Pages

Saturday, January 24, 2015

Bill Maher Blasts ‘American Sniper,’ Calls Chris Kyle A ‘Psychopath Patriot'

Chris Kyle
Wikipedia

Alan: The popularity of "American Sniper" reveals America's abiding fondness for justifying violence, no matter how morally compromised (if not frankly evil) the use of violence as the default solution to every problem.

Personally, I subscribe to Martin Luther King's observation:
The Treaty of Versailles which brought an end to World War I -- The War To End All War -- was itself the cause of World War II. 

We will see if the formation of modern Israel makes that particular "end" of World War II the cause of World War III.

Violence can cause temporary abatement of violence. But the eventual blowback caused by the psycho-spiritual toxicity of violence breeds more violence. 

The following links delve the nitty-gritty of Smirk and Snarl's Whimsy War, also illustratin the wisdom of letting Han's Blix WMD team complete its work before "rushing to war." 


Hans Blix' Fruitless Search For WMD And Bush/Cheney's Rush To War In Iraq

But like most males who have lathered themselves to the verge of climax, "waiting" -- or, God forbid, "pulling out" -- were unacceptable options.

This much is certain. 

If tables were turned and 3% of the U.S.  population -- over nine million people -- were killed by an occupying army dispatched by an immeasurably more powerful polity (and for no good reason), Americans would become bloodlusty terrorists to put ISIS to shame.

"Bush's Toxic Legacy In Iraq"

Cheney's Lucid 1994 Rationale For NOT Invading Iraq. Conservatives "Must" See This

Uncle Sam's Mercenary Christians Kill 17 Iraqi Civilians. 2 Frenchmen Kill 12 In Paris


"Terrorism And The Other Religions"

The purpose of American Sniper is to make Americans feel good about their own perpetration of evil.

Like Chris Kyle, Americans -- represented by military-industrial factotums -- "love killing bad guys."

And if you kill enough of them, the blood mess makes everything so murky that only God remembers who the real bad guys are.

"Why We Fight," An Illuminating Documentary About The Military Industrial Complex
http://paxonbothhouses.blogspot.com/2012/04/why-we-fight-great-documentary-freely.html

Major General Smedley Butler: Do Wars Really Defend America’s Freedom?


Bill Maher Blasts "American Sniper," Calls Chris Kyle A "Psychopath Patriot"
The outspoken satirist addressed the controversy surrounding the Clint Eastwood filmAmerican Sniper on Friday’s episode of HBO’s Real Time with Bill Maher.



Another day, another American Sniper controversy.
Yes, Clint Eastwood’s biopic of the late Chris Kyle, the most lethal sniper in U.S. military history with 160 confirmed kills over four tours of Iraq, has captured the fascination of the American public, earning a whopping $135 million-plus in less than two weeks of wide release, as well as 6 Oscar nominations, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Bradley Cooper’s committed portrayal of Kyle.
It’s also proved divisive, with Hollywood stars like Seth Rogen and Michael Mooremaking colorful comments about the film (both have since apologized, claiming their statements were taken out of context), and critics being split on whether the film is jingoistic, anti-war, or both.
Enter provocateur Bill Maher.
On Friday’s episode of his HBO series Real Time with Bill Maher, the outspoken satirist pondered whether Kyle was a “hero or not,” and revealed he’s decidedly anti-American Sniper.
Hurt Locker made $17 million because it was a little ambiguous, and thoughtful,” Maher said. “And this one was just, ‘American hero! He’s a psychopath patriot, and we love him.’”
Maher then proceeded to fire off a string of questionable quotes from Chris Kyle that he wrote in his autobiography of the same name—upon which the film is based:
  • “I hate the damn savages”—talking about the Iraqis—“and I’ve been fighting and I always will.”
  • “I love killing bad guys.”
  • “Even with the pain, I loved what I was doing.”
  • “Maybe war isn’t really fun, but I certainly was enjoying it.”
The stand-up comedian compared Kyle’s alleged lack of empathy to 5-star general and former president Dwight D. Eisenhower who, after helping lead the Allied forces to victory during World War II, became very anti-war.
“Eisenhower once said, ‘I hate war as only a soldier who has lived it can.’ I just don’t see this guy in the same league as Eisenhower, I’m sorry,” said Maher. “And if you’re a Christian—I know this is a Christian country—‘I hate the damn savages’ doesn’t seem like a very Christian thing to say.” 


No comments:

Post a Comment