For many Americans, the Fourth of July is more than fireworks and family gatherings. It is a reminder of the extraordinary freedoms and opportunities our nation has provided for generations of people seeking a better life.

As I prepared to celebrate Independence Day with family and friends this year, I heard remarks from New York City’s mayor that were deeply disappointing. I found it troubling that a naturalized American citizen – someone who has benefited from the opportunity to rise to lead the nation’s largest city – would use our country’s birthday to speak so negatively about the nation that made that opportunity possible.

Later that evening, as I looked around at the families gathered to watch the fireworks, I thought about what America has meant to each of them.

One family escaped communist rule in the former Soviet republics of Georgia and Ukraine. They arrived in the United States with little more than hope and determination. They worked hard, built a life from scratch, and raised four children who pursued their dreams. Today, those children have become professors, entrepreneurs, and successful business owners. Their success was not guaranteed. It was earned through hard work in a country where opportunity exists for those willing to pursue it.

Another friend came from a hardworking Ocean County family with very modest means. Through determination and perseverance, he built a successful business from the ground up and eventually sold it, allowing him to enjoy a well-earned retirement. His story is not unique. It is the story of countless Americans who transformed ambition into achievement.

These are the stories that define America.

The American Dream has never promised equal outcomes, but it has offered equal opportunity. It gives people the chance to improve their circumstances through education, innovation, entrepreneurship, and hard work. That promise continues to draw millions from every corner of the world.

That is why I become concerned when political leaders romanticize socialism or dismiss the strengths of our free-market system. History has repeatedly shown that centralized government control over economies limits opportunity, discourages innovation, and concentrates power in the hands of political elites rather than ordinary citizens.

Many Americans whose families escaped communist governments understand this reality firsthand. They know what it means to live where economic mobility is limited, private enterprise is restricted, and government – not individual initiative – determines much of a person’s future. Their experiences serve as powerful reminders of why America’s system, while imperfect, remains the envy of much of the world.

We recently welcomed visitors from around the globe for international sporting events, including the FIFA Club World Cup. Many came away impressed not only by our stadiums and cities, but by the everyday conveniences, innovation, and freedoms Americans often take for granted. From economic opportunity to technological advancement, our quality of life continues to attract people seeking a better future.

Many of the loudest advocates for socialism – including Zohran Mamdani, Bernie Sanders, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez – enjoy the very prosperity and personal success that America’s free-market system has afforded them, a contrast that raises legitimate questions when they ask others to embrace an economic model they themselves do not live under.

It is fair to debate public policy, healthcare, taxes, education, and the role of government. That is part of what makes America strong. But we should be careful not to diminish appreciation for the unique opportunities this country provides or suggest that systems with long histories of economic failure should become our model.

Our nation certainly faces challenges. No country is perfect. But America has consistently demonstrated an unmatched ability to reinvent itself, reward hard work, and welcome people from every background who are willing to pursue their dreams.

As I watched the fireworks light up the sky this Independence Day, I wasn’t thinking about politics. I was thinking about the families beside me – the immigrants, entrepreneurs, parents, and children whose lives demonstrate what is possible in the United States. Their stories speak louder than any political slogan ever could.

On this Fourth of July, I hope Americans take a moment to remember what makes our nation exceptional. Freedom carries responsibility. Opportunity requires effort. Success is never guaranteed. There truly is no such thing as a free lunch.

But there is something even better: the opportunity to earn your own success. That is the American Dream, and it remains worth celebrating and protecting.