Fighting Terrorism: The Armor Called Humor by Leonard Benton This first appeared in The Havok Journal January 9, 2015. When a comedian “kills it” on stage, it usually means they did well. But when a satirical newspaper drops a dime on someone, the killing gets real because intolerant people don’t like to be laughed at. In Paris on 6 January, 12 people are dead … [Read more...]
Reality Check: Abortion
Reality Check: Abortion by Leonard Benton This article first appeared in The Havok Journal January 29, 2015. In the modern world, we still have medieval values. A persistent and volatile argument revolves around the birth of the soul and the right of a woman to do as she sees fit with her body. The idea of life at conception and choice of self are diametrically … [Read more...]
The Zen of Metal Sculpting
The Zen of Metal Sculpting by Leonard Benton Veterans face myriad stresses. Some have found ways to fight the darkness with art and peace for their souls with creation of beauty. Mine is metal work. Sculpting takes many forms and is one of the ways that the warrior has turned artisan to rekindle the inner calm that increases resiliency and gives them armor for the … [Read more...]
#OneReportingStandard: Hypocrisy in Reporting about Race
#OneReportingStandard: Hypocrisy in Reporting about Race by Leonard Benton This first appeared in The Havok Journal December 22, 2014. Five days before Christmas in New York, two police officers were executed by a man who is believed to have posted his intention prior to the act and also believed to have shot his girlfriend before he encountered police. But he did not … [Read more...]
The Nuclear Option: One Finger from Death
The Nuclear Option: One Finger from Death by Leonard Benton The day starts without the sun. The clock measures time, but gives no understanding. For the watch officer, the seconds stretch like hours. And yet, these service members sit as a shield on the front and final line of defense for our nation — the watch officer in a nuclear silo prepared to end the world. I am … [Read more...]
Reality Check: The Words of God
The United States is beset by many issues. While we have unity and freedoms, we can still show improvement. One of our greatest strengths is the diversity of our people and the freedom to choose without oppression, what we believe, and how we worship; the ways we interpret "the words of God." But there is still contention when people of good intent lose their way and take … [Read more...]
Generations at War
The mind of the young is malleable and we can condition children to limit their feelings, harden their revulsion, and we can teach them to hate. Nowhere is this more evident than in the Middle East. Prior to the 1920’s the Middle East had been relatively unchanged for over 400 years. The stability of the Ottoman Empire ruled then entire area and while it might not have … [Read more...]
Drinking Age in the US Military: Age of Maturity
This article originally appeared in The Havok Journal on 3 February, 2015... but it continues to be an issue. What are your thoughts? _____ North Dakota State Rep. Andrew Maragos recently sponsored a bill that proposes changing the legal drinking age in the US military to age 18. This has sparked a bit of controversy among military personnel, past and present and even within … [Read more...]
Oil Prices: The New Battlefield
This article first appeared in Havok Journal on 18JAN15. There have been a few pictures on the internet posted by older folks like me next to the gas station showing the current price of gasoline per gallon back in the range it was last seen in 2004, and the price is still going down. On the world stage, there is a fear that Russia, Venezuela, and Iran are going to … [Read more...]
Military Health: A Tour of Tricare
This article originally appeared on 28 March 2015. _____ Tax time is upon us and the Affordable Care Act has once again raised its head. What does it mean for the military? Not much, the military has TRICARE... right? The Defense Health Agency closed all the walk-in service centers back in April for all CONUS bases but everything you need to know is available online … [Read more...]
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