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1445 Redefining Americain Minneapolis gave rise to renewed nationwide protests against police brutality. Protesters asked the world to %u201csay their names%u201d in remembrance of African Americans who had lost their lives to police violence.Wars in other parts of the world%u2014Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Palestine%u2014as well as climate-related catastrophes have tested America%u2019s loyalties and commitments. Divergent opinions on these events, as well as on domestic concerns such as the pandemic and the role of the police, have led to what may seem to be a coarsening of public discourse. And yet, despite an insurrection at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. on January 6, 2021, America remains a democratic society still committed to free speech.Now, we must ask ourselves what America means as a nation: Are we the economic and moral leader of the world? To what extent are we living up to the vision of the Founding Fathers? Are we still the land of the free, the home of the brave? What is our national identity%u2014or is our country too big and too diverse to have a coherent one? Are we still the land of opportunity? Is the United States still a beacon of hope and shelter for immigrants seeking to make a new life? Have we made progress toward the goal of liberty and justice for all, and how much progress must we make to achieve it? Are we effective stewards of the environment, and what are the global consequences if we are not? At their core, many of these questions relate to some aspect of the American Dream. What does that dream mean, and is it still alive?New York City firefighters walk through the rubble at the World Trade Center, the ruins of the Twin Towers behind them.How does this photograph capture the scale of the tragedy? Does it remind you of any images, artwork, or other forms of media you have seen?Porter Gifford/Getty ImagesCopyright %u00a9 Bedford, Freeman & Worth Publishers. Distributed by Bedford, Freeman & Worth Publishers. For review purposes only. Not for redistribution.