Democracy Dies in Darkness. This assertion resonates as the nation continues to impress globally, yet its leadership position has shifted.
Recent celebrations, like the fireworks display over the National Mall viewed from Arlington’s Top of the Town penthouse on July 4, 2025, illustrate both our enduring radiance and underlying challenges.
“Shine, Perishing Republic,” penned by Robinson Jeffers in 1925, captures his worries about America in the corrupt Roaring Twenties. He feared the nation was “heavily thickening to empire.”
Jeffers’s concerns reflect times of degradation, past and present. Despite these eras of turmoil, the nation emerged intact. As we mark our 250th anniversary, Jeffers’s sentiments serve as a somber reminder. The nation shines brightly, yet there is an inevitable decline.
This dual reality, expressed by Jeffers, urges mindfulness. Our glow as a nation endures. Yet, we must remain vigilant against decay. This balance of light and shadow informs our path forward.