The other day, I asked my wife: “Is it just me, or has Bill been acting a bit off lately?”

With summer here, I’ve seen my neighbor Bill (not his real name) out and about more — mowing his lawn or walking his poodle mix. But recently, he’s seemed to ignore my wave.

My wife noticed it too. “Do you think it’s the sign we put up last fall?” she wondered aloud.

Last election season, I put a campaign sign in our yard. The candidate had come to my door, answered my questions and earned my respect.

Bill, on the other hand, put up a sign for the opposing candidate. Since then, things felt a little distant.

My wife worried we’d upset the neighborhood peace. Over a sign! But I reminded her, we’re neighbors first. We don’t have to agree on everything to treat each other with respect.

The next time I saw Bill, I made a point to say hello. Putting politics aside, we had a friendly chat.

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Your Rundown for Friday, July 4, 2025...

… Finding Common Ground

Turns out, retirement’s been a tough adjustment for Bill. And the house is just so quiet now that his daughter’s moved out.

Not long after my conversation with Bill, I got our American flag out of storage.

As I dusted it off, I wondered how my neighbors might see it today. The truth is, the flag means different things to different people.

For some, the flag’s a sacred reminder of the men and women who sacrificed to preserve our sovereignty.

For others, it stirs feelings of exclusion from the American Dream on the basis of race, religion, economic status… The list goes on.

But to me, the flag is a symbol of something we all share: the hope for a better tomorrow, the right to speak our minds and the belief that — even when we disagree — we’re still Americans.

Our founders wrote about forming “a more perfect union.” They knew perfection was impossible, but striving for unity together is what makes us who we are.

This Independence Day, let’s remember that what unites us — empathy, respect and the enduring bonds of community and country — is greater than what divides us.

By all means, fly the American flag… greet your neighbors… and remember: being American means standing together, even when we see things differently.

From one neighbor to another, Happy Independence Day!