Into the Fire

In the wake of the Academy Awards those of us who used to be film buffs – and I say used to be because we used to regularly go to the movies – realize those filmmakers, those actors, and those who are involved in the film industry don't really want to be in touch with real Americans. Real Americans who display the flag, love the 4th of July, celebrate Christmas, and know the true meaning of Easter – these are not the film industry's people. Nope. Oh yes, about twice a year, maybe, one of the mega-studios will come out with a non-animated movie that shows a family who actually loves each other, or a group of people who bond in spite of their differences to do something noble, or estranged loved ones who make peace. And what do you know: the movie takes off, makes far more than it took to make it, and leaves the hearts of many feeling good for a change.

Sunday night the Oscar ceremony displayed the narcissism, the social-justice ideologies, the half naked bodies, the plastic smiles or practiced sneers, and those who embraced it all clapped for each other's causes as if what was being said deserved glorification and all the pomp and circumstance it was afforded.  A tiny representation of America performed their hypocrisy with political nuances and agendas at full throttle with little subtlety and tremendous pride.

Somewhere in the night's activities, lost on each one of them except for a very few, those who had selected the nominees and the ultimate winners of the gold statue ignored the nobility of a film that honored an American hero. Chris Kyle, deceased, murdered, former Navy SEAL, did more for their freedom and safety and provision for them to spout their progressive drivel than any of them will ever do for anyone else. Ever. Yet those who cheered for all the actors, directors, screenwriters, producers, and ultimately the Best Picture few had heard of or seen, and those who nominated all of them and selected the winners couldn't manage to acknowledge the profound performance by Bradley Cooper who gave his best to capture the essence of Chris Kyle, didn't even nominate Clint Eastwood for his direction of American Sniper, and failed to find any way to bring any kind of recognition for a meaningful and important film about a true hero aside from "Sound Editing/Direction".

Why was he a hero some mutter? Because he had the fortitude to separate good from evil. Chris Kyle was born to be a warrior. Those who know the bible would equate him with David's fighting men, those who relentlessly fought to protect the kingdom of Israel from brutal, hateful enemies. Just as Chris Kyle did for America. He was gifted with a skill. He loved his country. He fought against a wicked foe and killed those who would murder his men who fought for freedom where they were and ultimately for the USA.

A pathetic, shallow, self-indulgent display of nothing that really matters in the world outside of their spectrum, this has been the state of the Academy Awards for many years. Their tunnel vision and small, small ideas of what's important were given the usual grandiose presentation of wasted talent used to push ideas of little value in the bigger scope of life. Shame on them who fail to gaze beyond their jaded mindsets.

Father, you're the only One who can change hearts and minds. The only One. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.