American Sniper Tweet Response

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In response to this tweet, which is clearly longer than 140 characters, I know for a fact that this tweet is completely ignorant. Not only is the tweet politically wrong, the Twitter user also missed the entire message of the movie, American Sniper.

American Sniper is about the hardships and emotional impact of war on a soldier. This movie also includes an extremely realistic representation of the conditions Marines and Navy SEALs face across seas as they fight for our lives. The main character, Chris Kyle, only wants to be a cowboy in life, but after seeing the harsh effects of terrorism on his country, his heart changes and he decided to put his talents to work and serve in the Navy SEALs. During his service, Kyle is deported to over seas 4 times. He eventually gains the title among other Marines and soldiers as "The Legend" due to his success with the sniper. Although he is succeeding in the Navy, he is failing as a father and husband at home not being able to escape to war-like mindset. His wife encourages him to get help, which does great things for him mentally. Kyle becomes the loving father to his 2 children and caring husband to his wife. On an afternoon, Kyle is going to help a disabled Marine shoot out in the woods. Tragically, he is killed that day by the handicapped Marine.

This tweet fails to realize that instead of accusing an amazing SEAL for protecting her rights, she shames him for setting records among US service men. The term "hero" is defined as a person who is admired for courage, incredible achievements, and noble qualities. Chris Kyle is honored for the courage to leave his family for months at a time and to go to a war, across seas, with a very high chance of dying, and that's just the assumed courage.

Documented by the Navy SEALs, Kyle is credited with 160 kills, two Silver Stars and five Bronze Stars with Valor. Along side those achievements, he survived six IED attacks, two helicopter crashes, three gunshot wounds, and countless surgeries.

If Kyle's achievements don't count as being a hero, then the term hero has lost all true meaning. The biggest error in this tweet has to be that the user fails to realize that the only reason she has the right to voice her own opnion is because of people like Chris Kyle, heroes, risking their lives in order to defeat the people trying to take our rights away. Kyle said in an interview with D Magazine that he didn't enjoy killing people, he enjoyed protecting Americans and allies and civilians.

“If you hate the war, that’s fine, but you should still support the troops. They don’t get to pick where they’re deployed. They just gave the American people a blank check for anything up to and including the value of their lives, and the least everyone else can do is be thankful. Buy them dinner. Mow their yard. Bake them cookies.” -Chris Kyle