July 4 community celebrations across America on this, the 250th anniversary of this great country’s founding, will try to project a nation unified, although in reality much skepticism about that supposed condition exists throughout the land.

Still, consider this:

Regardless of differing viewpoints — about politics, about businesses and industries, about schools and colleges, about the professions, and about almost anything else that’s a part of the national fabric — the one constant among them all is they’re all built upon a foundation seeking to make America as strong as it can be.

Differing opinions evolve, prolong, then in most cases, eventually dissipate, but the national foundation perseveres.

That’s what has happened since July 4, 1776, the date associated with the signing of the Declaration of Independence — the document that ended America’s subservience to the English crown.

Just like today’s “house divided” on myriad issues, including the general course upon which this country is traversing, not everyone in 1776 agreed with breaking ties with England.

However, it is important to hope and believe that whatever is right and correct will prevail, if not immediately then over a reasonable amount of time.

That is the kind of attitude that existed 250 years ago, when America’s formation was underway.

But more important than all that, Americans, especially those who tend to take things for granted, need to conduct a self-evaluation and seek to become an active, albeit peaceful, ambassador for change, wherever that’s needed.

Meanwhile, as was the case in 1776 in the national scheme of things, today’s leaders, amid the proverbial big picture, will lead for only what amounts to a short time before giving way to new leaders with new ideas and new energies and new commitments on behalf of the people they serve.

All of that, if handled in a positive way, will keep America moving forward and be a basis for future celebrations of America’s independence, even bigger than those that will be taking place this weekend.

Amid these celebrations, many Americans, including people here, will think of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, and they should. However, they also would do well to reflect on John Adams, who the Wall Street Journal, in a July 3, 2019, opinion page headline, referred to as America’s “most ingenuous Founding Father.”

“No man was more honest, more passionate, better read or more prepared for the public offices he filled,” said the article over which the headline in question appeared.

“At the same time,” the article continued, “no man was more vilified and scoffed at. He was deeply invested in doing right, even when impolitic to do so. Men like Adams are rare in public life today.”

Many Americans today would agree.

“U.S. itches for blockbuster July 4th” was the headline the Journal used in its July 3-4, 2021, edition to introduce its coverage of the first Independence Day observance following the COVID-19 pandemic. In a number of ways that holiday was like this year’s — with high gasoline prices and high temperatures.

This year’s hope for a “blockbuster” is rooted, of course, in the number 250, and all Americans should try to participate in whatever events are in close proximity to them.

The world needs to know that, despite the disagreements that mark America’s existence, America is not on life support. It is alive and well and looking ahead.

Pessimism about its future in our communities is not in order.