On this Independence Day, let's celebrate the unique and remarkable journey of the United States of America.


I arrived in America in 1975, and starting first grade that fall in New Jersey meant quickly adapting to my new homeland. Although the language was the same, many things were vastly different.


Every morning, we placed our right hands over our hearts, faced the blackboard, and pledged allegiance to the flag—something I had never done in my previous schools in France and England.


My new hometown of Princeton held significant historical importance in the birth of the United States. It was the site of a Revolutionary War battle and briefly served as the U.S. capital.


In 1976, during the Bicentennial celebration, we held historical reenactments commemorating the signing of the Declaration of Independence in nearby Philadelphia, marking 200 years of American history.


Like most students in public and private schools, I studied American history in eighth grade and again in 11th grade. I learned what makes this country unique and special among nations.


Unlike challengers and rivals like China, Iran, or Russia, our country is incredibly young. President Joe Biden was born closer to Abraham Lincoln’s second inauguration than to his own. My father just turned 85, and if a baby born at the start of the American Revolution had lived that long and passed the baton to a successor born in the same year, and so on, we'd still only be on the third person in this historical relay.


The progress we've made in those three lifetimes is astonishing.


In 1776, it was acceptable for one human being to own another, and it took a week to travel from New York to Richmond. While “the science” may have lost some credibility after COVID-19, in 1799, medicine was so primitive that as George Washington lay dying at Mount Vernon from a cold caught while riding in the rain, his doctors bled him in a misguided attempt to cure him.


Yet some principles our forefathers established have stood the test of time.


One such principle is the Constitution, the greatest document ever to govern a free people. Created by a group of highly educated, widely experienced, and exceptional men, our Constitution, including the Bill of Rights, has been an enduring guide through changing times. It was designed for a moral and religious people, but also for humans who are flawed, vain, avaricious, and fickle.


It has withstood many challenges.


A crucial element of the Founders' design is the separation of powers, ensuring that all three branches of government remain balanced and in check. Recently, the Supreme Court has issued a series of judgments, pleasing and angering partisans on both sides.


While I agree with many of the decisions, not all, I respect them all. Respecting judicial decisions, even when we disagree, is fundamental. It saddens me to hear Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer criticize a “disgraceful decision by the MAGA Supreme Court,” as this undermines the integrity of the justices. That's a dangerous path.


The United States is more free, prosperous, and safe than much of the world, not only because we work hard but because we adhere to rules. Defending those rules is the paramount duty of all citizens, not just the courts.


The first necessity for fulfilling this duty is knowing our history. The fact that barely 15% of U.S. high schoolers are proficient in American history is not just a scandal; it is an existential threat.


The second necessity is respecting court verdicts, even as we exercise our right to free speech protected by the First Amendment. Vilifying individual justices or packing the court are mistakes for either party. What’s sauce for the goose will be sauce for the gander, and we've seen this story play out globally.


Today, we are divided on crucial policies, including immigration and border control. The Constitution grants Congress the power to establish a uniform rule of naturalization, meaning Congress—not the president or courts—decides who gets to come here, who gets to stay, and under what conditions.


John Winthrop, echoed by Ronald Reagan centuries later, said that America “shall be as a city upon a hill. The eyes of all people are upon us.” This metaphor implies that there are other cities, less desirable, all around. Historically, cities were built on high ground or had walls for protection. Outside lay deserts, jungles, barbarians, and chaos.


If we stop guarding the city gates, our civilization will fall, just as Carthage, Rome, Constantinople, and Persia did.


Globalists advocating for unrestricted migration and no border enforcement don’t seem to understand this.


I trust we can overcome our current differences in time—perhaps within the lifespan of one more 85-year-old—and that the United States has greatness yet to come.


On this July Fourth, I choose to believe in our future, to trust in young people to revive our traditions, and to hope for a bright future. Happy Independence Day!