So, this isn’t going to be one of my typical don’t-worry-be-happy blog posts (what category will I even put this under??), but I just wanted to share some of my insight that I gained last night after watching American Sniper.
Like almost every other person in the theater, I had absolutely no idea who Chris Kyle was. Obviously I was aware that he was a soldier based on the previews for the movie, but I had no clue what he did, that he was a Navy Seal, and the incredible life story that he had.
For those of you who haven’t seen the movie yet, (and you definitely should) American Sniper is about a Navy Seal, Chris Kyle, and the war through his eyes. It showcases what it was like for him to be a soldier, on and off the line of duty. It’s an emotional movie that really puts life into perspective.
While I sit here (and you read this) there are Americans overseas dying. I hate to be brutal, but seriously. In one scene of the movie, Chris Kyle looks at his wife and says, “There’s a war going on, and nobody acts like it’s even happening.” (Or something along those lines, sorry, I don’t have the best memory.) That scene really hit me hard, because it’s true.
Everyday you turn on the television and see endless news stories about celebrities and their not so exciting lives. (No, I honestly do not care that Justin Bieber is an even bigger douche today than he was yesterday.) But, you rarely see news stories about the men and women that are fighting for our country, and that’s sad.
These people literally risk their lives for people that they don’t even know. All because they are proud of their country, and they want to defend it. In my opinion, these soldiers; past, present, and future; should be recognized a hell of a lot more than they are right now, and not only after they are gone. They need to be praised and thanked and know that they are supported by all Americans. Even if you don’t agree with war in a sense, you need to agree with what these people are fighting for.
“I’ve lived the literal meaning of the ‘land of the free’ and ‘home of the brave.’ It’s not corny for me. I feel it in my heart. I feel it in my chest. Even at a ball game, when someone talks during the anthem or doesn’t take off his hat, it pisses me off. I’m not one to be quiet about it, either.” -Chris Kyle
