Bill McCollum
On June 12th Elon Musk’s SpaceX launched the largest Initial Public Offering (IPO) in stock market history. The IPO minted Elon Musk as the world’s first trillionaire. An estimated 4,400 SpaceX employees became millionaires. Only in America!
Elon Musk was born in South Africa, immigrated to Canada, came to America on a student visa, and two decades later became a naturalized US citizen. That same year he founded SpaceX. The timing of Musk’s SpaceX milestone achievement was apropos, occurring in the same year as America’s semiquincentennial anniversary.
250 years ago, fifty-six enlightened American colonists declared in writing “that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.” Upon these foundational ideals was America built and ongoingly shaped – to the present.
The promise of America has been the allure for immigrants from every corner of the world in search of freedom and opportunity, and New York City has long-symbolized America’s immigration gateway. How fitting for the New York Knicks to win the NBA National Championship this year!
The promise of America inspires hard work, tenacity, and innovation. Frank Sinatra’s “Theme from New York, New York” encapsulates the idea: “If I can make it there, I’ll make it anywhere.” Unsurprisingly, America is the world’s breeding ground for entrepreneurship - Musk, and countless others before him, have seized the promise.
Also, this year, thanks to FIFA World Cup 2026, over a million international visitors are traversing our country and experiencing the American way of life firsthand, unsullied by foreign media bias and Hollywood portrayals. Their online testimonials are full of appreciation and adoration, and are refreshingly patriotic.
And why shouldn’t they be? This is, after all, America!
John came to Shreveport in January of 1977 when he was transferred to Barksdale AFB.
He’s been active in Shreveport politics since deciding to make Shreveport his home.
John practiced law for 40 years and he now monitors local politics. He regularly attends Shreveport City Council and Caddo Parish Commission meetings.
John is published weekly in The Inquisitor, bi-monthly in The Forum News, and frequently in the Shreveport Times.
He enjoys addressing civic groups on local government issues and elections.