The Good Shepherd

[David Guyatt]

From Wiki:

Virginia

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article is about the U.S. Commonwealth of Virginia. For other uses, see Virginia (disambiguation).

Commonwealth of Virginia

Flag of Virginia Seal of Virginia
Nickname(s): Old Dominion, Mother of Presidents
Motto(s): Sic semper tyrannis (Latin)[1]
before statehood, known as
the Colony of Virginia

Official language(s) English
Spoken language(s) English 94.6%, Spanish 5.9%
Demonym Virginian
Capital Richmond
Largest city Virginia Beach
Largest metro area Northern Virginia
Area Ranked 35th in the US
- Total 42,774 sq mi
(110,785 km²)
- Width 200 miles (320 km)
- Length 430 miles (690 km)
- % water 7.4
- Latitude 36° 32′ N to 39° 28′ N
- Longitude 75° 15′ W to 83° 41′ W
Population Ranked 12th in the US
- Total 7,769,089 (2008 est.)[2]
- Density 193/sq mi (75/km²)
Ranked 14th in the US
- Median income $59,562[3] (9th)
Elevation
- Highest point Mount Rogers[4]
5,729 ft (1,747 m)
- Mean 950 ft (290 m)
- Lowest point Atlantic Ocean[4]
0 ft (0 m)
Admission to Union June 25, 1788 (10th)
Governor Timothy M. Kaine (D)
Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling ®
U.S. Senators Jim Webb (D)
Mark Warner (D)
Congressional Delegation 6 Democrats,
5 Republicans (list)
Time zone Eastern: UTC-5/-4
Abbreviations VA US-VA
Website http://www.virginia.gov

The Commonwealth of Virginia ( /vɚˈdʒɪnjə/ ) is an American state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. The state is known as the "Old Dominion" and sometimes as "Mother of Presidents", because it is the birthplace of eight U.S. presidents. The state is geographically shaped by the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Chesapeake Bay, home to much of the state's flora and fauna. The capital of the commonwealth is Richmond, Virginia Beach is the most populous city, and Fairfax County is the most populous political subdivision. The state population is over seven million.[5]
The roots of Virginia trace back to the founding of the Virginia Colony in 1607 by the Virginia Company of London as the first permanent New World English colony. Slavery played a significant role in Virginia's early economy and politics. Virginia became one of the Thirteen Colonies in the American Revolution and subsequently joined the Confederacy in the American Civil War, during which the state of West Virginia separated. Although traditionally conservative and historically part of the South, modern Virginia is a politically competitive state for both major national parties.[6]

And

Statehood
Virginians were instrumental in writing the United States Constitution. James Madison drafted the Virginia Plan in 1787 and the Bill of Rights in 1789. Virginia ratified the Constitution on June 25, 1788. The three-fifths compromise ensured that Virginia initially had the largest bloc in the House of Representatives, which with the Virginia dynasty of presidents gave the commonwealth national importance. In 1790, both Virginia and Maryland ceded territory to form the new District of Columbia, though in 1847 the Virginian area was retroceded.[48] Virginia is sometimes called "Mother of States" because of its role in being carved into several mid-western states.[60]

And

In 1583, Queen Elizabeth I of England granted Sir Walter Raleigh a charter to explore and plant a colony north of Florida.[45] In 1584, Sir Walter Raleigh sent an expedition to the Atlantic coast of North America. The name "Virginia" may have been suggested by Raleigh or Elizabeth, perhaps noting her status as the "Virgin Queen," and may also be related to a native phrase, "Wingandacoa", or name, "Wingina".[46] Initially the name applied to the entire coastal region from South Carolina to Maine, plus the island of Bermuda. The London Company was incorporated as a joint stock company by the proprietary Charter of 1606, which granted land rights to this area.[47] The Company financed the first permanent English settlement in the New World. Jamestown, named for King James I, was founded in May 1607 by Captains Christopher Newport and John Smith. In 1609 many colonists died during the "starving time" after the loss of the Third Supply's flagship, the Sea Venture.[48]

Obviously, Virgin-ia is named after QE1, the Virgin (not) Queen, who's first born son was Sir Francis Bacon - aka Shakespeare - founder of the original Rosicrucian Order, i.e., the "Crossed Rose" or "Rosy Cross".

It is said that all things begun under the Rose are secret (sub Rosa). Not all things so begun are intrinsically evil or bad, but sometimes are commenced with the best possible motives and purpose for the advancement of mankind.

All secret things, however, have an intrinsic weakness which is, of course, their inherent strength. They get corrupted by human nature and they suffer the inevitable weakness of secret societies - and spy agencies - throughout the world: betrayal.

And soon what was begun as a moral and ethical endeavour becomes twisted and subjugated to other ends. It's Yin-Yang (a philosophy well worth attention imo).

Put in a modern western setting, it is the eternal "conflict of opposites" where reaching one extreme engenders the birth of its opposite.

Yours in rambling-ness

David