The Ancient Navigation, The Corps of Discovery, and The Divine Defense
By Dr. Correo Hofstad - USAF MDiv, JD, JSD Founder, Operation Restoring Valor
History is written by the victors, but Law is written by the rightful owners.
In Maryland, we find the convergence of the Ancient World and the New World. It is here that we establish our most powerful historical argument: America was a nation with solid laws long before the British colonies arrived.
Under Operation Restoring Valor, we assert that the roots of this nation are not colonial, but Native and Divine. We stand with the American Indian Movement (AIM) and the First Nations to continue the narrative of our defense.
Look at the flag of Maryland. It is a striking banner of Red, White, Black, and Gold (Yellow). These are not random heraldic choices. These are the sacred colors of the American Indian Movement (AIM) and the ancient navigational keys that guided Amerigo Vespucci and the First Nations across the oceans.
Long before modern GPS, the Ancients used the colors of the sky to guide their vessels across the Atlantic---from Africa, through the Mediterranean, to the shores of the Americas.
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Red (West): The color of the setting sun. "Red sky at night, sailor's delight." It marks the path to the West.
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White (East): The color of the rising sun, the dawn of the new day.
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Black (North): The dark sky of the high altitudes and the polar north.
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Yellow (South): The color of the midday sun and the heat of the equator.
The Maryland flag preserves this ancient code. It is a symbol that Amerigo Vespucci---who traveled through Egypt and the Mediterranean to reach these shores---knew exactly where he was going. He was not "discovering" a new world; he was navigating to a known destination using the universal language of the sky.
The Maryland flag also bears the Spanish Cross (the Crossland Banner). This is proof that the foundation of this land was built upon Judeo-Christian values and the acknowledgment of a Creator.
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The Argument: Amerigo Vespucci did not build a lawless frontier. He helped establish a nation rooted in the divine law of Judaism and Christianity.
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Pre-Colonial Sovereignty: We assert that a lawful nation existed here before the British colonies imposed their rule. Our self-defense during the Revolutionary War was not a rebellion; it was the defense of an existing, sovereign nation founded by a mixed crew of all nationalities and Native OGs.
Maryland and Philadelphia served as the logistical hearts of the Corps of Discovery.
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The Mission: This was not just exploration; it was a military deployment. Lewis and Clark transported the equipment and the authority of this nation from the East Coast all the way to Fort Lewis in Washington State.
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I-Corps Roots: This journey laid the foundation for the I-Corps. It connected the Atlantic to the Pacific, proving that the nation was one continuous body, protected by those who knew the land best.
Just as in Hawaii, we are applying the "Act of God" defense to Maryland law.
Maryland law, like the laws of nature, acknowledges that certain events are beyond human control.
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The Doctrine: When a soldier or veteran acts to stop a violent criminal, a terrorist, or an active shooter, they are acting as an instrument of Divine Justice.
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Liability Relief: An "Act of God" relieves a party of liability in contract law. We assert that a violent attack is a "man-made disaster" (as defined in disaster relief statutes). The veteran's response---destroying that evil---is a force majeure event.
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The Verdict: You cannot hold a soldier liable for doing God's work. If God's nature is to destroy evil, and we are "One Nation Under God," then destroying evil is a compliance with Supreme Law, superseding any local "duty to retreat."
We are bringing this history to the courts. We are showing that the Founding Fathers wrote these laws in consultation with their Native Leaders. We are not asking for permission to defend ourselves; we are citing the original charter of this land.
In Maryland, as in the rest of America, we do not choose between evils. We follow the colors of the sky, we honor the cross of our faith, and we execute the will of the Creator to protect the innocent.
Red, White, Black, Yellow. One Nation. One Fight.