It seems that if some truth is historically situated in some time and place, then it isn’t universal. That truth and its various adherents and practicioners may well strive to make it universal, but I haven’t seen any historical examples of such a universal to warrant my belief. 

 Similarly.

If a truth is ahistorical and not situated in any concrete time and place, then it seems we can call it universal.  However, I’ve never seen a universal.  And I’m inclined to believe that when I hear someone talk about universals in this manner, it’s a case of historically situated story tellers trying real hard to make their concrete time and place appear universal—timeless and placeless. 

My point is that I don’t see how historical and universal go together, as you say they do.  Can you help me out here?