America has always been a land divided. It’s a land of boundless opportunity and timeless prejudices. It’s a land where unbridled optimism and silver linings are constantly at odds with irrational bigotry and animosity, and mulish pride is so often mistaken for ardent patriotism.

Sure, that’s not a fantastic sell to aspiring Americans. Yet it’s these conflicting ideals and constantly evolving principles that have helped forge our collective identity. America’s not perfect, because it was never meant to be. It’s a melting pot that beckons us all – fusing the good, the bad and the ugly into one exceptional, living democratic experiment.

That’s why Americans get so obnoxiously patriotic on the 4th of July – and it’s why expats like me always book the day off work, wrangle up our loved ones for a rainy BBQ and drive the neighbours batty with barn-stomping country songs and dodgy, mail-order firework displays. It’s a celebration of where we as a people have been. Yet more important still, it’s a celebration of where we’re headed.

Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Show all 33 1 / 33 Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Donald Trump's first 100 days in office were marred by a string of scandals, many of which caught the eye of the Independent's cartoonists Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Trump's first 100 days have seen him aggressively ramp up tensions with his nuclear rivals in North Korea Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Mr Trump has warned of a "major, major conflict" with the pariah nation lead by Kim Jong Un Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Mr Trump dropped the "mother of all bombs" on alleged ISIS-linked militants in Afghanistan, amid an escalation of US military intervention around the globe Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Mr Trump has been accused of falling short of the standards set by his predecessors in the Oval Office, including Franklin D Roosevelt Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons The tycoon's ascension to the White House came at a time when the balance of power is shifting away from Western nations like those in the G7 group Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Western politicians, including the British Conservative party, have been accused of falling in line behind Mr Trump's proposals Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Brexit is seen to have weakened Britain, reducing still further any political will to resist American leadership Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Mr Trump's leadership has been marked by sudden and unexpected shifts in global policy Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Trump's controversial missile strike on Syria, which killed several citizens, was seen by some analysts as an attempt to distract from his policy elsewhere Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons The President has also spent a large majority of his weekends golfing, rather than attending to matters of state Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Though free of gaffes, a visit from Chinese president Xi Jinping spotlighted trade tensions between the two states Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons One major and unexpected setback came when Mr Trump's Healthcare Bill was struck down by members of his own party Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Mr Trump has been a figure of fun in the media, with his approval at record lows Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons A string of revelations about Mr Trump's financial indiscretions did not mar his surge to the White House Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Outgoing President Barack Obama was accused of wiretapping Trump Tower by his successor in America's highest office Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons The alleged involvement of Russian intelligence operatives in securing Mr Trump the presidency prompted harsh criticism Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons The explosive resignation of Security Adviser Michael Flynn, who lied about his links to the Russian ambassador, was just one scandal to hit the President Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Many scandals, such as the accusation Barack Obama was implicated in phone-hacking, first broke on Mr Trump's Twitter feed Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Donald Trump's election provoked mass protests in the UK, with millions signing a petition to ban him from the country Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Donald Trump cited a non-existent terror attack in Sweden during a campaign rally Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Donald Trump stands accused of stoking regional tensions in Eastern Asia Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons North Korea has launched a number of failed nuclear tests since Mr Trump took power Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Theresa May formally rejected the petition calling for Mr Trump to be banned from the UK Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons When Mr Trump's initial so-called Muslim ban was struck down by a federal justice, the President mocked the 69-year-old as a "ridiculous", "so-called judge" Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons A week after his inauguration, Theresa May met with Mr Trump at the White House Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Donald Trump's first days in office were marked by a hasty attempt to follow through on many of his campaign promises, including the so-called Muslim ban Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Donald Trump's decision to ban citizens of many majority-Muslim countries from the US sparked mass protests Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Revelations about Donald Trump's sexual improprieties were not enough to keep him from being elected President Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons British PM Theresa May was criticised by many in the press for cosying up to the new President Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons One of Mr Trump's top aides, Kelly Anne Conway, was mocked for describing mistruths as "alternative facts" Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons British PM Theresa May was quick to demonstrate that her political aims did not hugely differ from Mr Trump's Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Donald Trump's inauguration, on 20 January 2017, sparked protests both at home and abroad

But right now, America is headed nowhere fast – and that’s precisely why I’m not going to bother this year.

Let’s face it: we’ve tossed the hallmark traits of our young society in the backseat and handed the keys to a complete and utter lunatic. And although Donald Trump is merely symptomatic of a far deeper ailment, his tyrannical attempts to transform our dynamic melting pot into a flavourless autocracy cannot go unanswered.

While you and I are resting our heads, he’s inciting violence against journalists and encouraging bigotry like a petty teenager on social media. While we’re hard at work, he’s signing executive orders stripping away the rights of our friends and neighbours – and while we’re caring for our children, he’s parting us down the middle with half-baked travel bans devised on exclusive putting greens.

Every day, the President of the United States spits on the illustrious legacy of his predecessors by taking another swipe at the fragile freedoms and embryonic alliances that coexist to make America great.

That’s why he’s got to be stopped. And like it or not, you’ve got to be the one to make it happen.

Two-hundred and forty-one years ago today, America’s founding fathers joined together to declare their independence from despotism. They weren’t pals, and they didn’t all see eye-to-eye. Yet they stood firm in the shared conviction that when something is wrong, those with the ability to take action have got the responsibility to take action. They were prepared to stand up for their beliefs, and they didn’t take no for an answer.

Yet as the years wither on, that bold declaration of independence has been totally marginalised by a merciless tide of apathy. We’ve welcomed oppression and nepotism with open arms out of selfish convenience and short-sightedness. And like America’s imperfect but well-meaning founding fathers, we’re now faced with a huge choice to make.

Republican strategist says Trump's CNN tweet 'incites violence and will get someone killed'

That could never happen in the America I was raised in. But if we keep wasting time grandstanding about yesteryear with silly BBQs and obsessing over Donald Trump’s cryptic tweets, we’re going to sleepwalk right into that medieval hellscape. We as a people simply cannot move forward and progress the American story while this caricature demagogue holds office.

So if you care about your country, put down your phone and do something. Write to your senator. Phone your congressman. Get involved in a charity, and get out there on the street. Organise, picket and tell your fellow humans what you think and feel. You can’t let people like Donald Trump ignore you. Demand accountability, demand action, demand impeachment – and above all else, demand independence.