America 250: Candidates and Elected Officials Reflect on What It Means to Be an American

by Matt Johnson

(Picture credit Matt Johnson)

OMAHA — The United States celebrated 250 years of independence on Saturday. While the country remains divided across party lines, the Fourth of July typically gives all Americans a reason to pause and reflect on the freedoms its citizens still hold in common.

The Plains Sentinel approached several candidates and elected officials on Saturday and asked each the same question: What does it mean to you to be an American?

Ralston Independence Day Parade

Ralston hosts the largest Independence Day parade in Nebraska, now in its 66th year. For 30 of those years, Don Groesser has served as its mayor. He answered the question this way:

“Well, to me it’s about independence and being able to be free in a country where we have the ability to do what we want, raise our families, and participate in all the activities we need to participate in.”

Omaha Mayor John Ewing, who also marched in the Ralston parade, shared a similar sentiment.

“I think what it means is the American dream — that everybody has an opportunity to pursue liberty and happiness and live in a country where everyone can reach their fullest potential.”

Both candidates for the open seat in Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District walked in the parade on Saturday and spoke with The Plains Sentinel.

Democrat Denise Powell said, “It means living up to the American dream. My parents are immigrants. They taught me to believe in that dream, and I still really believe in it. And I think everyone should be able to achieve it.”

Republican Brinker Harding sees America as a continual work in progress.

“Over the last 250 years, this great experiment continues to evolve, and we want to make sure that with that perpetual improvement, we leave it better for the next generation,” Harding said. “78% of parents in America who were polled think that their kids won’t have it any better than them, and that’s unacceptable to me. That’s not what America is about. It’s about that perpetual improvement — that we continue to work on making this country better and better.”

Ralston’s two candidates for state legislature — incumbent Republican Merv Riepe and Democratic challenger Cindy Knorr — also walked in the parade and shared their thoughts.

“I would probably say freedom, rights, and responsibility. I always like to tie when you have rights, you also have responsibilities,” Riepe said. “It’s a great country, not perfect, but great. It seems no matter what we face, we overcome it. So I’m proud of that.”

Cindy Knorr said, “I am very proud to be an American. It means a lot. It means freedom. It means joy. And right now it means resistance as well.”

Thoughts from Nebraska’s U.S. Senators

Both of Nebraska’s U.S. senators were in Omaha on Saturday. Senator Pete Ricketts offered a detailed answer on what it means to be an American, referring to the self-evident truths in the Declaration of Independence:

“Being American means being born in the greatest nation the world has ever seen. It’s because we were founded not only through a revolution, but on a revolutionary idea — that our rights come to us from God, not the government. And the government is established to protect those rights. Before the founding of our nation, it was not heard of. People thought they got their rights from their king. We changed that in a very radical way at the time, and it has created this wonderful nation.”

Sen. Deb Fischer shared similar thoughts on freedom but also commented on the reaction of international visitors who traveled here for the World Cup.

“You know what’s really fun is watching all the countries that have come for the soccer and to see their enthusiasm, their joy when they are exposed to what America is, because we’re a nation of people who love our country and work hard, have great opportunities and can be anything we want to be if we work hard.”

Down-Ballot Voices

Some down-ballot candidates gave their takes on what it means to be an American as well. Mark Martinez, Democratic candidate for Douglas County Sheriff, kept it brief:

“Hey, God blessed me to be in the greatest country on Earth. Pretty simple.”

Republican candidate for Secretary of State Scott Petersen had a similar reflection.

“To be an American is the greatest blessing in the world, especially in Nebraska, because we have opportunities galore. It’s freedom. When they created the Constitution, they gave us the power of freedom — the freedom to do great things and be great. And America in the last 250 years has done amazing things, and I think will do more amazing things going forward.”

Paid petitioners were out among the crowds on Saturday gathering signatures for a new “America First” party, both in Ralston and in Seward. The Plains Sentinel asked one in Seward the same question. He responded, “I’m pro-American, I’m pro-Christian values. This country was built on Christian values.”

A Nation Divided or Reunited?

Nebraskans celebrated the country’s 250th anniversary of independence with parades and fireworks, offering a moment of reflection and common ground on what it means to be an American. While political divisions still run deep today, candidates on both sides of the aisle reaffirmed that the ideals of freedom, independence, responsibility, and the pursuit of happiness can still resonate across party lines.

— Matt Johnson is a freelance reporter with The Plains Sentinel.