Today—July 7, 2025—I caught a podcast in which Chas Freeman, former United States ambassador to Saudi Arabia (1989-1992), gave his reflections on the past weekend's Fourth of July holiday. I think it is really worth a listen—especially for students working through my course on critical thinking, and for those working through the philosophy of cultural diversity (a section of each course starting today). Prompted by the host of Dialogue Works, Nima Alkhorshid—Freeman articulates "how ... the shift toward xenophobia and exclusion [has] undermined the foundational identity of the United States as an open, idea-based nation"—as he places particular emphasis on recent illiberal attempts to quash free expression of opinion. 

We all should consider carefully what Ambassador Freeman has to say:

Ambassador Chas Freeman interviewed by Nima Alkhorshid, "The Collapse of American Greatness – What No One Wants to Admit"