Happy Birthday

By: Pedro Corzo - 03/07/2026

Guest columnist.
Share:     

As a free man and a Cuban, I feel happily obliged to pay tribute to this great nation on its two hundred and fifty years of uninterrupted democracy, in which it has forged a reality that, despite its imperfections, is a dream that many of us desire for our respective peoples.

Throughout human history, no country has forged as many positive role models as this one. From the American Way of Life, which suggests a cultural and lifestyle archetype based on hard work and democracy to create conditions in which everyone can achieve success, to the conviction that no matter how powerful one is, everyone must obey the law.

History has shown us that the influence and power of nations have limits. No power is imperishable; however, the sheer number and magnitude of this nation's values, coupled with its scientific development, profound sense of solidarity, and the global impact of its actions, are factors that comprise the legacy of the United States of America—a legacy unparalleled throughout history.

I will never say that this country is perfect. I have been critical of more than one of its leaders' decisions; however, I firmly believe that the opportunities to achieve an honorable and decent life that the United States offers are not found in any other country in the world.

It is likely, as some experts claim, that this country will be surpassed in a few decades by a new global power in key matters such as the economy or military might; however, beyond the wealth produced and the number of aircraft carriers and missiles, the only state that so far fulfills the expectations of personal progress, security and rights of the most destitute, is the United States.

The United States is for those in need, something similar to what "El Dorado" was for European conquerors in America, or for the Jews the biblical "land flowing with milk and honey, the promised land," and although far from ideal, it is the nation that comes closest to those dreams, being the society that brings together precise conditions to satisfy the most human desires, a habitat where the hopes of a better life can become a reality.

It's true that the American dream isn't attained by everyone, but it's possible to dream when elsewhere people only live in nightmares. The conditions for progress and development are right there along the way; you simply have to be willing to put in the effort, to work hard, because the saying "there's no such thing as a free lunch" isn't a derogatory term for this society, but rather an affirmation that we are all obligated to work for our own progress.

There must be a reason why so many seek to leave behind these proletarian paradises. Venezuelans, Nicaraguans, Cubans, even the Chinese, have set their sights on this country, perhaps the most vilified in the world, a situation in which, unfortunately, some of its native and adopted citizens participate by attempting to import political proposals inspired by hatred and resentment that have only yielded failures wherever they have been imposed.

Many of the greatest achievements of the human mind are American in origin, not because the people here are particularly wise, but because the necessary context exists for the enlightened to develop their talents. A considerable number of social and humanitarian advances have originated here, or have been better structured, for the same reasons that have made scientific progress possible.

Extremism poses a real threat to any society. It doesn't matter the underlying ideology or ideology. These movements only serve to erode national identity, destroying the values ​​upon which the nation is built—values, imperfections and all, that many countries strive to emulate.

Fascism and communism, regardless of how they disguise themselves, as well as the ideologically indefinable "supremacists of any race," are a reality, not a cinematic invention. They all work hard toward a shared goal: destroying the foundations of tolerance, understanding, and respect for differences that characterize the United States.

The honorable Abraham Lincoln said back in 1838, “If destruction is our destiny, we must be its author and finisher. As a nation of free men, we shall live forever or die by suicide.” This is a warning to heed, because centrifugal forces seeking its destruction have always coexisted in this nation, so let us be vigilant in defending the country that shelters us

«The opinions published herein are the sole responsibility of its author».