Our Fascination With the Movie American Sniper
Clint Eastwood’s movie, American Sniper, continues to do extremely well at the box office…much to the consternation of some of our east and west coast media darlings. According to movie insiders, in just a few days, American Sniper will overtake Steven Spielberg’s WWII movie, Saving Private Ryan, as the top-grossing war movie of all time.
For those of you who have been hanging out with Punxsutawney Phil waiting to see your shadow at Gobbler's Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania; American Sniper is the story of Navy SEAL sniper Chris Kyle. The movie chronicles his life, both on the battlefield during four tours of duty, and at home with his wife and kids.
Hollywood is having difficulty coming to grips with the movie’s success. Michael Moore made the following statement, “My uncle killed by sniper in WW2. We were taught snipers were cowards. Will shoot u in the back. Snipers aren't heroes. And invaders r worse.” Seth Rogen, whose latest film about an assignation plot to kill Kim Jun Un, the fearless leader of North Korea; made an equally ignorant comment. Poor Seth has spent the past couple of weeks walking that comment back. Bill Maher, the rich man’s version of Will Rogers, referred to Chris Kyle as, “a psychopath patriot, and we love him.” I absolutely have no idea what the hell that means. I guess I am just not intellectually bright enough to understand Bill Maher.
So, who is going to see the movie?
I would suggest to you that the people who are seeing this movie are the silent majority of Americans who live outside the palace walls of our country’s elite.. They are the American’s who have always made this country great. They are the ones who have always done the heavy lifting throughout our history.
They are the ones who know that evil exists in this world, because they have seen evil up close and personal. To them, evil is not an abstract thing…no, to them; the boogie-man is alive and well and living right around the corner.
It is being seen by people who would never utter what Michael Moore, or Seth Rogen, or Bill Maher said. Why…because they have soldiers, and policemen, and police women as sons and daughters. These families know their family members don’t get up every day looking to kill or harm someone. These Americans simply smile at the stupidity of these comments. Without the courage of their husbands, wives, and children; who would protect us from the boogie-man?
It’s being seen by people who have been touched by war and sacrifice, and are not lulled into thinking that the enemy is no longer out there since we haven’t taken a direct hit in a while. They know that those who wish us harm are multiplying despite the rhetoric to the contrary.
From what I hear, throughout the country there is dead silence at the conclusion of the movie. Perhaps this is only fitting. Perhaps, at that moment, that movie theater becomes hallowed ground. A place where Americans can take a moment to honor the sacrifice of Chris Kyle, and to honor all who have sacrificed so much to defend our country. Perhaps the silence is a way to express thanks that we have men and women like Chris Kyle who aren’t afraid to go off to war and kill those who wish to kill us.
We can all strive for a world filled with sunshine, rainbows and lollipops…but until it comes to fruition, I am glad we had Chris Kyle on our side. I will end with this quote from Winston Churchill…
“Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.”
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