This Thread —which redirected my writing on Faith, which came as the revelation “Knowledge is Biblical. Education is not.” (ME)… is quivering on it’s thread. Already, “seeing Education as, first… Legislation”. Working through this definition of knowledge: “But when knowledge comes, the whole world is turned upside down. The meaning of things begins to emerge. And more importantly, the relations between things are seen for the first time. Questions are asked and answers are sought. A strong restlessness comes over the spirit and the enormity of error moves over the horizon like a vast shadow. Struggle emerges as the way of life. An appetite is awakened that can never be satisfied.” (Howard Thurman)
Experiencing Professor Richard Blackett who gives me reason to reference the point that ties Luke and Acts to the same writer: “Theophilos” one who loves God. To exchange ‘Theos’ for ‘Istoria’-philos, Dr. Blackett is indeed that one who loves history and is capable of awakening the insatiable —a small reflection of his quest for Knowledge. Causing me to ‘exchange my education for knowledge’. A deeper clarity in Dr. John Water’s teaching that “There is history, and there is herstory; Then, there is HIStory.” Not man’s truth; told as history. Nor woman’s truth; told as herstory. BUT, GOD as Ultimate TRUTH —HISTORY; for those who are willing to SEEK Ultimate Truth!
With the 2024 Presidential Election heating up, with all the coal, all the kindling, all the ashes of this fire raging, I am called to look again at the Founding Presidents of this Nation in light of a HIGHER TRUTH, awakened in the study of “The Underground Railroad and the Struggle Over Slavery” Vanderbilt University, OLLI. The assignment was to study four ‘Runaway Slave Reward’ newspaper ads.
I was drawn to the ones from George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Andrew Jackson; raising my interest further into the number of U.S. Presidents who held slaves. I raised the question in class stating I found that 14 Presidents held slaves. Professor Blackett responded saying “how many Presidents were from the North?” It was easier for the class to count the 3 northern presidents than the Presidents elected from Slave Holding States! And he added, “all of the Secretary of States were Southerners…”
To take this look, for the sake of HIStory and TRUTH at this ‘unsolved mystery’ that is wired into the deepest fiber of this Nation from the time of it’s foundation building; one Block that sits as a ‘cancer’, a disease, that has the expectation of “physician, heal thyself”, with no purpose nor attentiveness for Healing. In fact, a denial, an ‘untouchable dilemna’ —rooted and buried in this Nation’s concrete floor. A very schizophrenic nature and long historically generated culture that has made ‘Lies of Truth’ and now… taking every attempt at making —‘truth of lies’.
This need to find causation has taken me into a more real knowledge of the “Thirteen Colonies”, in our ‘pre-president’; ‘pre-congress’; ‘pre-constitution’ days of nation building. First, 1607 Virginia. John Smith and John Rolfe. While history is clear that the original plans for this Jamestown settlement was not the first attempt by England in this new world, by 1607 a multi-faceted Trading Company was formed and authorized by King James, The Virginia Company of London. With hugh investments to ensure a more successful opportunity, three ships set sail to the eastern shore with John Smith designated as Leader.
This all original experiment in freedom where, even before the 2nd Colony is established… in 1619 Slaves are stolen, bought and brought into Virginia as a sole proprietorship nation — a building experiment in “New Life and Freedom”. Then… 2nd in 1620 Massachusetts (Plymouth). John Carber and William Bradford. 3rd 1623 New Hampshire, John Mason. 4th 1634 Maryland, George Calvert (Lord Baltimore). 5th 1636 Connecticut, Thomas Hooker. 6th 1636 Rhode Island, Roger Williams. 7th 1638 Delaware, Peter Minuit. 8th 1653 North Carolina, The Lords Proprietor. 9th 1663 South Carolina, The Lords Proprietor. 10th 1664 New Jersey, Lord Berkeley and George Carteret. 11th 1664 New York (New Amsterdam), Peter Stuyvesant. 12th 1682 Pennsylvania, William Penn. 13th 1732 Georgia, James Oglethorpe.
By the time these “Thirteen Colonies” are “United as States”, the “Constitutional Convention” is held in Philadelphia Pennsylvania, Independence Hall. Here on September 17, 1787, Delegates from Twelve Colonies, (with the exception of Rhode Island who sent no Delegate), penned a no more greater truth than can be seen through out the history of this nation: “We hold these TRUTHS to be SELF EVIDENT, that ALL MEN are CREATED EQUAL…” All while, meanwhile back at their Plantations, embodied by the ‘First President’ elected… from Virginia, George Washington, is reported to have held 300 Slaves in chains on his Mount Vernon, VA home.
I am reminded of a Hymn of Faith that I have heard, but no longer in the church. The Refrain simply said “Glory, Glory Hallelujah”. 3 times! With the final statement: “HIS(tory and) TRUTH is marching On.”!
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