I’m reminded of a quote in the 2005 movie, “Kingdom of Heaven,” that portrays Saladin, in 1187 AD. He is asked by his defeated Christian crusader, what is Jerusalem worth? He immediately replies, “Nothing,” shortly pauses, clenches his fist and states, “Everything!”
In reality, only 800 years later, Empires were built and collapsed and over 190 present-day countries across the globe gained their sovereignty and independence, several that won their freedom through conflict and war. These countries developed around their specialized cultures, religion and a mix of more than 7,000 spoken languages that helped shape their society, economy, and law.
One country began under different circumstances, starting with its first established colony of thirteen called Virginia in 1607. These colonies, initially inhabited by native Indians, would greet the Mayflower and English Pilgrim visitors from across the Atlantic where they established the second colony of Massachusetts and celebrated the first Thanksgiving in 1621.
The Mayflower Compact, considered one of the first frameworks of government enacted in the colonies, was introduced by the Pilgrims who were English Separatists that sought a self-governing community outside of the Church of England. The English Empire called these English settlers refugees, which this Compact pledged their continued allegiance to the Crown and King James I. The Pilgrims colony founded in Plymouth was eventually absorbed into the Crown-charted Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1691 with Boston as its capital.
By that time, 12 of the 13 remaining colonies were formed, including New York (originally known as New Netherland) after being taken by the British in 1664. The last and thirteenth colony of Georgia was created in 1732 with three primary goals: to offer a fresh start and opportunity for the poor that prohibited slavery, agricultural production like the silk trade, and defense against Spanish Florida.
Following Georgia, less than 45 years later, history books remind us of a goldsmith who was the son of a French immigrant and Boston native. His name was Paul Revere who was a member of the Sons of Liberty, a clandestine political organization that aimed to fight British taxation including activities like the Boston Tea Party. The next years, after his midnight ride on April 18, 1775 to warn of a British invasion in Concord, grievances would be filed against England’s King George III and the colonies were declared “Free and Independent States.” This Declaration of Independence was authored by a “Committee of Five.” One of these authors was Benjamin Franklin who is believed to have been influenced by the Iroquois Indians who saw in their confederation, “a federal republic governed by local and national councils, which selected its leaders by clan-based consensus.”
Today, every July 4 reminds us of the years of colonial struggles that unified all of those who believed in the idea of America, worked through extreme adversity that was followed by a Revolutionary War with a Kingdom and country that has formed an unbreakable bond of friendship and alliance with the United States of America! This struggle led to a constitution bonded by, “We the People of the United States, to form a more perfect Union.”
For many, today, America is Everything, with dreams that still await new explorers from countries around the world who want to legally gain citizenship and follow the law of our great American land like those who stood in line at Ellis Island.
More than 250 years ago, Paul Revere rode through the night to warn his neighbors that freedom was in danger. Today, we may not ride on horseback, but we are still called to protect the freedoms so many sacrificed to secure. Whether by serving our communities, whistleblowing against corrupt government practices, voting fairly, breaking up technocrat monopolies, or standing up for what’s right in society, each generation has a role in preserving the promise of America and for good, hard-working Americans.
Paul Revere’s ride reminds us that freedom has always depended on ordinary people willing to do extraordinary things, including those who rose to the rank of military General across generations, starting with George Washington, President Dwight Eisenhower, George Marshall to Gold Institute Chair, Mike Flynn. The responsibility to protect liberty didn’t end in 1776, it belongs to every generation, including ours, with much more to defend more than ever in 2026 and beyond.
Today’s challenges are different from those of the Revolutionary era, but conflict exists amongst those who also still believe in Jerusalem across unordinary and non-unified Christian, Jewish, Muslim, and other religious-based immigrant populations in the United States. Despite this divide on American soil, all still use the currency that emboldens the words, “In God We Trust,” with many not knowing, these words were established to deter communism during the Cold War.
The idea of America has persevered from the Alamo in Texas, on the beaches of Normandy, to the towers of September 11. America survived a civil rights movement, landed on the moon and achieved other innovative technology, sports, and entertainment achievements. America has faced war, division, triumph, and tragedy and through every challenge, generations of Americans have answered the call to serve, sacrifice, and more importantly, rebuild. Our colonial history reminds us that while the threats may change, such as Artificial Intelligence that impinges First Amendment rights and domestic color revolutions branded by anti-American activism in our own chambers of congress, the values of courage guided by God, family, country, and freedom endure. As we celebrate 250 years of our nation we honor not only those who founded America, many born from other lands across the seas, but everyone who has helped preserve her legacy of freedom ever since.
Jeff Hoffmann is a Senior Fellow at the Gold Institute for International Strategy, a Washington D.C. based foreign policy and defense think tank.
