The Twelfth Step

It’s no secret that I’m not a big fan of guns, violence, or war. In fact, I’m glad that I didn’t grow up during the draft years because I stand for peaceful resolutions to conflict and not bloodshed. Maybe that’s why I became so disturbed and unsettled while I watched “American Sniper”, which was a movie about the deadliest sniper in U.S. History.

The film itself is about the life of U.S. Navy Seal Chris Kyle (Bradley Cooper) who served four tours in the Iraq War, was awarded many commendations for his heroism, and who accumulated 160 confirmed kills (with at least 95 more that were rumored) during his years of military service. Nicknamed “Legend” by his fellow soldiers, Kyle was considered just that because of his accuracy in shooting, one of which being from a very long range away at 2,100 yards. Because of his talent as a sniper, the Iraq insurgents even had a bounty placed on his head that was purported to have been near six figures. While some of the movie’s alarming events were fictitious, like most Hollywood movies tend to be, much of what was portrayed in it was actually quite accurate. Having viewed the film in Cinemark XD, I often felt myself becoming submersed in the throngs of Kyle’s inner world. From the difficult decisions he had to make alone about who to kill and who not to kill, to the burden of having post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) upon returning home to his wife and children, I found “American Sniper” to be extremely unsettling, even more so when I learned that Kyle was killed by a fellow retired solider with PTSD whom he was only trying to help.

While I can see why this patriotic movie is doing exceedingly well at the box office (over $90 million in its opening weekend of wide release), it’s still a bleak reminder to me that war doesn’t create peace on any level. Each person that’s killed during a war only seems to bring forth more in retaliation and further bloodshed. And then there’s the war within that people like Chris Kyle face when they return home, that of having PTSD. I’m a firm believer that this condition is solely due to the soul suffering from what one’s eyes have seen and maybe even done during the act of war.

Interestingly enough, as I reflected on all of this the other night over dinner with my partner after seeing the movie, I found myself being overly irritable and angry. What I realized was that my own soul was suffering from watching the film, both for the tragic loss of U.S. Navy Seal Chris Kyle and for all the other deaths that have been the direct or indirect result of a war. “American Sniper” truly was a gritty, but vivid portrayal of a war that was fought both oversees, as well as within one soldier whose name was Chris Kyle…

Peace, love, light, and joy,

Andrew Arthur Dawson

It’s movie awards season time and for many individuals, they probably could care less. But in my case, I really do enjoy seeing most of what the industry says are the top-notch films of the prior year. Unfortunately, there’s also something that comes along with the awards season and that’s the fashion police and their harsh judgments about what the stars wear to the awards shows.

Just over a week ago I watched the entire broadcast of the 2015 Golden Globes, which I usually try to do each year. I always find it rather interesting to see the stars on the red carpet out of their acting elements, while they try to be more like everyday people, as much as that’s possible I guess. I also appreciate many of the speeches that are given during the show, especially when they give credit to a Higher Power. And of course I enjoy as well the humor element that generally comes with each of these awards shows. But seeing who wins which awards, especially for all the movies I’ve watched is the main reason why I find these shows entertaining. Except the one thing I don’t enjoy at all, which comes along with this time of the season, is the fashion police and their opinions on what each of those stars wear.

During the red carpet, everyone always seems to be cordial to each of these stars by telling them how lovely they look and asking them what they’re wearing. But then comes the next day and beyond with a slew of news articles from these fashion police who have plenty of choice words to say about what someone was wearing. All of them have headlines that speak to the top fashion mistakes, blunders, atrocities, etc. of the evening.

This saddens me every time I see this because the stars are there for their achievement, not for what they wear. Sometimes I’ve seen the nominations and/or awards a star has received be completely overlooked because of the dress or outfit they wore. Just as importantly, I’m sure each of these stars put on the outfit that some designer has made for them and feel good about themselves and how they look in it. Yet someone from the fashion police comes along and completely trashes their look and makes a big deal about it. Honestly, why does it matter what someone’s wearing?

I put clothes on everyday to keep warm and I do my best to make sure I match. But what are most important about me are my heart and soul and the good I try to do on this planet every single day, not what’s on my body. These stars are no different. They’ve worked hard to get their recognition because of their acting and/or singing, yet the focus is placed upon what they wear out and about, especially at these awards shows.

Sometimes I just wish someone famous would take a stand in the media eye and say, “Who really cares about what someone wears!” because what someone wears really doesn’t matter. What matters is what they do on a daily basis to better themselves, to help others, to inspire, and to spiritually grow. Hopefully one-day people will wake up and see that what’s on the outside of these stars and all of us for that matter, is not what’s truly important…what’s inside is…

Peace, love, light, and joy,

Andrew Arthur Dawson