January 2015 – Becoming American

The return of Cliffhanger!

Cliffhanger has returned! Rich Hoffman’s Cliffhanger returns right where he left off, in a new eBook series ‘The Curse of Fort Seven Mile’.

Here is the introduction:

Evil is amok through the police departments, school houses and every political crevice of Fort Seven Mile. Labor unions, secret societies and drug cartels are revealing their deep plans constructed by a global menace; “The System” to unleash complete control over the human race. An era of chaos seems poised to unleash hopelessness into every home throughout the world, except for the emergence of a curse that refuses to submit.

From the shadows comes a solitary savior who seems unstoppable and is threatening to shine light everywhere that darkness rules. In the wake of the masked avenger known as Cliffhanger the town of Fort Seven Mile is uniting around the heroic obscurity. However the greatest mystery of all is the origin of this gallant madman who defies all odds at every turn. A race is on by the forces who wish to maintain control of mankind’s minds, and a lone reporter who is uncovering a carefully concealed secret which has been suppressed since the emergence of ancient civilization. The Curse of Fort Seven Mile is loose and the world will never be the same again. – Rich Hoffman, Author

I’m excited to read them all, as they come out monthly this year and into next year. The first chapter is free for Kindle Unlimited users, and $2.99 for regular users, and can be bought exclusively on Amazon.com

The original novel ‘The Symposium of Justice’ can be bought in paperback form from Amazon.com

Tyranny has a new enemy; justice comes with the crack of a whip!

The freedom fighter, Cliffhanger battles the assassin, R.L. Justice and his Dark Knights of Order as sinister plots unfold upon the seemingly unimportant town of Fort Seven Mile.

Inspired by Cliffhanger’s writing and heroic actions council members, Mary Lawson, Misty Finnegan, and Gunsmith, Ben Carter plant the seeds of rebellion as powerful forces set their sights on the secret project, “The Veil of Knowledge,” a form of mind control being conducted as an experiment soon to be unleashed upon the world. – Rich Hoffman, Author

Stay tuned for coming chapters of the new ‘Curse of Fort Seven Mile’

Pursuing the truth is messy

When I started this blog three years ago, I had in mind showing the truth for what it was. I thought it would be fairly clean cut and somewhat straight forward. It is not. There is a lot of misinformation in the world today, many different factions, much mis-education. It’s hard to know who to trust.

On Tuesday I will have been a citizen of the USA for three years. Shortly after becoming a citizen, this blog, which had only been around for a week at that time, began to become political, as I then felt I was able to express my opinions freely.

The 2012 presidential race was in full swing and primaries were beginning to be held. I favored Ron Paul, as many of you will remember. I did not like many of the Republican candidates, and still don’t. But understanding specifically why isn’t exactly black and white.

Back in 2012 I was getting a lot of my information from a website called www.whatreallyhappened.com which seemed to be very informative and on the ball. Now, in hindsight, I realize that half of it is just wild eyed conspiracy theories. Now some of it is actually quite good. There are some legitimate concerns that the site expresses. I believe the owner of the site genuinely cares about his country and about freedom. But there is a phrase that now sticks out to me like a sore thumb whenever I do any research now.

“Check your premise.”

If a website, news organization or person is acting out of the premise that the USA is bad, then everything they say is going to be bias, and nothing good can come out of it. There’s another reason why the phrase “pessimism is a self fulfilling prophesy” is so true.

How can everything the USA ever does be bad? What does that mean for the person criticizing it? Are not many of those critisizing it Americans themselves? Does that mean they are bad also?

What really struck me last year was Dinesh D’souza’s ‘America Imagine a World Without Her’ documentary. He debunked many of the myths even I was partially sucked into.

I think the worst idea I’ve been sucked into is the anti Israeli propaganda. Now I’m sure there’s been some bad things that Israel has done, and continues to do. But for goodness sake; that’s war. That’s what happens when your neighbors all hate you, when other nations seek to wipe you from the face of the planet. I now think its very naive to criticize America, to criticize Israel, without also criticizing their enemies. What is so good about the terrorists? What do they stand for? Peace? Justice? Equality?

I think its very easy to give the benefit of the doubt to a mysterious other nation or group. While it is very easy to be critical of those close to home. When you’re up close and personal, you can point out every defect. When you try to judge from afar, things get warped.

Lets take my foreign policy ideas from a couple years ago. I thought the US should pull back many of its troops from over seas. But what my friend kept telling me at the time, and what I have now seen with my own eyes, is that “nature abhors a vacuum.” Those were his words, and by golly he was right. Just look at Russia! The US and NATO get all wobbly under the lack of leadership from Obama and the like, and KGB Putin pounces! He even annexes the Crimea! He gobbles it all up and merges it into his own country. And what does the media say? Nothing! They down play it. Amazing!

I have learned a lot over the last year. I may have been busy. I may have worked a lot. But I have learned a lot also. I said from the beginning that if I was wrong on anything, I would admit it. I may have been off key on these few issues, but I’m confident I hit close to home on everything else.

The pursuit of truth is a messy endeavor. It’s hard ever to be certain. Lately I find myself listening to the Blaze radio network, and I think Glenn Beck is right on most things. Family, Faith and Freedom. I believe in the preservation of the Constitution. I believe in the American way. I know that this country isn’t perfect, but I know also that it really is the best out there.

I’m sure there will be trying times ahead. There will be rocky days, and much to endure. Keeping a needle pointed toward the truth is important. And values will triumph through.

Life is what you make it. It isn’t perfect. You will make mistakes. Mistakes help guide us, if we choose to learn from them. I have a little journal that I now keep, there is a space for each day. Each day has a new quote. Today’s quote is “Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good.” This blog isn’t perfect. It never has been, it never will be. There will always be holes in it. It’s up to you to do your own research. I’m just trying to do what I can to help. I want to preserve the American dream, not just for myself and for my family, but for generations to come.

I didn’t realize just how bad things were when I first moved here. But then, aren’t things always bad? My grandparents grew up during World War II, with bombs falling over head. Many of you who read this grew up during the cold war. So is it really that much different? Maybe. Maybe there are now more enemies within. But we have so many more tools to preserve freedom at our disposal now. These blogs are one of them.

As Ron Paul once said “an idea whose time has come, cannot be stopped by any army or any government.” The ideas of freedom continue in this great experiment we call America. Yesterday’s quote from my little journal is ‘by doing a little bit each day, you can get a lot accomplished.” What are you doing each day to maintain yourself? What are you doing to maintain freedom?

Pursuing the truth is messy, but the truth will set you free.

How socialism led to the French massacre

There is so much wrong with socialism that it would be impossible to explain all the details as to how it led to the French massacre in one article. There are three brief points however, that I do want to make with this article.

Gun Control

I’ve written about Gun Control before, and how it only disarms the victims. Those countries without gun control have the lowest crime rates, while those with the tightest gun control only ever see a rise in violent crime. Not only could the workers at Charlie Hebdo not carry weapons, knowing full well that their lives were threatened by Islamic extremists, but even the poor police officer who tried to help was powerless because he too did not have a weapon. Had he been issued a pistol, he could have returned fire on these terrorists, instead of laying there, pleading for his life, before being mercilessly executed.

Immigration without assimilation

The idea that all are welcome, and do not need to show anything for it. When I emigrated to the US, I took the steps to becoming a citizen. After swearing my oath of allegiance, I did everything I could to guard that oath, to protect and defend the US Constitution. I did everything I could, and still do, to blend in and to participate in American society. I try to make American values my own. I try to live up to the founding fathers vision. Do you think the Islamic terrorists, who themselves were French citizens, tried to live up to French values? Did they try to fit in? Did they try to participate in French society? Their actions show that they did none of this.

Political correctness

It’s no use calling them ‘crazed gunmen’. As if it’s the guns that are the problem. It’s no use calling it a ‘deadly attack’ when it is indeed a terrorist attack. It’s no use trying to protect or appease Muslims. No, not all Muslims are violent, but these men were radical Islamist extremists. They were terrorists. They should be labeled as such.

It is sickening to hear the mostly leftist media trying to cover for the Muslims. It is shocking to see that they are more concerned with back lash against Muslims, than upset with the brutal murder of innocent people. It is ludicrous to compare these atrocities to a lawsuit from the 1980’s.

There is a problem in Europe, and particularly in France with a Muslim population growing within their country. The problem is not the Muslims themselves, but the extreme faction within their religion, which has been allowed to percolate because politicians and left wing media alike do not want to call the pot black, and tell the truth.

If It hadn’t been for gun control, immigration without assimilation, and political correctness, these attacks would likely not have happened at all.

I hope that the French people can throw off the shackles of socialism, and pacify the radical Islamists in their country without turning to violence.

Lower taxes, increased gun rights, and better integration of immigrants would go a long way to solving their problems.

It is a sad week for France. My thoughts go out to all the families who lost loved ones by the acts of these barbarous Islamic terrorists.

https://grrrgraphics.wordpress.com/2015/01/07/today-we-draw-for-charlie-hebdo/

To any French readers out there:

Cette semaine nous sommes tous Charlie.

Perception and the highlight reel of time

If you had come into my life towards the end of 2011, you would have assumed my wife and I were fairly average for our ages. Married young, paying on a car for my wife, and a motorcycle for me, we lived in a town home, and had relatively little furniture. Our major purchase for 2011 was a new bed that I had bought with extra money from overtime. My wife was an aspiring young photographer, but we had yet to do any weddings together.

Had you entered my life in late 2011 you may have assumed we were relatively normal, despite our unique relationship spanning the oceans. You would have thought we blended in quite well. Into 2012 and onward, we became more and more successful, almost as if we were favored, almost as if luck had everything to do with it. If you had entered our lives around the end of 2011 and watched us acquire everything that we did afterwards, it would have been easy to become jealous, and to think of favoritism of some sort.

Had you entered our lives around this time period, you would not have seen all the hard work that had gone into all that we have now. The courting period. My working hard in England, saving to move here. You would not have seen the nearly four years of marriage, and commitment to each other just to get to 2012.

During 2012 I became a citizen, I paid my motorcycle off, I bought a brand new jeep, we bought new furniture, we paid my wife’s car off, we traveled to England to visit my family for the first time since I moved here. We shot weddings together. I sponsored my parents to move here. In 2013 my parents came to live with us, we bought a house, and a plethora of tools and fixtures that come with buying a house. We began to host birthday parties, and our success was erupting for everyone to see. In 2014 we shot more weddings than ever before, and my wife’s business began to grow. Being able to buy nice things for me was a luxury I had seldom experienced thus far, and was an experience in and of itself.

What many did not see was all the hard work that had gone into all that. The reason, as my wife pointed out, that more and more people became negative towards us in the end of 2014 is because they only saw the highlights of our lives. Up until and including buying the house, many cheered for us. When we stayed successful and continued streaking across the sky, those who could not live up to our example began to become jealous, and some would nip at our heels whenever they had the chance.

They do not realize the many years that have gone into building the life that we have. They do not see the many hours my wife and I put into working our butts off to live this life. They do not see the trials and tribulations. They do not understand what it takes to endure, because they have never had to.

The trials we went through as teenagers, and in our early marriage when first coming together permanently, has solidified our relationship and our individual resolve.

Those who met us earlier on in our courtship, have a better understanding of our trials. As 2015 comes into bloom, we are doubling down on our commitment to each other and to our own entrepreneurial spirit. It has taken this long just to start seeing real profit. My wife can now eye working from home on a permanent basis, while I finally wade into publishing writings I have had sketched out for years.

Nothing good is ever easy. It takes a lot of hard work, a lot of patience, and a commitment to do good, no matter what others may throw at you or say behind your back.

Perception is important. Those who have known me longest know that I am in fact very humble by nature. Those who haven’t known me long probably perceive me as arrogant. That’s OK. Whatever arrogance I may have, I’ve earned it. I worked my butt off to be where I am today, and I intend to go further. Not for fame, not for glory, nor even for riches. But to live an authentic life that is all my own.

When you only ever observe the highlights, you miss the full picture. The saying goes ‘never judge a book by it’s cover’ perception it seems, is everything.

If you want a good life, you have to work hard. There is no other way around it. You will have hardships of many kinds you will have to endure. If you use philosophy as a guide and believe in yourself, in your abilities and have a little faith. You can create whatever you want. Do not concern yourself with what others are doing. Do not concern yourself with their highlight reels. Your perception is important, and you should strive to see the best in yourself, and in turn become the best you can be. You really can achieve anything if you put your mind to it.

Starting the new year off right

So I started off the year by deactivating Facebook. Well that’s not strictly true. I actually deactivated Facebook on New Year’s Eve. But anyway, I started off the year without the constant distraction of social media, which gave me more time to focus on publishing my first book.

A few years before I met my wife, I read a book called ‘Rich Dad, Poor Dad’ and that had me thinking differently about society in general. When my (now) father-in-law pointed me in the direction of Joseph Campbell’s ‘Hero with a thousand faces’ when I first visited ten years ago, it changed my life forever.

The three years after first meeting my wife in person and dating long distance were hard. ‘The hero with a thousand faces’ became a reflection of my own ‘hero’s journey.’ Between the ages of 17 and 19 when I did most of my traveling back and forth between Britain and America, I kept journals and notepads to document my thoughts and ideas.

My little book that I just published, is a collection of some of my favorite quotes that I wrote down over those special years.

I’ve published this one first to break the ice for many other books that I am currently writing.

If you do choose to buy it, I hope you enjoy it. It’s called ‘Quotes from a Teenage Mind’ and it’s featured exclusively on Amazon.com for $3.99

Each new year is whatever we make it. I choose to make this the year that I become an author. Despite whatever else is going on in the world, always try to see the positive, and to create the best possible life for yourself. We only live once, so make the most of it.

The Republicans have no testicular fortitude

The Republican wave in November was not caused by establishment republicans. It was caused by Tea Party constitutional conservatives. This was ignored by John Boehner with the passing of the cromnibus bill. The election has now been ignored further by the representatives, elected to power by Tea Party types in their districts, who within minutes of being sworn in, immediately abandoned their election promises, and sided with the crony establishment.

http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2015/01/06/boehner-wins-re-election-with-less-than-majority-of-house/

Over 60% of republicans want a new house speaker, and yet only around 10% of republicans in the house did anything to change that today.

Here are the men who do actually have a pair of testicles. If they one of them is your representative, I suggest you call them and thank them for taking a stand against evil. Evil being doing nothing in the face of growing tyranny, and a disrespect for the nation’s financial interests, which is paramount to our stability.

Rep. Justin Amash, Mich.
Rep. Rod Blum, Iowa
Rep. Dave Brat, Va.
Rep. Jim Bridenstine, Okla.
Rep. Curt Clawson, Fla.
Rep. Scott DesJarlais, Tenn.
Rep. Jeff Duncan, S.C.
Rep. Scott Garrett, N.J.
Rep. Chris Gibson, N.Y.
Rep. Louie Gohmert, Texas
Rep. Paul Gosar, Ariz.
Rep. Tim Huelskamp, Kan.
Rep. Walter Jones, N.C.
Rep. Steve King, Iowa
Rep. Thomas Massie, Ky.
Rep. Mark Meadows, N.C.
Rep. Rich Nugent, Fla.
Rep. Gary Palmer, Ala.
Rep. Bill Posey, Fla.
Rep. Scott Rigell, Va.
Rep. Marlin Stutzman, Ind.
Rep. Randy Weber, Texas
Rep. Daniel Webster, Fla.
Rep. Ted Yoho, Fla.

One of the biggest disappointments for me today was Trey Gowdy. A man who many were calling to replace John Boehner. Had he bothered to return to DC earlier, and had he had the courage to stand up to Boehner, he could well be speaker of the house right now, and not back room deals Boehner.

We did not elect a huge majority in the house and the senate so that everyone could play along to get along. We do not want you all to play nice. We do not want the further erosion of our constitutional freedoms so that you can play the game. The system is broken, but the majority of republicans want to continue to play in it, instead of digging down deep and finding a pair in order to fix it.

The display today was shameful, and will go down in history as a pivotal point that led to the collapse of the current GOP. We the people, are sick and tired of their constant shenanigans.

There is a reason why the republicans have lost four of the last six election cycles for the presidency. The candidates were not conservative enough. Bush the first was ousted for turning his back on his campaign promises. Bush the second got through by the skin of his teeth, and only because he played lip service to conservatism. McCain and Romney were utter failures, owing to their progressive tendencies. They couldn’t even beat an outright socialist. And now Jeb Bush seeks the presidency? Does he seriously think he will clinch it by ignoring the conservative base? Give me a break. We’ll end up with Hillary as president before a Bush the third. It would be akin to voting George the third into office.

The antics played out today, coupled with the shenanigans at the end of last year with the passing of the one trillion dollar cromnibus bill, will grow to haunt the GOP and the establishment fools.

All of those who voted for John Boehner have no spines and no souls. It’s not about whether the guy is likable or not, and we don’t give a damn about your stupid committee seats. Its about whether the man can get the job done, and apparently he can’t.

We need fiscal responsibility, and real conservatism. This bunch haven’t got the balls to do what needs to be done. And sooner or later that will prove to be their undoing. The world is changing, and real conservatives are sick and tired of these silly games. As the earth shifts with the grass roots movements, these RINO’s, these progressives, will find they have no more legs left to stand on. The GOP was created over one hundred and fifty years ago to take a stand for what was right. It may well be undone for not taking one today.

Facebook and the sanction of the victim

The “sanction of the victim” is the willingness of the good to suffer at the hands of the evil, to accept the role of sacrificial victim for the “sin” of creating values.

Facebook started out for me as a way to connect with family members I had left over seas. I have shared photographs and memories with friends and family alike. Lately the site has devolved into collectivist inspired in-fighting. It is no longer enjoyable. To spend your time defending yourself simply for being yourself is a waste. Some words from T S Eliot found in Joseph Campbell’s ‘hero with a thousand faces’ stick out to me in situations like this, and the only option left is to withdraw entirely and commit to other more productive endeavors.

Here one can neither stand nor lie nor sit
There is not even silence in the mountains
But dry sterile thunder without rain
There is not even solitude in the mountains
But red sullen faces sneer and snarl
From doors of mudcracked houses

The assumption has now been made that it is socially acceptable to heckle other family members over trivial matters, that it is okay to lampoon someone for anything posted on their page that does not conform to social norms. Facebook has now pulled in millions of people into the swirl of collective mantra, where everyone has to get on to get along, and if you stray too far from the murky middle, you will be condemned and thrown to the wolves.

The rampant self imposed narcissism coupled with the collectivist ideals of equality makes for a dirty mix. I’ve seen people who ought to know better berate their grandparents over pent up emotions that ought to have been dealt with in private. I’ve seen otherwise well spoken people blast expletive filled diatribes in comments when a post wasn’t to their liking.

Social media is a double edged sword. It can connect you with distant family members, it can allow you to share photographs with long lost relatives. But it can also be used to vent emotions before heads have had a chance to cool.

It is not acceptable to berate others in public, it is not okay to heckle family members, it is not alright to disrespect elder members of your family. There is a time and a place to air your grievances, and it is always better to do it in private, one on one.

The shame is that Facebook is such a great and easy place to connect with people. The problem is that it is like being in an arena with all of your friends and family watching you. It’s hard to grow and learn new things when there is an audience constantly plugged into your very existence.

And so it was time for me to leave. I deactivated my account. I’ll log back in to check up on some people and to grab their email addresses and telephone numbers some time in the future. But the days of me checking statuses every hour of the day are over.

The time has come to shift focuses onto new endeavors. There are many new projects waiting in the wings, ready to be started and published.

I have a short ebook ready to publish, and a longer one being written. My wife and I just opened up an online store, and my father-in-law is getting ready to start selling the chapters of his new book.

2015 will be whatever you make it, so make it a good one. Happy New Year.