⛺️What’s Up Camp!!! It’s Friday, so that means it’s time to reflect on the fascinating journey we took this week. We dove into the extraordinary life and legacy of Alexander the Great and had a Hunter College professor come in and rank all the presidents in history! If that wasn’t enough, we even dropped a brand new Religion Camp episode breaking down all the banned books of the bible! This week was packed with goodies, and if you haven’t watched it yet, it’s time to catch up! Let’s recap what went down.
But first, Today In History… ⚔️🌍
Crime: On December 6, 1969, the Altamont Speedway Free Festival ended with several unfortunate incidents, including a murder, two hit-and-run fatalities, and a drowning. This new music festival in Northern California was organized by the Rolling Stones, who wanted to wrap up their U.S. tour with a grand concert. The event drew a massive crowd of about 300,000 people, but unfortunately, it wasn't well organized. The Hells Angels motorcycle gang was brought in for security, and during the event, a 21-year-old Hells Angel named Alan Passaro fatally stabbed an 18-year-old named Meredith Hunter, who was armed with a gun, just 20 feet from the stage where Mick Jagger was performing “Under My Thumb.”
War: On December 6, 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt of the United States sent a personal telegram to Emperor Hirohito of Japan, requesting his intervention in the name of humanity, to de-escalate the tensions and avoid further loss of lives and livelihood. The news of Japan’s rejection of the ten-point peace proposals arrived a few hours after the telegram was sent which meant that chances of reconciliation were bleak. The following day, on December 7, Japan launched an attack on Pearl Harbor. The repercussions of this attack proved to be grave for Japan in the days to come.
Religion: On December 6, 1273, Thomas Aquinas a foremost scholastic thinker, a priest, and an Italian Dominican Friar received a revelation while conducting a Mass. He was so overwhelmed by this experience that he suspended his work on Summa Theologica, a compendium of all of the main theological teachings of the Catholic Church. Earlier, he was so involved in compiling Summa that sometimes he would forget to eat and continue working for hours without taking a break but after the aforementioned mystical experience, he told his servant “I can do no more, such things have been revealed to me that all that I have written seems to me so less and insufficient. Now I await the end of my life.”
Mafia: On December 6, 2019, John Simonlacaj, who happens to be the cousin of Mark "Chippy" Kocaj and a managing director at HFZ Capital Group, a real estate development and investment firm in New York City, found himself in Brooklyn Federal Court facing charges of wire fraud conspiracy and tax fraud. His ties to the Gambino organized crime family were evident, and as investigations unfolded, more arrests followed. In total, a Captain and 10 Members and Associates of the Gambino Crime Family were taken into custody. Prosecutors claimed that CWC Contracting, run by Kocaj, Campos, and Vincent Fiore, had been bribing employees of various construction companies and real estate developers, including HFZ Capital. The defendants admitted their guilt and agreed to pay over $1.6 million in penalties.
LOST Bible Books Explained: Thomas, Judas, Magdalene, Solomon & MORE
This week on Religion Camp we broke down all of the lost/banned books of the bible. We talked about everything from the Gospel of Thomas—which tells stories from Jesus’ childhood, to the Book of Enoch—where we discuss the things Enoch witnessed when he was taken to the different levels of Heaven. If your interested in ancient texts or missed church on Sunday this is the episode for you! Also make sure you subscribe so you don’t miss out on our next Religion Camp episode!
🔴Professor Ranks Every President & Current US Politics
For this Live Camp episode we had Hunter College professor, Andrew Polsky, come in and rank all the presidents throughout history! Not only did we get an inside look at what it’s like to be a teacher at such a prominent college, but we also got to take a peek at a side of politics most people don’t discuss. If your interested in hearing views from all sides of the spectrum you’ll definitely want to give this one a watch! Miss the live? Don’t worry, there’s a lot more Camp coming your way!
The TRUTH of Alexander The Great Explained
Dr. Joseph Manning, Professor of History at Yale University, joined us this week to explore the life and accomplishments of Alexander the Great. From his unparalleled military strategies to the empire he forged across three continents, this episode delves deep into the truths and myths surrounding one of history’s most influential figures. Discover how Alexander’s genius shaped the ancient world and left a legacy that endures to this day. Whether you’re a history buff or new to the topic, this episode is a must-watch!
What was your favorite episode from this week? Anything we should have covered and didn’t? Let us know by replying to this email—we’d love to hear your thoughts! 💬✉️ And remember, if you missed these episodes, don’t worry! Head over to the the channel to catch up and prepare for next week’s adventures. 🔥👀
- Jaime