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 App That Ate Your Backbone July 2, 2026Somewhere in America, a grown adult is staring at a blinking cursor like it just pulled a knife. The email is six sentences. Maybe seven if we’re feeling ambitious and nobody has to “circle back.” It’s to a boss, a teacher, a spouse, a doctor, a kid, a friend who deserves an apology, or some […]Tammy Pondsmith
- What Comes After Self-Mastery July 2, 2026By JC Glick and Michael Ostrolenk In our last article, we outlined the progressive journey from self-awareness to self-understanding to self-mastery. This process enables individuals to operate with intentionality, resilience, and aligned action. But the path of personal growth doesn’t end with mastery. It continues beyond the self. The next stage is self-transcendence, the shift […]JC Glick
- I Ain’t Going Anywhere July 2, 2026They say you can’t wait for inspiration; you just have to write. I’m not sure who “they” are, but I’ve surely said it a time or two. So, perhaps after nearly 150,000 words and three years of consistency with writing this column, I’m becoming an expert in faking the funk to get words on the […]Stan Lake
- Veterans: If You’re Not Changing It, You’re Choosing It July 1, 2026Military veterans have earned the right to complain about a lot of things. The VA can be a bureaucratic nightmare. Civilian employers often don’t understand military experience. Some marriages don’t survive the transition. Some wounds don’t show up on an X-ray, and there are plenty of people making decisions about veterans who have never worn […]Charles Faint
- Nobody Joins a Cult July 1, 2026The people who eventually died in a remote South American jungle were not looking for death. They were looking for hope. Some were struggling financially and worried about how they would provide for their families. Others were lonely, discouraged, or searching for purpose in a world that seemed increasingly uncertain. Some longed to belong to […]Dave Chamberlin
