I have enjoyed some of Clint Eastwood's films. The guy can make a woman falling and hitting her head on a stool seem pretty dramatic... "Million Dollar Baby", everyone... Feel good movie of 2004! I jest, it was an examination of how many times you can get punched in the testes by a film searching to exploit your caring about people you normally wouldn't give two shits about.
And before you pshaw me, name the last female boxing match you attended... Hell, I would be impressed if you could name me the last female boxing match you WATCHED.
Eastwood has lost some of his luster after speaking to an empty chair at a convention. So, he makes a propaganda film. The story of a sniper. The reason I say "propaganda" is because the word "American" is in the title. I guess the movie poster with Cooper in a United States military uniform was a little too vague? The American flag in the background was not enough of a hint?
The movie is based on the book (Ohhhh, Now I get the title!) by a man who, without the context of "war", would have killed more people than any serial killer. Now... Since he was trained and sanctioned by our government, he is a "hero". Basically, you know how you hate a football player when he trashes your team... THEN the next season comes around and he now plays for your team.... and you love him? Rooting for the jersey? Kinda the same... Don't believe me?
Imagine the box office numbers on a movie about an Iraqi national, who was, coincidentally, a sniper and killed 160 people who invaded his country... I don't see that getting greenlit by a studio anytime soon. Do you?
So, since the assassin was on OUR side... "Hero".
The Comments
The comments of note this week were made by two people. The first one was by Micheal Moore. He called snipers "cowards".
Modern warfare has a HUGE element of detachment... Which could be construed as cowardice.
War was once fought on fields... Two sides lined up, ran at each other and you looked your opponent in the face as you fought and killed.
When airplanes were introduced as an element into battle, there was no "radar"... No "missile lock"... You had to constantly scan, wrestle to get in the position, within YARDS of the enemy to knock them out of the air...
Today... Drones flying miles high... Naval vessels fire missiles so smart, they will knock on the door, say "Candygram!", then blow up... OH, from over 600 MILES AWAY...
Snipers are now getting confirmed kills from up to a mile away. Due to the classifying of this sorta stuff, I would not be surprised if it was a greater distance then that.
Yes, I would say wholesale slaughter has gotten a tad "impersonal".
Since all these things keep out troops out of harm's way, we seem to be okay with it. You know what else keeps them out of harm's way? Not starting bullshit wars that last over a FUCKING DECADE!
Moore's uncle was killed by a sniper in WWII... He was raised being told that snipers are cowards... Again... Ones who are against us are more cowardly though...
Seth Rogan compared this film to "Pride of the Nation". The movie within the movie "Inglourious Basterds". He compared two propaganda movies whose primary antagonist's are both snipers...
Um... What is the outrage about that comment? Was it too "factual"? Was it too "on the nose"? Wait... was it that one of those guys wore a Nazi uniform? Again... cheering for a jersey!
A lot of the hullabaloo of the comments comes from the word choices. "Killer", "Assassin", "Murderer" - Those seem to make people upset. Why? They are factually accurate. It seems to be an easier pill to swallow for the folks at home to label them "Sniper" or "Sharpshooter".
The Troops
I have always said, "I support the troops. I do not deify them." They are kids. They are human. They are doing what they are told. Can things go wrong? Hells yes. They have. Repeatedly.
Before you pshaw that, Yes... I did my time in the service. Did I face anything near the stress that this character faced in his job? No... There was that one time this girl's Dad answered the door and stuck a gun in my face... Good times!
I have zero issue with the service this guy provided his country. By all accounts, he did his job and did it exceedingly well.
I guess I just wish he did not have to...
I feel a sense of deep shame in the handling of our troops during this, the LONGEST AND COSTLIEST conflict this country has ever been involved in.
The government has asked more of these troops with longer and more frequent deployments. More in the form of lack of proper equipment. More in the complete and utter lack of a clear cut plan to victory.
Secondly, by flat out denying that the Veteran's Affairs was woefully inadequate, and for lack of a better word, the fucking dismissal of the physically and mentally damaged sons and daughters, we (AS A COUNTRY!) have broken a most sacred of vow... We may have brought them "home", but a lot of them never made it "back".
Next time you are in a voting booth... Scope your "representative's" voting record on Veteran's Affairs.
Freedom
I do get sick of hearing the misleading, bumper sticker, soundbite... "They are defending our freedom!"
Freedom to do what? Freedom from what?
"Well... then... They are protecting our way of life!"
I would proffer that it was only in danger because of our previous actions and disastrous foreign policies... Oh... and by "way of life", do you mean "Oil Consumption"?
"You want the terrorists to win???"
Um... No... In war, everybody loses... War only serves war. It is also very difficult to beat up a "Concept". You can't bomb an "Ideology".
The only restrictions or impairments made on any freedoms were put in place by the United States Government.
This war on terror has only made more terrorists. Oh, and Dick Cheney a shitload of money.
The Freedom of Speech exercised by the people who do not support the troops, or propaganda films about a particular troop, is the same Freedom of Speech that the troops signed up, i.e. VOLUNTEERED, to protect.
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By telling me, or anyone, that they should not say it something because it is something you disagree with or do not like... Well, I will have a lot more to say if you tell me I can't. You will not like it. Not. One. Bit.
Taking the shot,
d
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