darrenhardman

My writing

Will suicide eventually win?

When I was a kid I dreamed of enlisting and going to war.
I really didn’t know what I was headed for.
I enlisted and got the call to strap on gear and go over there.
I walked tall and thought that they should all be aware.
Once I landed I saw humanity at it’s worst.
It filled me with so many emotions I felt as if I were to burst.
After doing this twice I came home numb.
I was judged and called a liar by those that still have no clue.
They can’t direct their own lives and I’m the one who’s dumb?!
So many things and faces run through my head.
I try everyday to find something to keep my mind busy.
Sometimes those things are so great I wish I were dead.
Sometimes they’re just enough to only make me dizzy.
I try, I try and I try not to let the bad things in.
But all I can wonder is “Will suicide eventually win?”

June 13, 2013 Posted by | Feelings from war and beyond | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The demise of privacy in America

Do you think you have privacy here in America? What is the definition of privacy? pri·va·cy [ prvəssee ] seclusion: the state of being apart from other people and not seen, heard, or disturbed by them. freedom from attention of others: freedom from the observation, intrusion, or attention of others. hidden condition: the state of being kept secret. Can you go anywhere or do anything without someone knowing what your shopping patterns, travel patterns even your television or gaming patterns are?
The answer is no you cannot. Almost every aspect of your life is tracked or monitored in today’s world. Think about it. The popular social media sites use a form facial recognition. It recognize a face and you tell it who it is. Apple and Google among other companies are in the process of launching facial recognition products. Although facial recognition has been around in some format since the late sixties it’s just recently that the technology has gotten fast enough to transmit data in a time efficient manner. It is to the point that now the technology can scan a crowd at a sporting event or concert and recognize people who are deemed a threat, criminals or terrorists maybe up to no good. While I’m sure there are uses that will help in this manner as with anything there is opportunity to abuse this technology.
Think about what else in your life is tracked or monitored. Your cell phone can be tracked to determine your location, listen in when you least expect it, also your phone calls can be pulled. next you have schools asking for social security numbers (which you do NOT have to and should not give them). Retail stores asking for your zip code and or phone number. Anything you do with a credit or debit card is tracked not only your purchasing habits but your location or movement habits. If you use the internet your browsing patterns, shopping patterns and reading patterns are tracked and stored. Outside while you’re driving around the combination of cameras and facial recognition can identify you at stop lights. multimedia such as netflix, Pandora and even game consoles such as the new generation Xbox one and possibly others will be “always on” consoles which will not only be listening so you can use voice commands but possibly the cameras that are included will be able to be used by outside sources.
Any of this technology in and of itself doesn’t seem to be a big issue but when you look at it over the course of a day in your life it’s terrifying to know you cannot do anything without someone who becomes infatuated with you for whatever reason knowing what you’re doing. Now I ask you this question again. Do you think you have privacy here in America? I say no. Now, who out there is watching you, figuring out your patterns? Do they make a judgment to determine if you may be mentally ill or a threat to society because of your patterns or habits?
We here in America are losing our privacy, self sufficiency and freedoms little by little every day! When is enough going to be enough?!

May 31, 2013 Posted by | My Views on America | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Protector

I will die so you can live.

I do this because your life you CAN not or WILL not give.

I do this because it is my souls calling.

Only the ungrateful won’t shed a tear as my brothers and I are falling.

We will stand strong in the faceof the enemy and not budge.

Our actions are not for you to judge.

When your nightmares become real and you find there’s nothing you can do.

It is I “The Protector” that will stand between them and you.

March 8, 2013 Posted by | Feelings from war and beyond | , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

This Ring

I sit here at the Convoy area waiting to go on the road.
Checking my equipment and making sure I have a full combat load.
Checks all done and waiting in line.
Each truck starts in turn, I’m waiting on mine.
Dangers are waiting on the road, who knows what we’ll see.
Rockets, VBIED’s, IED’s, I wonder what it will be.
Over the last few days you and I have talked about our love and what the future will bring.
I can’t wait for this tour to be over and one day kneel in front of you and ask you to have this ring.
—- D. Hardman 10Nov09

August 20, 2011 Posted by | Feelings from war and beyond | , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Across the miles

Across the miles thinking of you.
I am wondering and anticipating life.
Soul on fire, heart is anew.
Wanting to make you my wife.
Some things still need to be done.
Anxiously waiting for the day we become one.

August 20, 2011 Posted by | Feelings from war and beyond | , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The day I return home

On the road the desert is like a sea.
Sand all around me as far as I can see.
For miles and miles, driving is what I do.
Wonder and anticipation for places I’ll see that are new.
There and back again I do roam.
Anxiously awaiting the day I return home.

August 20, 2011 Posted by | Feelings from war and beyond | , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Hills of WV

Sailed the seas I have done.
Battles lost and battles won.
Sometimes scared, sometimes mad.
Sometimes happy and sometimes sad.
My travels have made me wise.
But the hills of WV are always a welcome site for my aching
eyes.

August 20, 2011 Posted by | Feelings from war and beyond | , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Love is what I’ll feel

You’re heavy on my mind and I cannot sleep.
Heavy are my thoughts, I just want to weep.
Months at a time I must go away.
One day in your arms I hope to stay.
These are things I am called to do.
I hope and pray you can stay true.
Being away from you the months seem to creep by.
Sometimes I ask myself “You do this, why?”
Then this tours end becomes real.
And when I get home and see your face Love is what I’ll feel

August 20, 2011 Posted by | Feelings from war and beyond | , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Eve of Battle

I stand at the edge of the field on the eve of battle.

Fear running through my veins and muscles so hard my bones begin to rattle.

I have the confidence in knowing that when the horns of battle let loose their
roar.

It will be to unleash ME………THE DOG OF WAR

August 20, 2011 Posted by | Feelings from war and beyond | , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Living with it when it’s over

As eighteen year old kids we started to train.
In the snow, mud and
rain.
Then one day a country was invaded.
Most of the world stood by as if
sedated.
We eighteen year old kids were now grown and trained well.
Little
did we know we were headed straight to Hell.
We fought like the “DEVIL DOGS”
we were.
Expelled the Iraqi army in a blur.
Not all came back who went
over,
But the hardest part of war is living with it when it’s
over.

written by Darren Hardman 5-13-08

August 20, 2011 Posted by | Feelings from war and beyond | , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment