To mark the Fourth of July weekend, Alpha News reporter Symone Harms hit the streets of Mankato. She tested residents with patriotic trivia to gauge their understanding of America’s history and values.
Harms began by asking why we celebrate the Fourth of July—and answers differed widely.
One person explained, “To celebrate our freedom,” but couldn’t identify the country we gained independence from. Another suggested, “Freedom in America,” while a third joked, “Cuz it’s not Juneteenth.”
Some nailed it, with one individual saying “independence from Britain” and another specifying “British colonialism” and “King George.”
Yet, one respondent said, “Trump,” and others did not know the answer.
Notably, two individuals from England knew more about American Independence Day than some U.S. citizens that Harms interviewed.
Moving on to facts about the Declaration of Independence, one person correctly named Thomas Jefferson as the main author, while others faltered, guessing “Benjamin Franklin” as the author. Some mistakenly believe it was also written in “1896”—off by more than a century from 1776.
Reflecting on the colonists’ protests against the British king, Harms asked what people might protest today. Responses varied, including one person who said, “for good barbecue,” while another said, “The right for the unborn to live.”
Regarding patriotism, there were more than a few mixed reactions.
Some hesitated to answer if they were a patriot. One person said, “It’s hard to consider myself a patriot when there’s a specific image linked with that word.”
However, many did consider themselves to be a patriot and said they are grateful to live in America. A woman from China—identifying as a patriot—emphasized the importance of freedom, tying it to her personal experience.
Harms, then asked people if they could finish the lyrics to lines from The Star-Spangled Banner.
After singing the line, “Oh, say can you see,” Harms then asked someone to sing the next line—they could not.
However, after Harms sang “and the rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air,” several others were able to sing the lyrics that followed in our national anthem: “…gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.”
Alpha News Staff
Symone Harms
Symone Harms is a Media Production and Business Marketing student at Bethel University. She is actively involved in The Royals Investment Fund, The 25, theatre, and other leadership positions. She also cohosts Rooted, a podcast dedicated to being rooted in truth, growing in freedom, and prospering in life. A Minnesota native with a passion for storytelling and digital media, she aspires to a career in broadcasting as a news anchor and reporter.
