Facing troubled times, Americans should rededicate themselves to the powerful principal on which this nation was founded.

The United States of America and its position in the world is a far cry from the state of the union when the Declaration of Independence was signed 227 years ago.

In 1776, America was a collection of 13 colonies in a battle for survival. If they had talked about such things back then, England would have been considered a world superpower. America was just an upstart with a big idea.

It says something about the power of ideas.

It’s the power of that idea that we celebrate each year on the Fourth of July. The idea that all men are created equal and have certain inalienable rights certainly is larger than any individual — or even any generation. The idea has survived many pressures and trials and brought America to a place of pre-eminence in the world.

The power the United States now wields in the world is an awesome thing. How America should use that power and whether it has used it wisely in recent military engagements is a question of considerable debate across the nation right now. As Americans, we are painfully aware that our nation’s position as the world’s only superpower is a heavy burden and that power hasn’t bought us popularity around the globe.

Is the United States to become a global policeman and the U.S. government a worldwide judge and jury? Americans believe deeply in our democratic system, but we don’t want to dictate the future of other countries. And yet, when we see dictators wreaking havoc, killing their own people and abusing their natural resources, are we to just stand aside and watch?

The United Nations has been a disappointment as a global problem-solver in recent years. The United Nations was envisioned as the center point for world peace. but global politics have hamstrung the organization and limited its effectiveness. Frustrated, the United States struck out on its own against Saddam Hussein and Iraq, but the coalition it was able to build was far short of unanimous. Criticism continues both inside and outside the United States.

It’s obvious these are unsettled times. The world depends on the United States but chafes at the power it can exert. Inside America, difficult economic times are taking a toll and widening the unhealthy gap between the nation’s haves and have-nots. We don’t feel as safe as we once did, and the uncertainties of the future make everyone a little restless.

At a time like this, it’s important to remember the power of the idea that was expressed and embraced July 4, 1776. These are troubled times, but that idea has carried this nation through many difficult trials in the past 227 years. It’s an idea every U.S. leader and citizen should celebrate and cling to, especially today, on the Fourth of July.