The United States: Whither?

Ronald A. Lindsay examines competing narratives about American history and identity ahead of the United States' 250th anniversary, arguing that both right-wing myths of a flawless Christian nation and left-wing portrayals of America as irredeemably oppressive distort a more complicated reality rooted in Enlightenment ideals. He contends that free speech, democracy, and gradual moral progress—especially regarding slavery and women's rights—remain the nation's greatest strengths, while warning that polarization, censorship, and partisan echo chambers now threaten the future of American unity and democratic culture. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://secularhumanism.org/2026/05/the-united-states-whither/ About the Author: Ronald A. Lindsay is the former president and CEO of the Center for Inquiry, recent interim general counsel for CFI, and editor of Free Inquiry magazine. Subscribe to Free Inquiry: https://secularhumanism.org/subscribe/