Two hundred and forty years ago, on this day (give or take, because communication was a lot slower in those days) our country announced itself to the world with these words:
In CONGRESS, July 4, 1776
Back then, “congress” was just a word. It didn’t mean a bunch of elected politicians in a room. It certainly didn’t mean two groups of people trying to tear the other down. It actually meant the exact opposite.
In CONGRESS. It means we stand together, arm in arm. We take this step together, and we know that if we didn’t have each other, we couldn’t take this step at all.
In CONGRESS. We agree that unless we all win, no one wins, so we all work together to make things better. That’s what “in congress” means.
Today, July 4, 2016, let’s all stand together, in congress, to agree that our country, with its democratic ideals and its checks and balances, is worth celebrating and worth working together to improve. It’s our home, and it’s a great one. Let’s all enjoy our country’s birthday, and tomorrow let’s keep working together to make it even better.