While 2026 is America’s 250th birthday, Chicago’s City Hall could not be more confused about what to do.
The problem here, of course, is that relations between leftist local governments, such as the administration of Mayor Brandon Johnson, are engaged in mortal combat with our right-wing federal government, as personified by the infinitely divisive President Donald Trump. In normal times, such a bipartisan celebration as the 250th birthday of the United States would be an Apollonian project run at the federal level and everyone else would play a supporting role. Happily so. This is, after all, the anniversary of the independence of a great nation of free peoples, one that used to enjoy coming together in thanks for the shared bounties of these United States, which to our minds has made some progress since its origins when it comes to prosperity, innovation and social justice.
But in case you have not noticed, these times are anything but normal.
The announcement this week from City Hall in our most American of cities tied itself in knots trying to avoid celebrating what it actually was supposed to be celebrating. So much so, in fact, that on first glance, it read like the Johnson administration was planning a celebration of the 250th birthday of Chicago, a city actually founded 189 years ago.
Here’s the headlining quote from Mayor Johnson: “Chicago represents the soul of America, not just in our triumphs, but in our struggles to build a more just and inclusive democracy. … For 250 years, progress in this country has come when working people stood in common purpose, organizing, demanding fairness, and pushing this nation closer to its founding promise. That spirit lives in Chicago.”
It sure does. But Chicago is not the one having a birthday.
On and on the announcement goes, with people like Kristen Reynolds, president and CEO of the tourism agency Choose Chicago, hyping the city (“Chicago’s influence on our nation’s history is profound”) and saying little or nothing about America itself.
It’s like the word went out from the top: Talk about Chicago, folks. Shut up about America, ’cause that’s Trump.
“America 250 in Chicago,” we’re told, pointedly, will center not on fireworks or picnics or gratitude but on “the unfinished work of building equity and shared prosperity.”
That sounds more like a summer-school struggle session than an exciting party invitation with beers, balloons, hot dogs and fireworks. Surely, even the most fervent ideologues could chill out on July Fourth.
Other weirdness characterizes the city’s plan beginning with the decision to put a tourism agency, Choose Chicago, in charge.
Chicago surely would and should welcome visitors to whatever it is doing, but outsourcing the announcement of the celebration of America’s 250th in the nation’s third-largest city to an agency rightly focused on outsiders implies reluctant local celebrants, does it not?
“Through Choose Chicago’s new America 250 online hub,” we’re told, “locals and visitors are invited to explore the city’s rich history through curated itineraries, special events, and guides to the museums, neighborhoods, and landmarks that tell the story of Chicago’s enduring impact on America.”
We are all for people exploring the city’s rich history. But again, we say, Chicago is located in America, not on some sovereign island, and it is America’s birthday.
It would be more apt to be talking about America’s impact on Chicago than the other way around. And, yes, it did have a profound impact.
Of course, the heads of the libraries and the parks weigh in, too: on Chicago, naturally.
At least Jeff Alexander, president of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association, seemingly ignored the memo. “We are proud to mark this historic moment through music that reflects the diverse cultural traditions that define our nation” is what he had to say.
Very good: country, not city.
Alexander understands that matters because he runs a world-class American orchestra that represents an entire nation on its international tours. It is both of Chicago and transcendent thereof.
So there is hope, at least when it comes to the institutions that the city government does not directly control or who fear its discontent.
Mostly, we’d just like to see City Hall put down its swords for a sec and, in the name of unity, try and find a smidgeon of the good in the nation and not confuse that with the battles against Trump. You can oppose the president and be for the country. You don’t have to pretend to ignore everything beyond the city limits.
In fact, Trump is well on his way to being a lame-duck president.
He will be gone. America will abide.
And if you can’t have some fun celebrating America in Chicago, of all places, there is no point in a country surviving until age 250.
Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.
