Across the United States, Americans are celebrating their country's 250th birthday by tuning out partisan discord and focusing on their personal concepts of America. In Associated Press interviews with citizens before the Fourth of July, auto technician Joe Fuqua-Bejarano in Topeka, Kansas, said resilience rather than politics makes Americans awesome. "We've just all got to find unity somewhere, whether that's in laughter or perseverance, and keep everybody cool," he said from his fireworks stand.
Christina Zhou, a 25-year-old research assistant from Cambridge, Massachusetts, acknowledged there are many points of contention but noted beautiful things are still happening. She said she focuses on local events because they feel more within personal control. In Mont Vernon, New Hampshire, farmer Mindy Dean, 50, and her family plan to milk their goats and possibly attend local fireworks. "We're just happy Americans," she said. "We kinda do our own thing and just enjoy our freedom as Americans." In contrast, 81-year-old retiree Neil Casey from Nashua, New Hampshire, and his friend Maureen Regan from Cambridge are visiting Boston's historical sites including Paul Revere's house and attending Fourth of July events. Regan took heart in World Cup soccer fans who visited the country, saying they appreciate what Americans have and urging compatriots to remember how fortunate they are.