I am not a big movie go-er. I would rather read a book with
my time instead. In fact, most of the recent movies I have seen have been based
on some of my favorite books: The Giver, Divergent, The Fault
In our Stars. But my husband loves
movies. Bang bang shoot em up movies to be exact. So when “American Sniper”
came out I had no interest in going. The last war movie I saw was “Saving
Private Ryan”—I know I am dating myself, but I just can’t watch those war
movies. I get so emotional, and I truly can’t think or sleep for days. I get
traumatized. I have friends, dear
friends, who serve our country in the military, and I know that Hollywood can’t
do their experiences much justice, but at least it gives the regular Joe in
America a little taste of their journey.
But here is the reality—unless we are a soldier or a soldier’s wife or
kid, we just don’t understand. It is the same as some of the other happenings going on in the world today—I am not a black
person who lives in Fergusen, I am not a police officer’s wife, I am not a
Muslim living in America being shunned because of my religion. I am NOT—so I can never really know or
understand because I am not in that space.
So as I continue in this blog tonight, I want to remind my
readers that I try my best to avoid controversy in my posts. For those who
follow me regularly, you know that I am straight in your face about my faith
and about Jesus, but I respect those who don’t have my same faith. I still
write my blog to inspire and instill hope in all situations.
But I want to saw a few things about this movie, and I
promise I won’t be a spoiler for any one. First, I went to this movie totally
ignorant. All I knew was that it was based on a true story--the memoirs of a
sniper. That is it. I had never heard of Chris Kyle before this and I didn’t
know the story of his life, his family, or his tours in the Iraqi war. All I
knew was that people were saying it is a “must see” movie, and then I heard the
controversial comments from various reviewers and politicians and actors and
directors.
So when my hubby wanted a date night out and we got to go
out with some of our best friends, and a bucket of popcorn with butter was in
the picture, I said yes I would go. I knew I would have to close my eyes
through half the movie and I figured I would jump in my seat and scream out a
few times (which I did) and for those of you who have been to the movies with
me, you know I am quite animated when I
watch movies.
The movie is Hollywood, but the story was amazing.
Whatever your thoughts on war or snipers, or what tactics the military uses,
the reality is that men and women fight for our country and for the freedoms we
believe in. This story focuses on Chris Kyle and his family and friends. It
focuses on his emotions, and his battles (emotional, spiritual, and
physical). The movie itself was expertly
directed. To watch Bradley Cooper and stare into his eyes (THOSE eyes), and to
see how he depicted the deep emotions of a soldier, was, to me, beautiful and
heart wrenching. I also thought they did a good job of depicting the people in
Iraq—the good, the innocent, as well as the soldiers on the “other side”.
In this post, I just want to give a shout out to my
friends who serve in the military. I have had to say good bye to many of them as
they have gone on deployment, as they have moved to different states every
three or four years, as they have had to start over with their children in new
schools and new neighborhoods. I am blessed that I have been able to keep in
touch with many of them, that I am still part of their lives, that we get to
see each other on visits. But I don’t know everything they go through. I know
that my friends who are officers have been away while their babies have taken
first steps; I know that my friends who are wives have had to “do it all” while
their husbands are away for anywhere from three months to over a year—and over
and over again. I know that their kids have been resilient and strong as they
have had to move schools and meet new friends and start over-- again and again.
I am proud to have these families as friends.
I don’t know what emotions, scars, fears, anxieties these
soldiers that are my friends really have inside of them. But I do know that
these men and women who are soldiers in my life all know Jesus. And I know that
they rely on His strength as they go on deployment and out on tours. I know
that their wives and kids, and their parents have friends who pray for them and support
them.
I will never know what they deal with, and a movie like
American Sniper only gives me a tiny glimpse (even if flawed by Hollywood) of
their experiences. But I do know that a Navy Seal who is a sniper is not a coward, even if people choose to use those terms. And I know
that all Muslims are not “savages” even if people choose to use that term. When
we view things and read things, we need to try to understand where people are
coming from, and if we have never been in that place, we will never, ever
really know.
Instead of judging and condemning, let’s celebrate our
soldiers. Let’s give them respect even if we don’t believe in all the policies
of our current government. Let’s look at them and their families as human
beings with hearts and souls.
I for one, am so proud of my friends and their wives who
serve in the military and I will stand for them and support them for all they
do for me and for our country. I salute you my friends.
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