American Sniping

I’ve been on a bit of a writing hiatus as I prepare for my big move to Portland, Oregon.

But I couldn’t help but respond to all this “American sniping” over the new blockbuster war flick by Clint Eastwood, American Sniper.

The movie has been wildly popular, especially in conservative circles.

But has drawn some criticism from the left.

What has become caustic cannon fodder for Facebook news-feeds is the controversy over Michael Moore unleashing a tweet insinuating that Chris Kyle, the subject of the film, is a coward.

He saved American lives…

By taking non-American ones.

Now that shouldn’t detract from his heroic status, since he was doing the job he was ordered to do…and doing it quite well, I might add.

But maybe we could take issue with those orders that propelled him to deadliest sniper fame.

And maybe this film, which I’ve yet to see (it’s not playing in Costa Rica…go figure), is a little too dismissive of the idea that those orders, especially the one that sent Chris Kyle to Iraq in the first place, could, and perhaps should, be called into question.

Now, I’ve seen some nasty stuff on Facebook concerning Michael Moore, especially pointing out that he’s a bit obese.

Most of the comments I’ve read certainly could be considered a form of sniping.

And I do agree that Moore’s tweet was in poor judgment.

However, Michael Moore, in my opinion, is also a hero, a middle-class hero.

Wait, WTF?

Sure, because he makes documentaries, and very good ones, that expose some important truths about our society.

Truths that we may not want to hear…but need to.

His documentary, Capitalism: a Love Story, is about how capitalism is ruining the lives of ordinary middle-class Americans…the very kind that Chris Kyle represented.

It’s my guess that much of the hatred directed at Moore is coming from ordinary, middle-class Americans.

Why are you so vociferously hating someone who’s just trying to raise a middle-class voice over the noise, so that your plight can be heard?

Oh, I get it…you all think capitalism is really working in your favor, right?

And that Chris Kyle fought to preserve capitalism, since that is the underlying foundation for the American way of life?

Perhaps he did.

that sliver you keep hoping that maybe one day you’ll be a part of…

The same capitalism that pushes corporations to do irreparable harm to the environment, deny it and then fund this delusion of denial, so that it becomes dangerous mainstream thought…

And pay politicians to do their bidding to make sure that the system is rigged for the richest and exploitative of everyone and everything else.

Perhaps, in reality, that’s exactly what Chris Kyle fought for.

And perhaps we need truth-tellers, like Michael Moore, to help us realize it…

So, that in the future, the orders that sent Chris, and other brave men like him, into harm’s way,…

will never be given.

Chris Kyle is a hero and worthy of our celebration, but the war that provided the opportunity for his heroic exploits is not something we should be proud of, nor celebrate.

image credit: Za Rodinu via Compfight cc