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America, you may have heard, is turning 250 this year. But the planned festivities are more late Roman Empire than youngish republic By Peter Coy On July 3, 1776, the Founding Father and future president John Adams wrote to his wife, Abigail, that the signing of the Declaration of Independence “ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.” To that...