Something more may be needed to round out the celebration of so many days — 16 in total from June 25 to July 10 — with multiple stages. I suggest recruiting the various private fife-and-drum corps that dot these lands. Personally, I think it is sad that such politicization of civic events has famous and favorite musicians balking in large numbers, but there are many great bands of lesser fame who might be willing to gain exposure on such a huge stage. Some have suggested that it be conservative or Right-wing musicians, but why not simply widen the appeal by asking anyone willing to support or depoliticize our 250^th birthday — taking Right, Left, and center musicians, albeit lacking celebrity, who will perform good music? They would just need to pay them a good portion of their fee afterward, contingent on good, non-protesty, non-angsty, and non-partisan performances.

Now that last idea conflicts with York’s next point, namely to make the Fourth of July simply traditional (no celebrities and not even, presumably, lesser would-be or pseudo-celebrities and contemporary music). That is my preference too, but most people like a good show, which means more than just military bands.

While York’s suggestion for a massive fireworks display has been the plan all along, his last suggestion is by far the hardest to accomplish: “No starring role for Trump. He’ll be the President of the United States watching over the events with pride.” Trump has already said he plans to give a huge speech: “We should have a giant MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN RALLY, for 250, instead of having overpriced singers, who nobody wants to hear, whose music is boring, and yet who do nothing but complain.” Now this is typical trolling from President Loki, executive of mischief, but the truth is that he is now slated to kick off the Great American State Fair either the eve before it starts, on June 24, or on the first day, June 25. Of course, given the politicization of politics, people who hate Trump are losing their minds, but in an era of hyperpartisanship, it is not altogether hard to understand their concern.

I suspect Trump will offer a very unobjectionable and patriotic speech, like others he has given, say at Mt. Rushmore. But unobjectionable to whom? Well, it depends on whether you agree or disagree with this line, perhaps the most partisan in character from that July 3 fireworks display at Mt. Rushmore: “Make no mistake. This left-wing cultural revolution is designed to overthrow the American Revolution.” Hyperpartisanship makes that an attack on a large swath of Left-leaning Americans. Does Trump have the moral fortitude, the patience, or the gentleness to leave off even that sort of line and to give a positive vision that avoids settling disputes or naming enemies? Can he create a kind of holiday from partisanship and politicization, so America can celebrate its political birthday, e pluribus unum? The next line in that Rushmore speech has the seeds of the better way: “In so doing they would destroy the very civilization that rescued billions from poverty, disease, violence, and hunger, and that lifted humanity to new heights of achievement, discovery, and progress.” All he needs to do is leave off the destroyers and simply sing America’s virtues.

York is probably right to suggest Trump simply preside rather than speak at our national festivities on the Mall this summer. But if he must speak — and Trump being who he is, he likely must — then he should forget all his battles, set aside all enmities, and give a speech free of both the snide subtext of his predecessors and the typical text of Trumpian payback. Trump may be tempted on such a grand stage of America’s 250^th birthday to engage in that sort of payback. If he has any strength left, he should resist the inclination to fight and instead generously pay it forward with a hopeful and peace-loving speech exclusively about the goodness and grandness of this great and loving country.

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Matthew Mehan is Associate Dean and Associate Professor at Hillsdale College in D.C. He is also the author of the newly released, fully illustrated heirloom celebration of America’s 250^th, The American Book of Fables.