Civic Essays
What We Owe the Next Generation
There is a kind of conversation that has gone out of fashion in this country, and we are paying for its absence. It is the conversation older people used to [...]
The Havok Journal | Military & Veteran News, Commentary, Culture
- The Weight of the Example We Set June 14, 2026Lead by example.That phrase gets used a lot in the military and first responder communities. It’s often mistaken to mean leaders must have a high PT score, always look squared away, and be exceptionally proficient at everything they touch. Those things are important, but they’re only a small piece of the “example.” Going into boot […]K.C. Aud
- Veterans, Sound Familiar? “Too Tired? What? Come on, You’re Fine!” June 14, 2026By Britta Reque-Dragicevic This first appeared in Britta’s blog, “Life After War” and is republished with the author’s permission. _____________________ Whether or not you were physically wounded in battle, you are wounded. Deeply. And your wounds are real. It may take some time for you to become aware of it. In fact, war wounds are often […]Special Guest
- Your Opinions Have a Landlord June 13, 2026The old fairy tale says we live in a marketplace of ideas. How adorable. That phrase always arrives dressed like a civics teacher and leaves smelling like a lobbyist. What we actually live in is a company food court where six landlords own the floor, the kiosks, the security office, and half the napkins, then […]Tammy Pondsmith
- The Moon Over Afghanistan June 13, 2026I cocked my head so high the earth was beyond my peripheral. What remained was the full moon glowing down as thin scattered clouds swiftly blew by. I could smell the moist cool air and feel the evening breeze upon my exposed skin. Barking dogs echoed near and far through the still night. I took deep breaths as […]Jake Smith
- It’s Good That Gas Prices Are So High. It Reminds People That There Is Actually a War On. June 12, 2026Americans hate high gas prices. Politicians know it, economists study it, and every election cycle seems to include promises to bring them down. Rising fuel costs affect nearly every aspect of daily life, from commuting to work to purchasing groceries, and they are among the most visible economic indicators that ordinary citizens encounter. It is […]Charles Faint
