Inside the Brain of E.C. Henry

Finding My Political Voice

Let me just start out by saying I am sooo glad that Donald Trump WON the presidency over Hillary Clinton.  I think there is a CHANCE things will get better in the U.S. with Donald Trump in charge.  I had NO HOPES of anything getting any better with Hillary Clinton at the oval office.  That last debate was real telling to me.  The democrats have NO PLAN to grow the economy.  But I don't want to bash the other party.  Rather, I want to use this post to delve into the development of one's political mind.  

I would prefer it that you were a Republican like me.  But even if you don't think like me, I think it's important that you grow and deepen in the issues that are important to you.  In my lifetime I have seen the rise and assent of the homosexual movement--and it makes me SICK!   How did we fall this far that homosexual couples are allowed to marry and are granted the same rights as heterosexual couples?  When you equate a gay couple with same or greater laud than a heterosexual couple that is a sad commentary on the national morality of our country.  And then just a couple of months ago we had Barak Oboma, our president WEAKLY come out with the non-commital statement, "Let them go to the bathroom" when the issue of cross-dressers being allowed or not to go into the bathroom of sex that they indentify with.  The point here is, our very own president was leading, wouldn't make a stand one way or the other.  Rather, he just let confusion reign with his non-commital answer.  

Gender confusion.  The next phase of the gay agenda.  America has fallen morally.  Homosexuality is not bringing us to a higher and more enlightened place.  Rather, it is blurring the lines of right and wrong.  

The crazy thing is, when I was growing up NONE of this gay agenda shit was considered normal.  When I was growing up homosexuality was frowned on, they were butt of jokes.   We have changed a lot in 25 years.  Changed for the worse.  Gotten more ungodly, rather than extolling the higher virtues and seeking blessing from God.  

Whether it be gotten from a godly source; namely the Christian bible, or be it from man-made and ungodly pro-homosexual virtues, our country will have a prevailing morality.  Now in times of war, or like when we get attacked by terrorists you see people turning to God and seeking His blessings.  This lends to a godly national morality.  But over the last  30 years or so, the democratic party has clearly seen gay people as a voting block and led the charge for gay rights.  Likewise, democrats have seen pro-choice (which is a VERY MISLEADING label) as voting block for them as well, and has chosen to throw their conscious out the window again and support another ungodly agenda--because they are a voter's block.  

So am I a gay bigot?  No, I am not.  Well, if you're a SLANDERING liberal you might say something like that, but then you'd be untrue.  I love people because God loves people.  But God doesn't like sin, and His favor will NEVER rest on promoting the gay agenda and gay rights.  EVERYONE has the RIGHT to be respected, even gay people.  I just view homosexuality as an overt version of immorality.  God calls people to overcome this word and the sin therein.  I firmly believe that homosexuality is sin, and is an UNWORTHY trait to be promoted on a national level.

Why talk on subjects like this?  Especially when some people hold to a different point of view?  You talk about big issues BECAUSE they shape our society as a whole.  You talk because it's important.  It's important to stand and have your voice heard.  For years I doubted the advances of the gay agenda.  Now we have homosexual marriage, and cross dresser blurring the lines even further.  At some point you gotta wake-up and see the depravity and say no more; I'm not complicit with it anymore.  I never really was complicit with it, I just wasn't vocal about my opinions, until now.   

I love the Lord.  For me the bible and Christian truth is the beginning and the root from which my entire politcal mind-set must flow. Doesn't that mean I always get it right.  I think this is all about a progressive rightness with THE BIBLE being my moral compass which evaluates each decision I make.   

Here's a list of political issues that are important to me, and where and I stand on them:

1. Our economy.  I believe that America should be the LEADER in the world, and that our president and leader should be setting the game so that we win--every, fucking time!  Our farming and factories should be strong.  And political our leaders should be, "AMERICA FIRST", the rest of the world second and living of our benevolence.  I think ever since Bill Clinton got in office there has been an erroneous mindset that other countries deserve our jobs and manufacturing more that our own people do.  I believe WHOLE HEARTEDLY that this mindset is a direct sabotage of the American dream, and undermines us all.  I will NEVER accept nor support politicians who SELL US OUT so they can line their pockets.  I believe that hard-working should be able to make it working a 40-hour-a-week job, and that pressure from the government should be made to phase out part time labor when it undermines people trying to make a living.  Case and point, my brother, who works in the grocery business and though he has a union job does NOT get 40 hours a week.  Something's gotta change about that.  People rely on jobs to live and support their families.  Thus I'm a proponent of the 40-hours-a-week initiative.  That needs to be our countries gold standard, and companies that CHEAT the common man should pay a higher price.  THAT'S something that government SHOULD meddle in.
2. Anti-abortion.  The rights of the unborn matter.  They matter to God.  They matter to me.  And they should be uphold by the prevailing law of the land.  Roe vs. Wade was a COURT decision, but was it the RIGHT decision that should provide justification for the practice of abortion.  I say, no.  Now the pro-choice people have done a great job of erroniously framing this issue and trivializing it down to JUST consider the woman in the equation.  This bother's me be it is morally misconstrueing the issue and TOTALLY forgets about the baby that is in development.  
3. Anti-homosexual moment.  I don't think gay people deserve special rights.  They do not deserve a metal for "coming out of the closet".  I don't think gay marriage should be legally allowed or recognized.  I think it's immoral and should be frowned on as a collective, society whole.  I do not believe in gay bashing or shamming gay people.  But in the same respect and breath, I don't think they deserve any laud or special rights for being gay in public.  I would not go so far as to say homosexual behavior in a private setting should lead to persecution or societal osternation.  It's just immorality, like people having an affair or doing lewd sexual acts outside the bounds of marriage.    
4. Racism is dead in America.  The liberal agenda seems to be trying to resurrect this evil of old when it really doesn't exist any more.  African Americans have opportuntity to succeed in this country like NEVER BEFORE.  Bitching and calling the race card is a WEAK play for sympathy that ATTEMPTS to lead our country to anarchy.  Our president for the last 8 years was a black man.  You're seeing people of varied ethneticities all over the place.  And that's a good thing.  That means that people of all races have REAL opportunity to succeed, and THAT is that antithesis and death of the racism erroneous issue that democrats and the liberal media keep trying to stir up.  It's like some people just can stand peace and have to dredge up and create chaos.  Watchout for these anarchists, they undermine the American dream and villify innocent people that don't deserve their labels of condemnation.  
5.  The mainstream media is bias and can no longer be trusted.  CNN is especially bad.  TV news and cable TV news stations need to watched very closely to see if they're actually reporting the news, or slanting the news to promote or villify the people and events that they're covering.  There's a guy out there name George Sorros, and from EVERYTHING I've been reading he's at the heart of the problem here.  He has a socialist, open borders agenda, and is using his power over TV and cable stations to it out.  Fair and unbiased news reporting suffers at the will of billionaire .  So sad that this ulta rich guy George Sorros uses his power to fuel unrest and divisiveness in this country. 

If you're like me and trying to find and hone your political voice, just know you're not alone.  And don't be afraid of all those blowhards out there.  If you are an American, you have a say in government and how things should be run.  There is a lot of disinformatiion out there, but the more you look at that, the more you find it's the liberal media, and the democratic party that are acting as the real villains that undermine and make the American dream harder to achieve.    

I say put America first!  Jobs and industry matter, and are a priortity.

I say America should be good at it's core and have morals that honor the Lord.

I say honesty does matter, and that those who purposely skew the truth should be taken from their place and be forced to get a real job and learn to be real contributors in a functioning society. 

Though I, E.C. Henry tend to vote Republican (because I trust them, MUCH MUCH more than the democrats) I am not in blind allegiance to them or any other political party, but rather am open to the best ideas regardless of what party they come from.  I also don't believe in discrimination based on your race.  No matter the color of your skin, IF you adhere to what's good, right and holy, you are worthy of my support.  The times we're living in are dark ones.  I do not want to be devisive on matters of etneticity.  We are Americans and should be after American interests, collectively.  

Let's make America great again is a worthy ambition, but it is one that I will always subject to God, who is over all, including the United States of America.

Fight or Flight: What's YOUR reaction to the 2016 American Presidential Election

I can't take full credit for the title of this blog post.  This was actually on a CARD that my pastor, Rob Meyer at Gospel Life Church had out in the pews for us to work through at one point during his sermon, Sunday November 6th.  So what camp do I fall in?  Easy--fight!

YES, our nation is divided--BUT it is divided for good reasons.  Let's start with me.  Am I supposed to "fall into formation" and get in line with the party line of the democratic party and BLINDLY follow them as they advocate the furtherance of gay rights and abortion?  FUCK THAT!!  I am NOT going to be complicit with that kind of evil ever, period!  You and your political party want to endorse abortion and gay rights and have the GALL to laud the furtherance of these causes as a good and admirable, you can count me out and consider as me being against you.  Doesn't matter if you look just like me, or are a black person or a Chinese person or Tibetian monk.  You expect me to join you in advancing homosexual rights and the MURDER of the unborn, and I'm not with you.  Not now.  Not tomorrow.  Not ever.    

During this election season I watched Hillary Clinton proudly state of how proud she was concerning gay rights and abortion and it made me sick.  I'll NEVER be united with that.  EVER!!  You wanna know why?  Because God isn't for homosexual rights or an entire nation legislating for the provision of abortions for the unborn.  (BTW the spliced picture I made was just a little levity, and having some fun)

My party is Jesus Christ and the Holy Bible, and I will NEVER adhere or fall in line with a political party that is pro gay rights and pro abortion.  Back those two issues and you are by definition walking away from God.  And I want God's blessings.  I don't wanna live in an America that is outside the will of God.

These days I find myself openly wondering how far the democratic has fallen.  Maybe back in the days of President Carter the democratic party was a blessible place.  Maybe back then then had good morals, but not now.  Not it 2016.  Not from what I'm seeing in the democratic party.  They openly support gay rights and abortion.  I don't see how God get provide His backing to either one of these things.  If you can make a case for that, go for it.  I just don't think you can.  

Now as for the people themselves that are gay and have had abortions and support those causes, yes I can love them with the love of Christ and honor their humanity.  But fall in line with sinful doctrine now being exercised globally and in law.  No, at that point I walk away.  Willingly.  Don't care what it costs me.  Sure, I wanna break-in at Hollywood and be a player, BUT not at the expense of my principals.  If Hollywood is SO CORRUPT that ONLY those who back gay rights and abortion are allowed in, then I guess I'll never break in, because I will NEVER CONSENT to those anti-God practices.  

I just had to get that rant off my chest.  Hearing Hillary speak so glowingly about gay rights and abortion provoked something inside of me.  A righteous anger.  I just need to channel those feelings so they can be used by the Master (Jesus, the Holy Spirit and the Holy Father) for some good.  I am NOT a gay basher, or an basher of any person whose ever had an abortion.  I actually have a heart for both sets of people, I think they should have the same rights and privileges that I enjoy as an American.  My divide comes when those issues become the law of the land and immoral practices gain national acceptance, the norm and gain the protection of the law that they NEVER SHOULD HAVE HAD.  

In the past I've kept a lot of my political feelings to myself.  But now I'm feeling a groundswell inside me.  I don't wanna be silent anymore.  I feel that by being silent maybe I'm being complicit with those democrats that are seeking to further gay rights and abortion.  And I'm NOT COOL with that.  I will stand up and make my voice known.  If I lose some arguments because I'm not as "polished" as some liberals so be it. I'm going to fight the good fight and TRY to win some souls for the kingdom of God.

Truth be told, it took me a LA-ONG time to come around to Donald Trump.  For a long time I thought I would just write in someone else.  I could NEVER see voting for Hillary Clinton with a clear conscious.  She's just too crooked, is hearty advocate for moral issues that I am dead set against, and she has NO ANSWERS to our countries economic woes.  She's a do-nothing politician in my eyes.  How ANYONE can justify voting for her based on her plans for improving America in matters of the economy is beyond me.  So... after a while I came to position of voting for Trump JUST so crooked Hillary Clinton couldn't get to the White House and loot our country some more.  

I understand how Donald Trump rubbed a lot of people the wrong way.  A lot of the things he did are indefensible.  My hope is that Trump seasons over time, and learns not to say such inflamatory things that have no upside.  My ultimate hope is that Donald Trump will enact some new rules and regulations that get America's manufacturing going well again.

America first.  The rest of the world lives off our benevolence.  

I think we lost that over the Bill Clinton presidency.  Stupidest thing in the world is outsourcing our work.  Once that ball started rolling.  We.  Were.  FUCKED!  I blame Bill Clinton for that.  We need to get our manufacturing going again, we need someone who thinks outside the box to do this.  Hopefully Donald Trump will follow through and provide tangible solutions.  America doesn't need any more rah-rah buzz words they need opportunity to provide for their families.  FUCK the global market.  It's time to put America first, and let the rest of the world benefit of our benevolence.  To that end, Trump has my FULL SUPPORT.  Let's make America great again.  

So in closing, goodbye Hillary Clinton.  Won't miss having you around at all.  I hope Donald Trump DOESN'T offer her a place on his cabinet.  She doesn't deserve it.  What she deserves is a JAIL CELL!!  Also in closing I find myself more and more intreaged by the democratic party.  Why are ANY people following them?  Why are so many Hollywood stars bending over backwards pledging their support to these ungodly abortionists and gay right advocates?  How many in Hollywood are "on the take", and now touting the company line in exchange for the cush life?  Don't they know that their industry suffers when the middle class suffers?  The democratic party has NO HEART whatsover for the everyday, working-class Joe.  The current democratic party at it stands now is a DISGRACE.  I'm a sooo relieved that Hillary Clinton did NOT win the presidency.  Had she won, we'd be screwed.  She would have nothing to help our country's issues and problems. I'm convinced of that.  Not 100% sold on Donald Trump, but I'm willing to give him a chance and am eager to see what he can do.  

Let's make America great again. 

 

 

 

Avoiding the Character Dump; Challenges in Writing a Novel: Volume VII

Okay, so it's been over a YEAR since I did a post in this series.  Doesn't mean I stopped thinking about it.  It's just the ebb and flow of life, writing and the day job thang.  But this topic came to me about a week ago while rewriting a part in my 2nd novel in The Legend in Thars series.    

My current conundrum is how to build a character and reveal him over time.  The character is question is a villain.  He is my story's 2nd most important villain in my novel series.  And it is very important that I.  Get.  Him.  Right!

Why?

Because he's also probably my 2nd favorite, ORIGINAL character that I've ever created.  My favorite character is a Luke Skywalker-eque character who ALSO is introduced in the same part in the 2nd book in The Legend in Thars series.  Can't tell you these guys names yet, but sometime soon, I will.  I'm so jacked about what I'm writing about now because it the real genesis of the thrust of the main story.  NO, book one didn't introduce either one of my favorite characters.  Book one was ALL about set-up.  Book 2 is where the real action begins.  Book 2 is where I think I will either prove I can or cannot write a novel.  

Why?

Because it's in Book 2 where I really delve into my character.  My characters that will carry through the rest of the arc of the series.  Sure in book one I DO go into the main protagonists in the series and set them up.  BUT in Book 2 I delve into the key characters in Thars and set them up.  And in doing so I'm feel the need to--

Avoid the character dump!

So what do I mean by saying, "character dumps"?  Glad you asked.

A character dump is when an writer decides to give the reader a lot of information about a character at once.  

The trick with characters and writing a novel is to let characters evolve and change as the reader follows them through the story.  Sure you wanna establish who's a good guy and who's a bad guy.  But as a writer you also want your characters to be dynamic and be interesting.  One of the tricks to maintaining interest is to hold back certain information, and reveal it later.  Let the reader get a grasp of you character then get the enjoyment of adding new details to them later as the story progresses.  

My problem, right now, is that I wanna say so much about this henchmen character the first time you see him.  And I just challenge that notion and wonder if I and the story would be better served by holding back some of this backstory until later, as this character has a lot of slow times later in the story where he is musing over plot developments and how he thinks he should respond to them.  I just la-ove this henchmen character.  He is the bomb to me.  2nd favorite character I've ever created.  And that's saying something because that's over the span of some 19 spec. scripts AND this novel.  

In order to avoid an unpleasant "character dump" I'm also going to work on and beef up the character bio of this character.  Slowly, by entertaining questions like these I'm building a richer history for Thars.  It's happening.  I feel it.  And it's a welcome and good thing!  My story is getting more and more Tolkien-esque--and I LOVE it.  I wan't my story to a rich tapestry that invites people in and allows them to get lost.  THAT, my friends, is one of the best things J.R.R. Tolkien did with his Lord of the Rings series; he created a vivid and rich world that people actually wanted to camp out in and explore for themselves.  

THAT is one of KEY components of fantasy writing: have you created a world reality that people want more of and want to explore themselves.  Same kind of rationale comes into play with characters: have you, as a writer, created vivid and captivating characters that draw people in and spark their curiosity.