When compared to the Roman Colosseum or Tower of London, we might call the United States a young nation. Here, an old high school being torn down might be younger than the people lamenting its demise.
And yet our Constitution is the oldest governing document in the world. The nation that occupies this land is young, but lucky to still be running on its original engine.
As we mark the nation’s 250th birthday, not everything, or everyone, seems to be all right these days. As I observe in today’s column (gift link), half of all Americans are currently experiencing an existential crisis. That’s not a very celebratory vibe.
If we want e pluribus unum, we’re going to need some more unum from the whole pluribus.
Read “OK, America. We’re 250. It’s time to snap out of our existential crisis” in the Wednesday, May 27, 2026 edition of the Minnesota Star Tribune.
Aaron J. Brown is a columnist and member of the editorial board for the Minnesota Star Tribune. His new book about Hibbing Mayor Victor Power and his momentous fight against the world’s largest corporation will be out soon.
