Skip to content
Editorial cartoon by the Tribune's Scott Stantis for July 4, 2026 celebrating America's 250th anniversary. (Scott Stantis/For the Chicago Tribune)
Editorial cartoon by the Tribune’s Scott Stantis for July 4, 2026 celebrating America’s 250th anniversary. (Scott Stantis/For the Chicago Tribune)
Author
PUBLISHED:
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

To some, this essay, celebrating the nation’s 250th birthday may seem overly optimistic, given our current state of affairs, but now I am a grandfather. Which means optimism is no longer a choice but an obligation.