Why Facts & History Matters in our World
I often attend book signings of my books that I have on Amazon Kindle, under my name Charles Boatright. I write on subjects of Health & Fitness, espionage, military operations, and my favorite, Biblical History to help decode the scriptures for others that are interested in the Bible.
You only have to go back to COVID-19 to understand the mistrust we have with academia and our media. They cause a lot of hardships for people that were trying to reveal the truth and facts that could have saved a lot of lives.
I just wish academia and our media believed in the first sentence of the second paragraph of our Declaration of Independence that- We hold these truths to be self-evident in their teaching and reporting efforts. Neither seems to be interested in verifying and teaching or reporting on facts. Just the Antisemitism from academia and in our media proves this.
I would like to substantiate what Jerry Sinfeld mentioned to an influencer when Jerry was asked “Free Palestine.” Jerry responded was concise and correct using a three-worded response— “Palestine doesn’t exist.” Based on history, Palestine was never a country under the Byzantines, Islamic caliphates, during the Crusades, Mamluks, the Ottoman Empire, or when the British occupied what has been referred to as The Holy Land.
Academia got this Wrong as well, History isn’t Taught
Our academia has proved one FACT- That education does not automatically guarantee an accurate grasp of history of facts. This was proven in October of 2023 on college campuses. In an age of abundant information, many still form strong opinions based on selective narratives rather than verified facts. Our education and media would do well to read from 1 Thessalonians 5:21 But test, or verify, everything that is said. Establish what is Fact. This used to be the rule; but now it is the exception in academia and our media.
You are Entitled to your Opinions, but NOT to your own set of FACTS!
Individuals are entitled to their opinions, but they are not entitled to their own set of facts. This principle holds true and relevance for public figures and emerging leaders such as Marxist like Melat Kiros, Brad Lander, Darializa Avila Chevalier, and Claire Valdez, whose political platforms and statements on the Middle East reflect their lack of historical understanding of historical facts.
Why Should Facts get in the way of a Narrative
Here is a clear historical fact to illustrate this point: the land that is Israel was never an independent state or government known as “Palestine.” The Romans designated the region Syria Palaestina after suppressing the Jewish Bar Kokhba revolt in 135 CE. This renaming by the Romans was purely an administrative and punitive measure to diminish Jewish ties to the ancestral homeland of Judea.
For the subsequent 1,800 years, the territory was ruled by the Byzantines, various Islamic caliphates (including as the military district of Jund Filastin), by Crusaders like the Knights Templar, Mamluks, the Ottoman Empire, and the British. No independent Arab state was ever called Palestine where Israel is now.
During Ottoman rule from 1517 to 1917, the term “Palestine” (or “Filastin”) was rarely used as an official title or designation. The region was divided into sanjaks and vilayets—such as those centered on Jerusalem, Nablus, and Acre—administered as parts of larger provinces like Damascus or Sidon. It’s geographic and religious reference lend it to be known as “The Holy Land,” but never as a sovereign political entity.
Therefore, contemporary calls to “re-establish Palestine” rest on an inaccurate Historical Premise
There was no prior independent Palestinian state to restore; the modern concept of Palestinian national identity and statehood emerged primarily unofficially in the 20th century. Jewish historical and religious connection to the land runs far deeper and is documented in ancient and biblical texts than the term Palestine.
The real Biblical reference of Israel was when Joshua led the people across the Jordan River to conquer after leaving slavery after 430 years in Egypt. Then when Joshua and Israel entered the land, it was known as Canaan where Canaanites occupied Jericho, the first city Joshua conquered.
The Reason for Israel to Conquer Canaan
Deuteronomy 9:5 records the main reason why Moses was to lead Israel to conquer Canaan, that actually fell to Joshua. God told Moses- It was not because of the Israelites’ righteousness or integrity, but on account of the wickedness of the nations there, that God would drive them out to fulfill the covenant sworn to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Establish your own Facts, but be Educated
Some might think that the Bible is just Greek Mythology and pure prophecy, but history proves a different matter if you educate yourself. I am not asking you to believe the Bible, but have a open mind and do like Paul stated in 1 Thessalonians 5:21 But test, or verify, everything that is said. Establish what is Fact.
Another of Paul’s writings in the book of Hebrews states that we should pursue peace with all people. Any soldier will tell you that PEACE is always a better option than WAR that destroys lives and a way of life. Wars start over by not understanding your objectives.
Paradise Lost
Prophets from Jeremiah to Amos foretold of the consequences for Israel’s disobedience that God warned Moses that it wasn’t because of your righteousness or integrity that you were going to conquer the land. But Israel followed the path of those earlier nations.
In 597 BCE, King Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon conquered Jerusalem and exiled much of the population to Babylon. Jeremiah 29:11 offered hope amid this exile: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
After 70 years, a remnant returned under Persian rule
There was another significant prophecy appears in Amos 9:14-15: that describes the modern-day Israel:
“I will bring my people Israel back from exile. They will rebuild the ruined cities and live in them. They will plant vineyards and drink their wine; they will make gardens and eat their fruit. I will plant Israel in their own land, never again to be uprooted from the land I have given them,” says the LORD your God. This would not occur without conflict as bared out by events in 1948.
But there is an obscure but important prophecy that would go along with Amos statement in Zephaniah 3:17 reinforces the theme of divine protection, that I would suggest sceptics to refer to, because it has been proven devastating to those that didn’t understand this promise in Zephaniah:
“The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you but will rejoice over you with singing.”
Modern events provide fulfillment of Amos 9:14-15
On November 29, 1947, the United Nations passed Resolution 181, proposing partition of the British Mandate area into Jewish and Arab states. On May 14, 1948, David Ben-Gurion proclaimed the State of Israel. Remember, Israel DID NOT have a standing Army, but the very next day, on May 15, no less than five Arab armies invaded the fledgling state of Israel, on three fronts. Most military strategies would predict a massacre.
After roughly 20 months of fighting, hostilities ended with Israel surviving and expanding its territory. Similar existential threats recurred in the 1967 Six-Day War and the 1973 Yom Kippur War, both resulting in decisive Israeli victories that reshaped regional dynamics. These events support Zephaniah 3:17.
The Abraham Accords
These outcomes align with patterns of resilience by Israel in ancient texts. More recently, the Abraham Accords—initiated under President Trump—normalized relations between Israel and several Arab states (UAE, Bahrain, and others).
The Abraham Accords unveiled historical threads that bond the two cultures between Arabs and Israel, that might be tighter than what people might think. Remember Abraham, the common patriarch in both cultures; was called out of modern-day Iraq that was Mesopotamia until Arab countries conquered Mesopotamia in 638 CE that also included Syria came under Arab control. Abraham's first son, Ishmael, is traditionally regarded as the ancestor of many Arab nations.
Early Biblical lineage further links Arabs and Israel: Take the case of Rahab, a Canaanite, resident of Jericho (who gave aid to the Israelite spies). One of those spies, Salmon, married Rahab from the tribe of Judah; their descendant was Boaz that married Ruth; that led to King David and to the lineage of Jesus Christ, who was recognized as the Son of David in the New Testament.
Abraham Accords usher in Strategic Relations
Shared Abrahamic roots and mutual strategic interests—especially against the Iranian Regime whose mission is to destabilize the region since 1979 has tried to sabotage cooperation between Israel and Arabs States. A significant destabilizing effort was when Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023.
This resulted in a joint U.S.-Israel Operation Epic Fury beginning in early 2026, targeted Iranian military and nuclear capabilities. Arabs states have found allies with the United States and Israel to be very beneficial.
This is why historical context is important rather than politicized by our media on the left and academia. As the saying goes, the truth of history often lies between the lines in the details that people elect to ignore.
The lack of knowledge of history often fosters divisions that are on display regularly on college campuses and from our left politicians and media that supports Antisemitism and protest against one of our Middle East allies, Israel. This reveals a more troubling reality than contemporary narratives of platforms. Those who seek genuine understanding must prioritize facts over convenient stories.
Again remember 1 Thessalonians 5:21 But test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good.
I wrote a book lying out the history of The Holy Land in:
