YouTube Canceled RSBN. I'm Canceling YouTube.
by 
​Julio Gonzalez, M.D., J.D.
 
Audacious.  Absolutely audacious.  
 
There's nothing else to be said of YouTube's actions in canceling RSBN for two weeks.
 
In case you have not heard, YouTube has suspended RSBN for two weeks because of RSBN's coverage of President Donald J Trump's CPAC speech. RSBN is the Right Sided Broadcast Network.  It is a network that has amassed a 1.5 million member following through its coverage of President Donald J. Trump.  The network became famous when it began airing every one of President Trump's rallies during his Presidential race.  True to form, it also livestreamed the Former President's CPAC speech on Sunday, amassing nearly 4 million views.  
 
But YouTube wanted RSBN to post "countervailing viewpoints" in its broadcast in order for the video to stay up.  RSBN refused, so YouTube banned the RSBN channel for two weeks.  
 
So, according to YouTube, it has authority not only over speech, but also of the coverage of speech.  It's no longer enough for you to say only what YouTube wants you and authorizes you to say.  Now, you can only cover the news that YouTube wants you to cover, in the manner that YouTube wants you to cover it.  
 
Absolutely audacious!
 
According to YouTube, President Trump's speech violated its Community Guidelines, because he claimed that "widespread election fraud changed the outcome of the 2020 U.S. presidential election."
 
Well, I've got a few items for YouTube and all the giant social media punks insistent on suppressing free speech.  It doesn't matter how much you try to cancel President Trump, he ain't going anywhere.  Moreover, it doesn't matter how many times you try to keep the approximately 60 million Americans who believe the election was stolen from hearing that election was stolen, they are still going to believe that it was!  Why?  Precisely because organizations like YouTube, the government, the press, and social media giants keep insisting that it wasn't.  
 
We at thefederalistpages.com have been perfectly clear on the need for a full and transparent investigation regarding the results of the 2020 presidential election.  We have said that until such an evaluation is completed, the overwhelming majority of the 75 million people who voted for President Trump is going to continue to believe the election was stolen.  Moreover, while they continue to believe this about the election, President Designate Joe Biden will continue to be perceived as being inappropriately installed into the Office of President of the United States.  
 
The fact that such serious investigations were not undertaken in a timely manner will only keep this cancer festering in the minds and hearts of the American people.  It is obvious that the social media giants inclusive of YouTube, Facebook, Amazon, Google, and Twitter have no idea the harm they are doing to themselves and to the nation through their insistence of repressing instead of exposing the facts regarding the 2020 election.  
 
In an interview with Frederick Kemp, the CEO of Atlantic Council, Susan Wojcicki, the CEO of YouTube, said it was her company's intent to continue to block President Trump until "we determine the risk of violence has decreased."  A statement, which stinks in its dishonesty, audaciousness, and self-aggrandizement.  
 
First, who died and made Wojcicki the gage on the risk of violence? 
 
Second.  How about the risk of violence associated with the Anitfa videos, Black Lives Matter videos, and anti-American terrorist group videos?  When are they going to take those down?  How about the videos of government controlled Iranians chanting "Death to America"?  And how about the violence-laden, foul mouthed, utterly disgusting music videos so popular today? Ought those not be taken down?  
 
Third.  Violence where?  In Chicago? In Portland?  In Seattle?  If you're going to wait until the threats of violence diminish in those location, you might as well wait until President Trump gets reelected because I do not see that happening until then.  
 
And finally, threats of violence according to whom?  Biden and Pelosi?  March 4th was supposed to be this chaotic day.  It was the latest excuse to keep Washington, D.C. crawling with our own troops' guns pointed against us.  Well, the big day came and went with not a peep from QAnon or any other scapegoated group.  So, was all this paranoia from the Left about some attack on the Capitol based on actual intelligence, or was it made up?  Of course, we will never know because YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Google, and Amazon keep covering up the truth!
 
I must finish with a request.  Everyday, as I write these articles and investigate these stories, I wonder how long it will be before our own thefederalistpages.com gets censored? No matter what, it is imperative that we continue to fight to deliver the truth.  The truth must be so overwhelming that its light must shine into every corner, every nook and cranny, where darkness, deceit and lies attempt to prevail.  It is for this reason that I ask you to donate. Help us grow and help us be ready for the day these behemoths try to turn off our own beacon.  Please, help us to fight the fight we all must wage together. Please donate by clicking here, or at the button below.  Any amount will help and is greatly appreciated.  

​In the meantime, I'm interrupting my writing to open an account with YouTube's competitor: Rumble.  

​I'll see you there!
 
Dr. Julio Gonzalez is an orthopaedic surgeon and lawyer living in Venice, Florida.  He served in the Florida House of Representatives.  He is the author of numerous books including The Federalist Pages, The Case for Free Market Healthcare, and Coronalessons.  He is available for appearances and book signings, and can be reached through www.thefederalistpages.com.

Most Americans Oppose DC Statehood.
 
Fifty-five percent of Americans oppose granting statehood to Washington, D.C. according to a recent Rasmussen Poll.  Only 29% of those polled responded in favor of the change. The change in status for D.C. has long been a Democrat priority, but it is fraught with complications.  Granting D.C. statehood would add two liberal senators to the upper chamber, permanently affecting the balance of power in the legislature.  Additionally, the Democrats would like to elevate Puerto Rico, another Democrat stronghold, to statehood, further tilting the Senate's balance in their favor.  
 
In the run-up to the Civil War, with the nation divided between slavery and emancipation, the Union was careful to elevate two states at a time to statehood, one southern, Democrat, pro-slavery and the other northern, Whig/Republican free.  There is no indication that the Democrats are interested in presently preserving a balance of disparate regional views today.  
 
Also of significance as it relates to our nation's constitutional history, the federal district was never meant to be a state.  Quite the contrary, Article I, Section 8 specifically authorizes Congress "[t]o exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding ten Miles square) as may, by Cession of particular States, and the Acceptance of Congress, become the Seatof the Government of the United States, and to exercise like Authority over all Places purchased by the Consent of the Legislature of the State in which the Same shall be, for the Erection of Forts, Maga-zines, Arsenals, dock-Yards and other needful Buildings."  
 
The Democrats' plan to elevate a portion of the nation, voluntarily ceded by the states and artificially populated by federal bureaucrats, only to have it later turned into a state with equal representation to other states likely represents a direct affront to the writing and spirit of the Constitution of the United States.  Such a move must be vehemently opposed.

Former President Trump Dominates at CPAC.
 
Despite threats of possible cancellation because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the conservative political conference CPAC went off without a hitch in Orlando, Florida.  As has become tradition, the Conference ended with the publication of its straw poll results conducted by The Washington Times.  The results, which boasted 1,007 respondents, were extraordinary.  
 
To the question regarding who should be the next presidential nominee for the Republican Party, Former President Trump garnered 55% of the vote with a 97% approval rating from participants of this year's CPAC.  Governor Ron Desantis (R-FL) placed a distant second with 21% of the vote.  Everyone else remained in single figures with Governor Kristi Noem (R-SD) leading the pack of single digiters.  When President Trump was not an alternative, Governor DeSantis finished out front with 43% of the vote, Governor Noem came in second with 11%, and Donald J. Trump Jr. came in third at 8% as a write-in.  
 
Amazingly, 95% of those present favored a continuation of the Trump agenda with 87% strongly  favoring it.  
 
Of course, CPAC represents a small contingent of the Republican Party, but its participants are among its most principle, most vocal, and most active members.  Their voices are a strong force in shaping Republican public opinion.

​Who Will Be The Next Republican Presidential Nominee? (March 2021)
by
Julio Gonzalez, M.D., J.D.
 
Last month, thefederalistpages.com published its first in a series of prospective evaluations on the state of the race for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.  Today, we continue the series with our March installation.  
 
The Format:  Below is a list of the various likely Republican contenders according to thefederalistpages.com.  The point rankings are based on the relative strength each candidate has in a universe of 100 total points.  Thus, unless I am writing these predictions at some odd hour, the total points allocated between the candidates should add up to 100 points.  To provide an idea of how the various candidates have progress, we are also including the candidates' original points (in the February edition) and his or her highest and lowest points awards in the series in teh following annotation: Pointage key:  Present points.  First points/High/Low
So, without further delay, here is thefederalistpages.com's lates tpredictions list:
 
 
Fmr. Pres. Donald J. Trump (FL) 45 pts.  30/44/44 If there's anything to be gleamed from the events since our last installment, it is Former President Donald J. Trump's staying power.  Since our prior rankings, Trump survived yet another unsubstantiated, biased, and vitriolic impeachment proceeding that left him stronger than before. By playing golf and staying silent, the Former President played the situation brilliantly.  Meanwhile Former President Trump reasserted his position as the massive force within the Republican Party by demolishing Senator Mitch McConnell for his hypocrisy and inconsistency in his observations about the former President.  On President's Day, we lay witness to the unprecedented, organic rally in West Palm Beach in his honor that attracted thousands.  No other political figure can pull that kind of unsolicited support.  In his CPAC speech, the President sizzled with his populist message and his America First ideals.  Our position continues to be that if President Trump wants the primary nomination, he will get it.  
 
On another front, President Trump's speech was monumental. He was so strong and decisive that he demonstrated why he was the de facto leader of the Republican Party, and he did everything but actually announce that he was running for the nomination in 2024.  Those two hours caused a seismic shift in the layout of the field and reasserted President Trump as undeniable leader of the Republican Party.  He keeps the extends his lead to 44 pts. 
 
Gov. Ron DeSantis (FL) 13 pts.  10/13/10 The Florida Governor is our biggest climber this month.  His invitation for President Designate Joe Biden to perform a certain anatomical impossibility was masterful, even though he loses points for disrespecting the Office of the Presidency of the United States. However, whatever disrespect he may have shown to the Office by not calling Joe, "Mr. President," is negated by the President Designate's insistence that he do so.  Meanwhile, Governor DeSantis's Florida COVID-19 performance continues to shine as a beacon for the rest of the nation.  His CPAC poll numbers asserted him into a solid second place position behind President Trump.  Governor DeSantis capitalizes on his style and climbs to 13 points, abeam of Senator Cruz.
 
Sen. Ted Cruz (TX) 13 pts.  14/14/13. Senator Cruz made an unforced error this month over his allegedly ill-timed trip to Cancún.  Ill-timed for what?  Despite the press's attack on him, Cruz did nothing wrong by fleeing the cold.  He had no official responsibilities in protecting the grid or in restoring power to his home state.  If anything, with all the power outages, it was likely he could more easily travel to DC from Cancún than from his native state if necessary. As I stated, his greater error in my opinion was in apologizing and in cutting his trip short.  He should have spent it with his family.  
 
Regardless, Senator compensated through his self-deprecating humor and a strong performance at CPAC.  Senator Cruz drops a point to 13 points, but only because due to the effects of the point grabbing performance by Former President Trump.  He is in a tie with Governor DeSantis.  
 
Sen. Marco Rubio (FL) 8 pts.  15/15/8. This month Senator Rubio drops to 8 points, not because of anything he has done or failed to do, but rather, because he has, thus far, demonstrated no interest in joining the race.  In fact, just the opposite is true.  Since our last installation, Senator Rubio met with Ivanka Trump whose move to Miami has raised speculations as to whether her relocation was in support of a potential primary bid for Florida's Senate seat.  Quite the opposite appears to be true as the reports came out of their favorable meeting and of Ivanka's support for the Senator.  He was also notably absent at CPAC.  Thus, it appears, at least for now, that Senator Rubio is not interested in a presidential bid at this time. 
 
 
Sen. Rand Paul (KY) 6 pts.  7/7/6  Senator Rand Paul drops a point to 6 despite his forceful and elegant performance regarding transgenderism during the Rachel/Richard/Dick Levine confirmation hearings.  He would have gained one were it not for the aforementioned seismic shift caused by President Trump at CPAC
 
Sen. Rick Scott (FL) 3 pts. 5/5/3  Senator Rick Scott from Florida drops to 3 5 points following his solid performance at CPAC and his forceful commentaries regarding the impeachment hearings. Like many others, he lost points to accommodate for the effects of President Trump 
 
Sen. Josh Hawley (MO) 3 pts.  7/7/3 Senator Hawley has remained relatively silent this month, but has continued to provide solid, conservative representation.  He voted correctly to acquit President Trump and has continued to make forceful, well reasoned, conservative arguments before the press.  He also had a favorable CPAC appearance.  He loses four points in light of others' gains.  
 
Gov. Kristi Noem (SD) 2 pts.  4/2/2  Governor Kristi Noem had a relatively quiet month although there may be some tricky waters ahead because South Dakota Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg's misdemeanor case from the death of a pedestrian that occurred at his hands.  Till now, Governor Noem has appropriately called for the Attorney General's resignation.  She drops two points only because of the uncertainty of the political situation in her state.
 
Fmr. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo 2 pt. _/2/2  The Former Secretary of State was not listed in the original installation of our series because he had not made any indications to run. However, this month Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has made a few favorable press appearances and delivered a strong America-First performance at CPAC.  Stated or not, Former Secretary Pompeo is increasingly acting like a candidate. Two points on our initial entry.  
 
Other (USA) 3 pts.  6/6/3  Can some other pop up out of nowhere?  Maybe.  This month, we will drop the likelihood at three points to accommodate for Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's appearance and the resumption of President Trump's colossal presence.
 
Fmr. Gov. Nikki Haley (SC) 1 pts.  2/1/1  Well, Nikki Haley screwed up!!  Her comments regarding Former President Trump this month were atrocious and hypocritical.  She then demonstrated the audacity of meeting with very man she criticized.  Trump appropriately turned her down.  It would not be imprudent to drop her from the list altogether, but she will likely run an will need to be followed.  She keeps the minimum possible 1 point.
 
Fmr. V.P. Mike Pence (IN) 1 pt.  1/1/1  Former Vice President Pence is still down and likely will never recover.  The most important development in February was his refusal to attend CPAC.  Wise move, but a debilitating reality for him. At least now, the Former Vice President is no alone at 1 point.  He can hang out with Nikki Haley. 
 
The Wildcard:  Still up for grabs is the wildcard!  If Donald Trump decides not to run and support one of the other candidates all the standings will change markedly.  We will be standing by.
 
See you in April!!!
 
Dr. Julio Gonzalez is an orthopaedic surgeon and lawyer living in Venice, Florida.  He served in the Florida House of Representatives.  He is the author of numerous books including The Federalist Pages, The Case for Free Market Healthcare, and Coronalessons.  He is available for appearances and book signings, and can be reached through www.thefederalistpages.com.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Former Congressional Candidate Calls Out Amazon for Shutting Down Clarence Thomas Documentary.
 
Former Republican Congressional Candidate Bill Akins, who bested Dr. Julio Gonzalez in his second place finish against now-Congressman Greg Steube, called out Amazon for having censored a documentary on Justice Clarence Thomas.  Click on the Amazon link to watch the video, and it will inform you that the "video is currently unavailable to watch in your location."  To date, no major new outlet has been able to obtain a response from Amazon regarding the action. 

Mr. Akins' letter is reproduced below in its entirety:  
 
 
Mr. Jeff Bezos,
Although I have been a loyal customer,  ( 693 orders in the past 12 years ), plus what ever my wife has ordered, along with the Prime, music, kindles books and 5 different Alexa devices, I am seriously considering calling for a national boycott of Amazon and all of it's different services.
I am not usually one that would consider doing that, however your latest action with regards to Justice Clarence Thomas has me seriously considering doing just that.
With all of the hatred going on in our country now, I for the life of me cannot understand how you could become the very RACIST that our country is trying so hard to overcome. Banning Justice Thomas's book is about as ugly as you can get. Justice Thomas is a man of great integrity and honor. OH yeah, and he happens to be Black.....I suppose that if any Black person is on the conservative side, you no longer consider that person to be Black. Kinda reminds of something Joe Biden said. You remember, if you don't vote liberal, you ain't black.......GEEZE. 
And to think this is Black History Month....Oh, I am White, and until people like you and Obama started this race baiting and woke mentality, I would never think twice about a person's color..
A man is just a man, he is what his soul makes of him that really counts, not some veneer on the outside.
You are one really smart guy, look at all you have built, AMAZING, but with this stunt, you have lowered yourself and Amazon to a low that is unforgivable. I suppose a sincere public apology to Justice Thomas would be a good thing if you could get off of your throne long enough to admit you were wrong would go a long ways in restoring your credibility as a real man of vision and a true AMERICAN.
 
Sincerely
William Akins
Port Charlotte, Fl

Hasbro Neutralizes Mr. Potato Head's Gender, Then Wobbles.
 
On Thursday, Hasbro, the maker of the Mr. Potato Head doll, announced that it was renaming the iconic toy, "Potato Head", in order to make sure that "all feel welcome in the Potato Head world," and to "promote gender equality and inclusion."  This is not an issue regarding the possibility excluding girls from playing with the dolls as Mr. Potato Head also has a female version, Mrs. Potato Head. 
 
Of course, the announcement was met with outrage from the overwhelming majority of the market that still maintains its sanity forcing this clarification from Hasbro via Twitter:  “While it was announced today that the POTATO HEAD brand name & logo are dropping the ‘MR.’ I yam proud to confirm that MR. & MRS. POTATO HEAD aren’t going anywhere and will remain MR. & MRS. POTATO HEAD.”
 
According Robert Passikof, a marketing consultant, Hasbro undertook the action in the hopes of broadening the franchise.  Of course, the questions are, how much and at what cost?

Physician Punished for Administering Vaccines
 
What would you do with ten doses of COVID-19 vaccines that were six hours away from expiring and about to be discarded?  Dr. Hasan Gokal in Houston, whose distribution location was about to close for the evening, decided the correct answer was for him to find some people to whom to deliver them.  Anyone! He hustled, making house calls, even telling some to come to his house to receive them.  One of those ten recipients was his wife, who although not 65, had pulmonary fibrosis.  
 
Because of that decision, Dr. Gokal was fired and charged with stealing a vaccine. Yes, there is now a mug shot of Dr. Gokal who previously had no criminal record.  Although the case was dismissed by a judge, the prosecutor has voiced his intent to present the case to the grand jury.  Even more amazingly, Dr. Gokal reports that he called a Harris County public health official to inform them of his intentions prior to taking the expiring vial and was told "Okay."
 
There was a time in this country when the physician was seen as acting in good faith, particularly when carrying out his duties.  Yes, there has been malpractice law since the mid-nineteenth century, but absent that, a decision by a physician to act in his or her professional capacity was looked as inherently sound.  

The trust placed on physicians has dissolved. Physicians are acting in a world that has become inherently hostile.  What Dr. Gokal did is inherently noble and moral.  To proceed with criminal proceedings against him is legally unethical.  Even the judge agreed with the audacity of the action against him. Adding to the harassment and the disappointment is this rogue prosecutor's intent to proceed with a grand jury investigation.  In this case, it is the prosecutor who ought to be punished, not the good doctor.  

​The Life and Martyrdom of St. James the Greater
by
Julio Gonzalez, M.D., J.D.
 
Despite being often mentioned in the Bible, being one of the three closest apostles to Jesus Christ, and being the only Apostle whose martyrdom is documented in the New Testament, James the Greater is a most mysterious figure. As we discussed in our overview of the lives of the apostles, James was the son of Zebedee and Salome, a couple of apparent high standing in the region of Galilee.  It is thought that Zebedee was a fisherman in either Bethsaida or Capernaum, both areas where John the Baptist preached and sought out his own disciples.  Salome was likely the sister of the Blessed Virgin Mary making James the Greater and his brother, John the Apostle, our Lord's first cousins.  One more interesting tidbit, in every reference to the two brothers except one, James's name appears before John, making it likely that he was the older of the two men. 
 
St. James the Greater in the Bible
 
James entered his apostleship when called by our Lord while mending nets with his brother in their father's boat.  (Matt 4:18-22; Mk 1:16-20; Lk 5: 1-11)  Along with Simon and Andrew, the two brothers left their jobs and became fishers of men. 
 
It appears that both James and John had impassioned hearts, as they were collectively named "Boarnerges" by Jesus, or Sons of Thunder. (Mk 3:17)  Once, when Jesus was preparing to enter Jerusalem, the apostles went ahead of him to prepare a reception there.  Apparently, the Samaritans in a village en route to Jerusalem refused to welcome Our Lord.  James and John, in their anger, asked Jesus, "Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?"  

Jesus rebuked them.  (Lk 9: 54)
 
On another occasion, it was Salome who demonstrated her misplaced zeal in asking the Lord to arrange for each of her sons to sit at his side in His Kingdom. The Sons of Thunder joined in her plea.  But the request prompted Jesus to tell her she was asking for something that was not His to arrange, but for the Father.  (Matt 20: 20-24).  
 
The exchange shed further insight regarding the priorities of the Lord when the ten other apostles rebuked the two brothers for having made their request.  Jesus, appearing to admonish all of them over their arrogance explained that whoever wanted to be the first amongst the apostles needed to be the slave.  Jesus continued, "Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many," an obvious foreshadowing of the suffering that was to befall our Savior.
 
Despite their seemingly hot tempers and arrogance, our Lord held James and John in high esteem.  For example, only James, John, and Peter were invited to witness the transfiguration.  The event was amongst the holiest of Jesus's time in the flesh.  It took place at a mountain top, and His divinity was so radiant that it shone through Him causing His clothing to turn white as snow and His face to shine as the Sun.  Not only did the transfiguration serve to emphasize Jesus's divinity through His physical, glorious, and miraculous brilliance, but with the appearance of Moses and Elias at the mountain, with whom Jesus spoke, the point was made that the old law was submitting to the new.
 
The point was apparently lost on Peter who asked, "Lord, it is good that we are here.  If you wish, I will maker three tents here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."  (Mw 17: 4). This time, the rebuke came from God the Father who appeared in a cloud and said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him." (Mw 17: 5).  
 
On the way back from the mountain Jesus charged the three men with the responsibility of reporting what they had seen, but only after He had been raised from the dead." (Mw 17: 9)
 
Peter, James, and John were also the only three to witness Jesus's agony in the garden at Gethsemane. (Mw 26:37; Mk 14: 33)  This moment in Our Lord's life is crucial since it was the moment of the greatest suffering prior to the passion.  It also is the point when He announced that the time had arrived for him to be turned over to the authorities.  True to form, Peter, James, and John fell asleep while Jesus faced his agony; not once, but thrice.
 
St. James's Post-Biblical Activities 
 
After the Resurrection and Assumption, James the Greater spent a great deal of time preaching the gospel ("the good news") in Jerusalem. Tradition holds that he eventually traveled to the Iberian Peninsula to evangelize Spain.  Legend holds that while there, he was approached by an apparition of the Virgin Mary at the Ebro River at Caesaragusta, compelling him to return to Jerusalem for her Assumption. Dutifully, James returned to Jerusalem where all the apostles gathered and did indeed witness the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  
 
The Assumption took place during the reign of Herod of Agrippa.  It is here where we catch up with James the Greater for the last time.  According to Acts of the Apostles, Herod beheaded James in 44 A.D. with his own sword. (Acts 12: 1-2) Seeing that this was pleasing to the Jews, Herod then arrested Peter hoping to have him decapitated as well following Passover.  The plan was famously foiled, as related in Acts, through the appearance of an angel of the Lord who rescued Peter.  
 
There are a few important developments relating to St. James's martyrdom that must be recounted.  First, the ancient tradition is that James's body was placed aboard a rudderless boat by two of the disciples he had converted in Spain, Theodore and Athanasius.  Angels led the boat to a city in Galicia named Pedrón where he was buried. 
 
Second, there are more details about St. James's trial and beheading in the History of the Church by the Eusebius, the fourth century Christian historian.  Eusebius takes the story from the Seventh Book of the Hypotyposes, written by Clement of Caesarea.  Tragically, Clement's book was last seen in the 9th century, leaving Eusebius's summary as the only documentation of the events that transpired.  
 
According to Eusebius, James was brought to Herod by a witness who tradition identifies as Josiah.  Upon hearing St. James speak of the faith, Josiah himself converted.  Stricken with guilt, Josiah apologized  profusely to the Apostle.  St. James forgave him, kissed him, and  said, "Peace be with you."  

Upon hearing of the witness's conversion, Herod beheaded Josiah as well such that he and James were beheaded concurrently.  (Eusebius, History of the Church, Bk II, Ch. 9.)  James's and Josiah's executions took place in Jerusalem's Armenian Quarter where the Armenian Apostolic Cathedral of St. James presently stands.  His head is kept under the altar.
 
Finally, Acts, Eusebius, and Josephus, the contemporaneous Jewish historian, each relate Herod's miserable, painful, and rotten death, and Eusebius links it the despicable actions Herod took against James and Peter. Once again, Eusebius relies heavily on his predecessor's lost text and describes an excruciating death characterized by a gastrointestinal ailment that took five days to run its course when Herod was a mere 54 years old.  (Eusebius, History of the Church, Bk II, Ch. 10.)  
 
The Legacy of St. James 
 
James the Greater's story does not end with his beheading nor even with his body's transport to Galicia in Spain.  In 815, Pelayo, a Galician hermit had a vision of a pillar of lights, signaling the location of St. James's relics in an abandoned Roman mausoleum. There were so many lights pointing the way to the field that it became known as the field of stars, or "campo de estrellas" or, as it is known today, "Compostela." The story is first related in the Historia Compostelana by Bishop Diego Gelmirez (1069-1140).  It was Gelmirez who began the construction of a cathedral to house the relics, which today is known as La Catedral de Santiago de Compostela.  
 
After Rome and Jerusalem, La Catedral the Santiago de Compostela is the most often visited holy site.  The Cathedral signals the final destination of the Way of St James, a series of roads beginning in numerous locations throughout France, crossing over the Pyrenees, and ending in Santiago de Compostela.  The popularity of The Way of St. James owes much to the mediaval Muslim occupation of Jerusalem, as it left no better option for contemporary Christians in Western Europe through  which to make a pilgrimage to a holy site.
 
Today, The Way of St. James's popularity is bolstered by the declaration of Pope Calixtus II (1065-1124) statimg that anyone making the journey in a Holy Year, defined as one where July 25 falls on a Sunday, will have his sins forgiven.

The scallop shells have also taken various possible significances.  They represent the pilgrims, as they were worn around their necks to collect food along the Way.   With their converging lines, the shells also represent the many Caminos of Santiago descending upon Compostela. The scallop shells are so inculcated in the Compostela story that they were even referenced in a poem by Sir Walter Raleigh:

Next week, we will visit James's brother, John the Apostle.  ​​​​

If you have enjoyed reading our Christian Series article, please consider making a donation to The Federalist Pages by cliking on the button below.  
Your support will go a long way to help us continue to produce quality content such as this.  

Dr. Julio Gonzalez is an orthopaedic surgeon and lawyer living in Venice, Florida.  He served in the Florida House of Representatives.  He is the author of numerous books including The Federalist Pages, The Case for Free Market Healthcare, and Coronalessons.  He is available for appearances and book signings, and can be reached through www.thefederalistpages.com.

Transgender Bill Passes in the House
 
The House passed a bill designed to impose sweeping legal protections on LGBTQ individuals through an amendment to the 1964 Civil Rights Bill.  The vote was 224-206.  The bill is a cause of great concern to religious freedom advocates since the same provision was used in state law to spur the forceful participation of artists in LGBTQ events that go against their sincerely held religious beliefs, and there are also concerns about the effects the bill may have on children's rights and women's sports.  
 
Despite the win, the vote may actually represent waning support for the bill, as a similar bill had garnered 58% support last year compared to 52% this year.  Additionally, the Christian Family Coalition of Florida reports that all three Miami representatives voted in favor last year, but in opposition this year.   

Senate Parliamentarian Rules $15.00 per Hour Pay Hike Cannot Be Included in Reconciliation Process
 
The Senate Parliamentarian ruled on Wednesday that the proposed $15.00 per hour pay hike cannot be advanced through the Senate using its famous reconciliation process.  The significance of this development is great since without being eligible for reconciliation, the proposal would have to advance in a standard floor bill subject to the 60-vote filibuster.  However, absent the minimum wage sticking point it will become much easier for the Democrats to pass their budget stuffed with pork and directed projects inclusive of  $1400.00 stimulus checks for all individuals including "mixed-status families" with undocumented immigrant children.  
 
A CNN report tells of how the parliamentarian ruling results in there being "no viable options to use the procedures in the Senate to keep the wage hike in the bill."  But Fox News indicates that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) is intending on keeping the provision in the House bill despite the ruling.  On the Senate side, Senate President Kamala Harris is able to override the ruling although the implications of such a drastic move would be dire.