This is an opinion piece written by one of our writers who has a cousin serving overseas.
In the opening minutes of American Sniper, I was mostly thinking about how ravishing Bradley Cooper looks in uniform. In the closing minutes of the film, tears were streaming down my face, and I began to think about something else — something more important.
I got the same feeling that poured over me during Lone Survivor, Saving Private Ryan, and Black Hawk Down. The feeling is a cross between compassion and guilt.
The compassion comes from the emotion that I feel for all of our soldiers and their families. There must be no better sensation in the world than jumping into the arms of a spouse, parent, or child that has been far from home, risking their life for months at a time. On the other hand, getting a knock on the door one day and receiving news that an incredibly brave loved one has undeservingly lost their life in the line of duty is a feeling that I can’t even bear to think about.
The guilt comes from wishing that I could do more, and regretting that I haven’t. I feel guilty that I didn’t toughen up and get out there with the other 1,000,000 plus men and women that devote all of their time and energy to our country. I feel guilty that I don’t do more for our veterans, and that I don’t always have the courage to go up to people in uniform and thank them for the privileges I have been given. This feeling comes and goes, but it comes most often when I watch movies about war and loss.
Huge hits like American Sniper receive a lot of feedback and support. The support from American citizens is outpouring, in fact. The immense sacrifice and bravery of our military seems to be most often realized after watching heroic movies based on real life events. Nationalism goes through the roof, which is incredible. However, I can’t help but wonder why people are not this grateful for the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard all the time, not just after these films hit the box office.
My point is that we shouldn’t just be praying for our men and women on duty after we throw away our popcorn and exit the movie theater; we should be praying for them every day. Tweeting an American flag emoji or sharing a link to the movie trailer on Facebook is not enough. We should all be getting more involved.
If you are someone who is consciously active in supporting our men and women overseas, I applaud you and encourage you to encourage others to do the same. However, I am disappointed to say that I don’t think most people make a conscious effort to offer support to our armed forces, myself included.
Something that I need to do more of (and what I hope others will do more of after reading this) is to consider, every day, how courageous our soldiers are. We don’t realize that they are the reason we can wake up every morning and feel safe in our own homes. They are the reason that each one of us has the ability to enjoy basic freedoms, of which people in many other nations can only dream.
This post is for all of the people who have served or are serving today. You all possess more fearlessness, passion, and loyalty than I ever will in this lifetime. Thank you for everything that you do.
And to my dear cousin, Luke, who is serving overseas in the Navy: I miss you, and I love you so much! Come home safe, Lukey.