My Two Lincolns: Chris Kyle Is a Hero!

Bradley Cooper playing the role of Chis Kyle in "American Sniper." The film grabbed $64 million at the box office this weekend for a total of $200 million domestic at the box office. (AP Photo/Warner Bros. Pictures)

I am a bit of an anomaly. I have a literature degree with an MBA. I am American born to Iranian-American parents. I am a little bit hip-hop, a little bit rock ‘n’ roll. I have OCD while maintaining a degree of messiness. I am deep as an abyss, but have my fair share of shallow seawaters.

Given all of the above, I tend to pause and reflect a bit when I hear an outlying opinion; a thought that is way outside the norm, a voice from a rabble-rouser. I take that moment to have the deep breath and exhale, allow the brain cells to do their dance and come to a judgment, an affirmation or dissension. It’s the chess clock version of time right before that next move to carefully contemplate words, thoughts… that next step into the same or a different path.

But something happened yesterday, and as I thought it through, I was compelled to write. If I still had Reilly to swing my final page to, maybe I would be fulfilled—hat tip R.R.

Unfortunately though, these days I find there are fewer and fewer voices that I seem to regularly agree with. Maybe its because I am getting older--pushing 40--trying to keep it as far away as I can so as to maintain some sense of youth. 

So on this day, maybe you all will take a walk with me and in your equal measure of youthful grumpiness, you will feel that these words resonate with you.

There is heroism in faith. There is heroism in belief. There is heroism in blind loyalty in the face of ignorance. Those that walk this path and are loyally allegiant without compromise are the stuff of legends in my book.

I do not know Chris Kyle beyond the film “American Sniper,” or his auto-biography which I have yet to finish. But from what I have seen and heard, I do not hesitate to call him a hero.

Maybe it is that American fairytale of nationalism that has kicked in with me, but I have always believed in fairytales. I believe in the red, white, and blue. I do get teary-eyed when I hear Greenwood’s words, “And I am proud to be an American, where at least I know I am free,” because I am … and I am.

Tonight, Chris Kyle, an American hero, one of many is no longer with us. His existence helped to save the lives of many many Americans. This is indisputable.

Lets celebrate this and drown out the voices of the Rogan’s and the Moore’s or any who mildly or mistakenly disagrees.

 … my two Lincolns.

RIP Chris Kyle.