General Discussion

NCDem47

(3,523 posts) Wed May 13, 2026, 08:15 AM May 13

The 250th doesn't feel unifying at all [View all]

As we head toward the nation’s 250th birthday, I can’t help but feel like something is missing compared to the Bicentennial in 1976. Back then, whether you were Democrat, Republican, or didn’t care much about politics at all, it felt like a broad national celebration. There was a sense of shared Americana everywhere — flags, community events, tall ships, parades, patriotic merchandise, TV specials, even everyday people decorating homes and neighborhoods just because it was a milestone moment.

This time around, it feels… flatter. More politicized. Maybe it’s just me, but most of the overt patriotic displays I’m seeing lately seem tied to MAGA culture. In a lot of cases, it almost feels like the same houses, the same trucks/cars, and the same boats that normally fly Trump or MAGA gear have just swapped out the branding for patriotic bunting and 250th imagery for the summer. The vibe feels less like a broad civic celebration and more like an extension of an already-existing political identity.

Trump’s whole grifting, self-aggrandizing style has changed the tone around these kinds of national moments too. Instead of a shared civic celebration, everything starts to feel like branding, loyalty signaling, merchandising, rallies, and personality cult politics. Even something as historic and potentially unifying as the nation’s 250th starts feeling filtered through one man’s image and movement rather than belonging to the country as a whole.

The upcoming 250th doesn’t yet feel like a unifying civic moment the way the 200th did. Maybe the country is too fragmented now. Maybe social media and polarization changed things. Or maybe the big push just hasn’t started yet.

Curious what other DUers think. Does the 250th feel different to you compared to how people describe or remember 1976? And if so, why?

62 replies

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Highlight:

The 250th doesn't feel unifying at all [View all] NCDem47 May 13 OP

It's not a celebration at this point in time.................. Lovie777 May 13 #1

There's still a chance dem4decades May 13 #52

It feels like another of krasnov's grifts and kkklown shows. I shudder niyad May 13 #2

What are we celebrating? Biophilic May 13 #58

I feel much as you. The fact that djt is cornering our nation's birthday to allegorical oracle May 13 #3

I agree 100% with your assessment. I was 18 in 1976 and was a hopeful young fella. chicoescuela May 13 #4

I was 10 and it was all so joyful Bettie May 13 #47

I was 12 get the red out May 13 #49

It does and the fact of who is at the head of our nation Bettie May 13 #50

You are not wrong. murielm99 May 13 #5

It's the exact opposite of the bicentennial -this feels more like a funeral Blues Heron May 13 #6

It's a different time. Now, people are even less trusting of government, and 1974 was right after Vietnam. Intractable May 13 #7

Oh, hell. I want NOTHING to do with it. If I had my druthers I'd spend the week in a deprivation chamber hlthe2b May 13 #8

I know how you feel Farmer-Rick May 13 #21

This country is like a marriage on the rocks. Omnipresent May 13 #9

Great analogy. NCDem47 May 13 #10

It will be divisive Johnny2X2X May 13 #11

It's because we are embarrassed by our country's leadership and their actions. Diamond_Dog May 13 #12

The real unification date will come in November Fiendish Thingy May 13 #13

From your keyboard to God's ears. NCDem47 May 13 #14

Haven't seen much, and I live in a red state. mwmisses4289 May 13 #15

Same here. llmart May 13 #20

Every time I see 250th merch out in the wild, I feel sad newdeal2 May 13 #16

I agree, flags on pickup trucks are so maga RainCaster May 13 #17

Nope. It feels hollow. A thin lie. Happy Hoosier May 13 #18

I was 6 years old -- hopeful that post civil rights era that the ERA would pass and full equality was on the horizon JT45242 May 13 #45

Something bad will happen. ECL213 May 13 #19

It sure doesn't feel like any celebration to me. hamsterjill May 13 #22

In 1976 DownriverDem May 13 #23

Nixon wasn't President in 1976. He resigned johnnyfins May 13 #27

Fifty years ago I was graduating from high school COL Mustard May 13 #24

You are witnessing the difference between patriotism and nationalism in real time... Wounded Bear May 13 #25

I hate that the 250th happens to fall when he is in office. How unfortunate for us. Katinfl May 13 #26

It's more like an "In Memorium" for a once good country johnnyplankton May 13 #28

I can't really afford it but I was thinking about Tanuki May 13 #29

I'm just going to stay home and work in the garden. OnionPatch May 13 #36

Why celebrate the death of this once great democracy Grim Chieftain May 13 #30

To be fair I have changed immensely from age 8 (then) to age 58 (now) dsc May 13 #31

It will be all about the Orange Monster. PittBlue May 13 #32

Let's commemorate the Union beating the Confederacy WorkDoctor May 13 #33

Except the Union didn't beat them hard enough LearnedHand May 13 #46

I see it as a day of mourning OnionPatch May 13 #34

Definitely Different unweird May 13 #35

We were literally dancing in the street for the 200th. We actually held up Ford's FailureToCommunicate May 13 #37

Cut off the top is a black tube sock. FalloutShelter May 13 #38

You mean, cut off the toe end. Wednesdays May 13 #48

It feels like cosplay. No thanks. hay rick May 13 #39

At the rate our Debt is going, we'll be able to celebrate our 50 Trillion Dollars in the hole. chouchou May 13 #40

I feel deep anxiety that the 250th will be the last for our Constitutional democracy Martin Eden May 13 #41

I agree. evolves May 13 #42

In 1976, Gerald Ford was President Wednesdays May 13 #43

Part of the issue is that the Bicentennial was planned haele May 13 #44

Trump has co-opted it. He has turned the official observances into celebrations of himself. Ocelot II May 13 #51

Canada's Independence Day is July 1. WestMichRad May 13 #53

I do have a Canadian flag, which I fly on July 1, Ocelot II May 13 #56

Ukraine, Greenland, Canada (and Ireland for good measure) hlthe2b May 13 #60

On September 28, 1976 the album Songs in the Key of Life was released thought crime May 13 #54

250 is just a random number. WestMichRad May 13 #55

A day will come - we don't know when, but I hope it's soon - that will become the next national holiday. Ocelot II May 13 #57

I was 4 when the bicentennial happened MustLoveBeagles May 13 #59

Remember Bicentennial Quarters ? They had Washington's profile on them. Not any recent President. eppur_se_muova May 14 #61

We don't have much to be proud of right now . . . hatrack May 14 #62