transformed by the renewing of your mind’. If Jesus was sent by God to repeat history differently, who am I to question that? Frankly, I’ve no idea why He is doing it this way, but His Ways are not our ways, and His thoughts are not our thoughts.”
“That was also well spoken,” said Washington. “You say that you have more to show me on your magic lantern?”
“I do indeed, Sir,” smiled Arcadia, “There are six full hours of video for you to see. It begins with the end of the war and struggle to form the United States, afterward you will see a second war with England, the expansion of the country, the outcome of the problem of slavery you do not resolve in the formation of the country and the results of that about 75 years from now, when the country fights a very destructive Civil War in which a tragic 700,000 Americans die. You will see the broad expanse of history and the involvement of the United States in world affairs. You are going to see some pretty awful things. You will learn the truth of the good policy somebody writes in the future, that the United States should avoid foreign entanglements.”
“That sounds like good advice,” said Washington, “Who said it?”
“You did, about 20 years from now.”
7
Mount Vernon, Virginia
Washington shouted in anger, wept, and shook his head in disgust as he watched the following 250 years unfold on the screen. Arcadia knew the presentation was carefully prepared to elicit the greatest impact, and also to be very credible with exact dates and the actual footage of events when motion pictures became possible at the beginning of 20 th century. He was horrified to see the result of this American transformation and the nuclear explosions that wiped out the biggest cities and killed 150 million people.
When the video was finished, he was silent for a long time. Arcadia sat quietly and let him process all he had seen.
Finally, he said, “The Lord has given you a plan to prevent all of this carnage and destruction?”
“We are not certain about the rest of the world,” said Arcadia, “but we believe much of this can be avoided by building a different United States.”
“How do you intend to accomplish this?”
“I’m not going to do anything, except provide good counsel and the means to defeat the British in a hurry right now, all the real work will have to be done by you, and your colleagues, plus the men and women who will follow you in history.”
“So,” said Washington, “assuming that all you have said is true, and I am inclined to believe you more than ever now, what is the next step?”
“Send messengers immediately to Adams, Jefferson, Franklin, Madison, and Hamilton and ask them to come here as soon as they can. Tell them you have vital information to share and ask them to stop what they are doing and come to Mount Vernon.”
“And then, what will happen,” asked Washington?
“They will get the same briefing you got. Then they must make a decision on how to proceed. I will then transport all of you to the installation we have built, not far from here and show you wonders beyond your scope of belief.”
“I will send messengers with letters out in the morning,” said Washington. “You will spend the night, of course.”
“Absolutely not,” Arcadia spoke with firm authority. “I have already taken a huge risk in spending the day with you. I should have worn a mask, along with my gloves, but I was afraid it would alarm you.”
“Is something wrong?”
“Potentially, you and I are separated by two and half centuries. There’s just no telling, what kind of pathogens we have exposed each other too. The risk to me is less because I was vaccinated against every disease we know about from this time, but there’s no way of knowing if I have brought something lethal with me from my time that might infect you. It would be a tragedy if I’ve given you a 21 st century disease
“That was also well spoken,” said Washington. “You say that you have more to show me on your magic lantern?”
“I do indeed, Sir,” smiled Arcadia, “There are six full hours of video for you to see. It begins with the end of the war and struggle to form the United States, afterward you will see a second war with England, the expansion of the country, the outcome of the problem of slavery you do not resolve in the formation of the country and the results of that about 75 years from now, when the country fights a very destructive Civil War in which a tragic 700,000 Americans die. You will see the broad expanse of history and the involvement of the United States in world affairs. You are going to see some pretty awful things. You will learn the truth of the good policy somebody writes in the future, that the United States should avoid foreign entanglements.”
“That sounds like good advice,” said Washington, “Who said it?”
“You did, about 20 years from now.”
7
Mount Vernon, Virginia
Washington shouted in anger, wept, and shook his head in disgust as he watched the following 250 years unfold on the screen. Arcadia knew the presentation was carefully prepared to elicit the greatest impact, and also to be very credible with exact dates and the actual footage of events when motion pictures became possible at the beginning of 20 th century. He was horrified to see the result of this American transformation and the nuclear explosions that wiped out the biggest cities and killed 150 million people.
When the video was finished, he was silent for a long time. Arcadia sat quietly and let him process all he had seen.
Finally, he said, “The Lord has given you a plan to prevent all of this carnage and destruction?”
“We are not certain about the rest of the world,” said Arcadia, “but we believe much of this can be avoided by building a different United States.”
“How do you intend to accomplish this?”
“I’m not going to do anything, except provide good counsel and the means to defeat the British in a hurry right now, all the real work will have to be done by you, and your colleagues, plus the men and women who will follow you in history.”
“So,” said Washington, “assuming that all you have said is true, and I am inclined to believe you more than ever now, what is the next step?”
“Send messengers immediately to Adams, Jefferson, Franklin, Madison, and Hamilton and ask them to come here as soon as they can. Tell them you have vital information to share and ask them to stop what they are doing and come to Mount Vernon.”
“And then, what will happen,” asked Washington?
“They will get the same briefing you got. Then they must make a decision on how to proceed. I will then transport all of you to the installation we have built, not far from here and show you wonders beyond your scope of belief.”
“I will send messengers with letters out in the morning,” said Washington. “You will spend the night, of course.”
“Absolutely not,” Arcadia spoke with firm authority. “I have already taken a huge risk in spending the day with you. I should have worn a mask, along with my gloves, but I was afraid it would alarm you.”
“Is something wrong?”
“Potentially, you and I are separated by two and half centuries. There’s just no telling, what kind of pathogens we have exposed each other too. The risk to me is less because I was vaccinated against every disease we know about from this time, but there’s no way of knowing if I have brought something lethal with me from my time that might infect you. It would be a tragedy if I’ve given you a 21 st century disease
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