The Havok Journal | Military & Veteran News, Commentary, Culture

• China’s “Lay Flat” Problem: Passive Resistance in an Age of Active Competition May 22, 2026
  In recent years, a quiet but consequential social trend has emerged in the People’s Republic of China: tang ping (躺平), or “laying flat.” At its core, the concept reflects a rejection; sometimes passive, sometimes deliberate—of the relentless pressures associated with modern Chinese life: long work hours, intense competition, rising costs of living, and narrowing pathways […]
  Charles Faint
• My Heart Aches for Her May 22, 2026
  My heart aches for Her In the quiet moments of the day In the lonely hours of the night In the simple and mundane In the excitement of new discovery When our sons are happy When our sons are sad In the moments when we should be most close, My heart aches for Her In […]
  Aaron Smith
• Saving Myself Through Saving Others May 22, 2026
  She stood there, confused, laughing. She held her bunny tight as she rubbed its ear, telling me she made sure bunny would not have to hear it. She rubbed bunny’s ears with such vigor. She protected bunny in her moment of pure helplessness. She awkwardly laughed in a way that only the experienced could. In a way only […]
  Jake Smith
• Protected, Powerful, and Still Performing Persecution May 21, 2026
  There’s a fascinating little magic trick modern Western culture performs every day. A woman can live in the most legally protected, socially cushioned, economically accessible environment in female human history, then hop online and announce she’s basically one denied promotion away from being dragged through a medieval village square by men with torches and opinions. […]
  Tammy Pondsmith
• Failing Forward May 21, 2026
  I’m not some self-help guy, but I want to share something that’s helped shape my perspective lately: just because you’ve failed doesn’t make you a failure. All you have to do is try again and—boom—not a failure. Each step forward is a step in the right direction and away from failure. Keep stepping. Keep learning. […]
  Stan Lake