FROM THE TOP
LELAND ACKER chreporter@mediactr.com
The more I think about it, the more I have to believe that I must be related to John Leland in some form or fashion. Surely my grandparents' genealogical research has not steered our family tree through Leland's family, but there are so many similarities.

For example, Leland was an 18-19th century Baptist minister. I am a Baptist minister.

Leland was the one who conceived of and led the efforts in the Mammoth Cheese incident of 1801-02. Leland helped get President Thomas Jefferson elected. At that time, the people near Leland's hometown of Cheshire, Mass., feared that Jefferson would harm the religious interests of that area.

So, to show goodwill, Leland encouraged the town to make a 1,200 pound cheese. He then delivered the cheese to President Jefferson, who praised the town and donated $200 to Leland's church.

I have never made cheese, nor have I ever visited the President in the White House. I am, however, a big fan of cheese, especially when it is melted over macaroni noodles, in a hamburger, on crackers, or as part of my diet of highly nutritious Subway sandwiches (40 pounds lost and counting).

I am also closely tied to politicians. When I was a child, Chuck Hopson would give me jelly beans when I visited his pharmacy. (My great-grandmother was one of his employees.) On the other hand, his opponent in the last election was the father of one of my high school classmates. Hmmm. Jelly beans, or friends? Heads or tails? I won't divulge that decision here.

The other similarity between Leland and myself is the fact that we are both stupid.

In 1789, Leland wrote the following words, "Resolved, that slavery is a violent deprivation of rights of nature and inconsistent with a republican government, and therefore, recommend it to our brethren to make use of every legal measure to extirpate this horrid evil from the land; and pray Almighty God that our honorable legislature may have it in their power to proclaim the great jubilee, consistent with the principles of good policy."

These words were presented to the General Committee of Virginia Baptists meeting in Richmond, Va.

That echoes one of my favorite verses, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for we are all one in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:28)"

What is my point? Stand for what is right, even if you stand alone.