A TREATISE ON AMERICA AT YEAR 250

From a 50-Year Look-Back Perspective

By John Hornback

I remember, as a 22-year-old, 50 years ago, on July 4, 1976 …

… pondering when I would ask my girlfriend of two years to marry me.

… driving with Carolyn Etherington from Richmond, Kentucky to Dale Hollow Lake near Byrdstown, Tennessee, to meet up with my Uncle Bill and Aunt Dorothy.

… having a severely injured leg from a construction accident a month prior, and trying to water ski, but only skiing a mile before giving it up due to intense leg pain.

… driving back in the late afternoon to Carolyn’s mom’s and dad’s house.

… sitting in the living room for hours watching boats and ships with water cannons, spraying trails of water high into the air in celebration of the nation’s 200th year of existence.

… watching fireworks display every possible orientation and design of red, white, and blue in the skies until late in the evening, when a tired Land of the Free finally considered the week’s festivities complete and trailed off to sleep.

… never hearing the words Democrat and Republican mentioned.

… being able to have a conversation without someone bringing up politics and calling someone or some group of people an ugly, derogatory name.

… being able to watch television news of the day’s events without commentary overtly designed to sustain party allegiance for the “faithful” and condemn to hell the “other party.”

Today, July 4, 2026, our corner of the world is full of insults, hatred, and partisanship to the extremes of wishing parts of the United States, including major cities and major regions of the country, could be instantly and completely obliterated from our Union, or at least given to Canada. While this may appear to be a one-sided comment, it is not intended to be so. Both parties are guilty and should feel conviction in their souls.

Five years ago, when the Capital in Washington DC was stormed, someone I know was celebrating the event. I took issue with that person, who responded to me that he would pray for me, that I would come to know Jesus and come onboard to recognize the validity of purpose and the appropriateness of that action. By the way, I know and believe in Jesus, and my Jesus would not/did not endorse that action, I am sure.

Last year, someone I know suggested that instead of President Trump making Canada the 51st state in the Union, the President should take action to give California and its people to Canada, feeling no respect for anyone in that state. Again, I took issue with the position, stating that there are many Christians in California and that all of God’s creation are special in the eyes of God. Further, I stated that Jesus associated with sinners including Samaritans that were despised by much of the society. Also, it should be obvious that there are vile sinners and individuals committing all kinds of sins including “minor” sins in every state. I suggested to this man that he was grossly off-base to write-off an entire state and its people. He responded that he had been “Jesus-slapped” and continued his tirade, this time including me in it.

Jesus opposed prejudicial thoughts and actions against people groups and used them as examples of how we should all behave. Jesus did not hate anyone, even those who planned and executed his demise. He told us to love God and love our neighbor, the latter being everyone in our world.

Today, on July 4, 2026, many look to the President of the United States as sort of a theocratical leader of our country. Yet, Jesus said to render to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s. I believe that includes not only taxes but our respect and loyalty. I believe with all my heart that we should pray for local, state, and national leadership and for all peoples of our world. I believe that we should all seek God through Christ, and desire for true God-fearing leadership in our government. But not worship of our government. And I do not believe that the solution to depravity in our hearts and souls is legislation and government mandate. It must come from within each person, and it should be influenced by Christian-inspired sharing of our experiences with God, and the working of the Holy Spirit.

A Tennessee pastor for whom I have much respect (but I do not worship), recently said, in preparation for this holiday weekend:

“I want you to know the answer for our nation will not be found in the White House. It will not be found in the State House or the Courthouse. It wil only begin in God’s house, when we humble ourselves before Him and seek His face.”

Today, I will try, just for this day as a start, to put my blinders on. I will try to encourage others. I will try to love everyone. I will love my Country. I will appreciate public servants. I will pay my respects to fallen warriors including those in my own family. I will thank a soldier. I will pray for peace, in my heart, in the hearts of others. I will pray for God to create in us a passion for love, respect, helpfulness, compassion, cooperation, bipartisanship, and a desire for peace.

May God bless our world. May He work in our hearts to soften them for His purposes. May God bless all who read my thoughts. John.

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