Voice of America: What do you think you have in common with someone living in this country 250 years ago?

The thing that is most responsible for shaping America is, well, Americans. That is why in our celebration of the country’s 250th birthday, we decided to talk to those who make America what it is: its citizens. The biggest takeaway? We're not all the same. But that’s just one of the things that makes us great. 

In this series, we asked dozens of Americans nine questions to gather their thoughts on America yesterday, today and tomorrow. Here is what they had to say.

What do you think you have in common with someone living in this country 250 years ago?

The desire for freedom. Those were a lot tougher times and a lot simpler times than we live in now, but I think I think of the sense of country, family, and God values.

— Arlene Merriman, retired Bradenton resident

Struggle. I think we're living in a civil rights moment now with the way the politics are, and I think 250 years ago, they were dealing with the same thing, because my people were trying to get their freedom, and it was always denied to us.

So, it's been a movement to deny our freedoms now, and our progress, in this beautiful society of the United States.

— Jetson Grimes, president and founder of the Greater Newtown Community Redevelopment Corp., manager of Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebrations, and owner of Jetson’s Creative Trends salon 

Hopefully, acts of kindness. Just being kind.

— Noel Harmon, retailer

Photo by Ian Swaby

I think helping one another out.

I know not everybody feels that way, but if my neighbors were in trouble or somebody needed something, if somebody needed to pick up a shift — we should be helping one another, and I’d like to think that everybody was helping and banding together before. We’re kind of losing that now.

I’d like to think that I share that with people 250 years ago, when all they had was each other to help one another out and stick together. It's how we overcame so much; it’s the numbers, the community.

— Chelsea Daniels, Sarasota resident

We don’t have anything in common with people living even 100 years ago, because our quality of life is so much more comfortable than theirs was. I think they had a deeper appreciation for religion and stuff too, just because their lives were constant struggles, constant battles.

— Andrew DeVito, filmmaker and writer

The will of the pursuit of happiness. Those people 250 years ago, they made memories with their family and friends. After everything is said and done in life, that’s all that’s really said and done. The money, everything else, is not worth nothing. It’s the memories that we make.

— Kevin Eisenmenger, Longboat Key resident

I would say being feisty. I definitely am the kind of person that, I do not give up. I’m very tenacious. I'm very concerned about the welfare of others, and I think those two qualities are something that probably pretty much everyone who ended up here – they have those qualities too. So, I think that's what we would have in common.

— MJ Price, comic, musician, performer and local volunteer

Probably nothing other than the fact that I agree with less government interventions, small government self-reliance, personal responsibility, all the basic tenants.

— Don Gesualdi, retired firefighter

I know I would have fought for our freedom like they did and been proud to do it, no matter what it took.

— Tina Cosme, retailer

Not a lot. I think that what I think is hard is nothing compared to what they did. They were much more into daily sustenance or weekly sustenance, like where do I get clean water? But they probably were more simple-minded, and things that we get complicated about, inside our heads that cause us all kinds of grief, can be just as bad.

... They were simpler than we are. We are a very complicated people.

— Brian Quinn, Sarasota resident 

Photo by Lesley Dwyer

I think Americans today still want the same things — freedom, opportunity, security for their families and a chance to build a better future.

— Adam Myara, restaurateur and real estate agent