@dalehileman,
Yes; the pre of anything - life's beginning - must be something that can change.
National history is post this ability to change, therefore national history can be interpreted as the inability to change.
The inability to change is needed by anything in reality.
The ability to change creates the inability to change, which is why national history is wrong.
Unto itself, national history feels beside the point, but I referenced it in the question because I felt that determining the identity of pre-universe required my doing so.