ARTICLES

By Arlene Bridges Samuels

A world of striking contrasts unfolds before us every day. Through instant global news and social media, people witness both inspiring acts of freedom and troubling ideologies almost simultaneously. As millions of international visitors experience the United States during the FIFA World Cup and America 250 celebrations, they are discovering a nation that often looks very different from the one portrayed in much of today’s media.

When the FIFA World Cup concludes on July 19, more than three million fans from over 200 nations will return home carrying memories of American hospitality, generosity, and freedom. Many will become unofficial ambassadors, sharing firsthand experiences that challenge the overwhelmingly negative narratives so often presented about the United States.

That same media environment frequently portrays America’s closest ally, Israel, through a similarly distorted lens. Yet on July 5, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu summarized the enduring partnership between the two democracies with these words:

“When America and Israel stand together, freedom stands stronger. Together we defend freedom. Together we defend our common civilization. Together, with God’s help, freedom will triumph over tyranny. Happy birthday, happy Independence Day, America.”

America’s 250th anniversary did not begin this year. Congress established the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission in 2016 to prepare for this historic milestone, while President Trump strongly supported America’s successful effort to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Long before the tournament began, however, anti-Israel activists sought to politicize the event. Palestinian organizations and several United Nations human rights experts urged FIFA to ban Israel from international competition. The U.S. State Department made clear that it opposed such efforts, and FIFA rightly rejected those demands.

Ironically, Israel is not competing in this year’s World Cup simply because it did not qualify during the 2025 playoff rounds. Even so, controversy emerged when security personnel confiscated an Israeli flag displayed by a spectator during the Iran-New Zealand match in Los Angeles while allowing Palestinian flags to remain. The fan described the action as antisemitic and an example of uneven enforcement. The incident sparked widespread criticism, particularly because Israel was not even participating in the tournament.

Despite these controversies, FIFA continues promoting its vision of football as “a force for unity, peace and hope.”

Beyond the headlines, millions of visitors are experiencing a different America than they expected.

At Kansas City International Airport, approximately 500 residents welcomed Algeria’s national team with enthusiastic cheers while a local high school band performed Algeria’s national anthem. A British visitor posted a lighthearted video marveling that he could buy car parts, a flat-screen television, and a hunting rifle under one roof at Walmart. A Scottish visitor admitted she had arrived expecting tension after watching news coverage about America’s political climate and immigration enforcement. Instead, she discovered warm hospitality and concluded that her experience could not have been more different from what she had anticipated.

America’s 250th anniversary celebrations likewise created unforgettable memories.

Although severe thunderstorms delayed the Independence Day festivities on the National Mall and required thousands of visitors to shelter inside nearby federal buildings and museums, the weather did little to dampen the celebration. If anything, it strengthened the sense of community. Veterans, musicians, journalists, and visitors spontaneously gathered together, while hundreds inside the Department of Agriculture building joined in an impromptu rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

President Trump reassured the nation on Truth Social, writing, “Storms bring luck to whatever the occasion. They also make events a little bit more exciting!”

When the skies finally cleared, spectacular fireworks illuminated the nation’s capital.

During his remarks, President Trump highlighted several historic American flags displayed on stage, including an original 1777 flag and the flag that draped President Abraham Lincoln’s coffin. He invited Medal of Honor recipients and distinguished veterans to stand beside these treasured symbols of American history.

Among the most moving moments was the presentation of a remarkable American flag sewn together in 1944 by a Belgian mother and daughter during the Nazi occupation. Hidden from German forces until Allied troops liberated Belgium, the handmade flag was presented to Private First-Class William Key by grateful Belgian citizens.

This Independence Day, Army Major Kyle Key, William Key’s grandson, carried that same eighty-two-year-old flag onto the National Mall stage. His family’s story also carries another remarkable connection to American history. Their ancestor, Francis Scott Key, penned the poem that eventually became “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

In one unforgettable moment, Major Key’s salute connected generations of sacrifice, liberty, and courage stretching from the American Revolution to World War II and into the present day. His family’s story reminds us that freedom is never merely inherited. It is defended, preserved, and passed from one generation to the next.

The closing words of our national anthem continue to capture that enduring truth:

“O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave o’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?”

America’s freedoms also include the constitutional right to peaceful protest. Throughout the America 250 celebrations, numerous demonstrations and public gatherings took place across the country, reflecting the freedoms guaranteed under the Constitution. The ability to express differing viewpoints peacefully remains one of the defining characteristics of a free society.

As followers of Christ, our ultimate confidence does not rest in governments or public opinion but in the Lord Himself.

Psalm 100:5 reminds us: “For the LORD is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations.”

Our CBN Israel team welcomes you to join us in prayer this week.

Prayer Points

• Pray with gratitude for the hospitality Americans have shown to international visitors.
• Pray that millions of World Cup fans will return home with a deeper appreciation for America’s freedoms and values.
• Pray for President Trump, his administration, and the America 250 leadership as they continue commemorating this historic anniversary.
• Pray for wisdom, strength, and continued cooperation between President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu as they work together to defend freedom and strengthen the U.S.-Israel alliance.

Arlene Bridges Samuels is the weekly feature columnist for CBN Israel since 2020. Working on the staff of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) as their SE Regional Outreach Director for nine years, International Christian Embassy Jerusalem USA engaged her as the Leadership Outreach Director part-time for their project American Christian Leaders for Israel (ACLI). Arlene is an author at The Blogs-Times of Israel, is published at AllIsrael.com and The Jerusalem Connection. Her devotionals and articles also appear on her Substack, The Eclectic Evangelical. She serves on the Advisory Board of NewPersia.org and on the advisory committee of RootAndBranchIsrael.com. Having traveled to Israel regularly since 1990, Arlene participates in Israel’s Government Press Office Christian Media Summits alongside members of Christian media from around the world. In 2024, Arlene and her husband Paul co-authored Mental Health Meltdown: Illuminating the Voices of Bipolar and Other Mental Illnesses. In May 2026, The White Rose Society honored Arlene as a non-Jewish individual who stands with the Jewish people.