The “American Sniper” movie and autobiography by Chris Kyle that spawned “the movie” are taking unrelenting twitter fire.
It’s an Iraqi dust storm obscuring what’s accurate about the sniper’s character and what he did in the war.
It also tears open the mortal wound inflicted on the nation’s psyche by a war that many believe never should have been.
Chris Kyle, a Texan who believed in our country, was at a loss to make something out of his life as a private citizen.
Chris joined the military to find his home among the elite as a Navy SEAL, finding purpose and joy in combat, and becoming legend – as an historic sniper.
Chris put aside family, fear of risk to his life, suffered swimming that he hated, skirted sharks and sea lions, endured humiliating and abusive training exercises, and combat hardship, in ways few people on earth can imagine. Chris finished four tours in the mid East conflict in Iraq, coming home at the end in the fog of fear and anxiety, suffering what war inflicts on the best of warriors, indeed the shock of war that few escape.
The best indication who Kyle truly was is found in his “autobiography” that sounds in several different voices.
In person published interviews with Chris allow you to pick out what most resembles Chris’ own voice from among the “others” who helped him write his bio.
If I had not read the entire book, I would reduce Chris’ code as a warrior to the fun of killing savages, as stated in the first few pages. But what’s said afterwards is more nuanced. Continue reading
