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 Moment I Knew Why There Were Suicide Bombers July 19, 2026I was preparing to deploy to Iraq when the thought bubbled up, seemingly out of nowhere. “Maybe I’ll die in Iraq.” I was surprised because my inner monologue was hopeful. A flicker of excitement kindled in my chest—I didn’t understand. Why? And the answer came just as quickly. I couldn’t possibly do more if I […]Mike Warnock
- The Power of Sharing Your Story July 19, 2026By Britta Reque-Dragicevic This first appeared in Britta’s blog, “Life After War” and is republished with the author’s permission. ___________________ What you have experienced and witnessed and carry within you is powerful. It’s sacred. It’s human. It’s what you relive every day, every night. What you can’t forget and what you don’t want to ever […]Special Guest
- Cowardice With a Lanyard July 18, 2026The modern institution has discovered a miracle cure for reality: never diagnose it. Just rename every hard fact until it sounds like a workplace wellness seminar, then punish anyone rude enough to notice the blood on the carpet. That’s the racket. Our universities, corporations, nonprofits, agencies, HR temples, and credentialed daycare centers for adults have […]Tammy Pondsmith
- The Mile-High View July 18, 2026I have fond memories as a child sitting in the front seat helping navigate. I learned a lot about reading maps, proper road etiquette, and history. There was some peace to coasting along the road, having to solve the puzzle of how one gets from point A to point B, long before the chirping of automated […]Jake Smith
- A Country That Hates Its Past Will Surrender Its Future July 17, 2026“I was ashamed of myself when I realized life was a costume party, and I attended with my real face.” The line is widely attributed to Franz Kafka, though scholars note it may be a paraphrase rather than a verifiable quotation from his published work. Whether Kafka said it exactly this way is almost beside […]Charles Faint
