Kary Love

We are 24 years since 9-11-01 started America down the road of all war, all the time, as the solution for every problem. The initial horror of 9-11 morphed into anger, which morphed into “the gloves coming off,” and the rule of law began its demise. Invasion, unreasonable search, and arrest followed as the troops were ordered to quell “civilian insurgents,” on the job training for occupying cities (not only “over there". Torture and inhumane imprisonment in black sites and Guantanamo became normalized.

And as the Forever War went on, “American Sniper” became a badge of honor, rather than a “necessary evil” of war. Apparently, folks forgot the lesson of history: what you honor is nurtured by that honor and becomes a hallmark of your nation’s culture.

Books and movies abounded with American Sniper worship. Sneak shots from a distance, taking out the “worst of the worst,” were celebrated. The sniper's judgment as to the “guilt” of the “target” was dispositive, with no questions asked. The corrosive effect of elevating such skill on domestic morality, values, and due process of law was ignored.

Now American Snipers are poisoning the homeland. Irrespective of political differences, decency requires condemnation of sniping; it is no solution to policy disputes. Snipers shoot at Mr. Trump. Charlie Kirk lies dead from a sniper’s bullet. American immorality in its Forever Wars “over there” corrodes the previously embraced commandment, Thou shalt not kill. War is hell, and snipers are its demon enablers.

Decisions have consequences. Enabling American Snipers over there inevitably enables American Snipers over here. “Watch what you wish for” is shorthand for the harsh truth: once you enable the greater crime, wars of aggression by whatever means necessary, and widespread killing without law, you erode the “lesser” crime of killing one person. If it is acceptable to kill many, then surely killing only one enemy can be justified.

The moral absolute once was do not kill. The bully pulpit of the White House has been used bi-partisanly to erode that commandment. Sure, the presidents declaring it was all right to kill over there, arguably thought they were protecting Americans. But the acid of violence was eating away at the moral fabric of the American psyche.

Kids killing kids in schools, drive-by shootings, random violence over road rage; the epidemic of violence is no surprise when the highest office in the nation repeatedly trumpets that violence is the solution! Occupation of American cities by troops is touted as a national good. America seems to be descending into a black hole of cruelty, brutality, and savagery.

I am not surprised by the rise of the domestic American Sniper. Once it was a cultural truth that the true hero saved lives. A warped culture proclaiming American Snipers as heroes ought to expect followers to mimic them. Perhaps we ought to repudiate American Snipers before the floodgates of revenge-based violence consume more and more victims, with the inevitable result of spreading violence over political differences. As we have sown, so we shall reap, unless we change direction.

I recall a time when it was taught in America that the greatest courage was not that of the warrior, but that of the healer, the nurturer, the one who, in the face of threats of violence, bravely did the good, gave succor to the downtrodden and despised.

It is easy to pick up a gun and shoot a target from hiding. Little courage is manifest by such a sniper.

Much courage is demanded of one who takes peaceable action daily to build a community, nurture a child, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and minister to the incarcerated. That is the hard work of building civilization.

Sniping builds only a death culture. And unless repudiated, rejected, and condemned by the people, that way lies only more American Snipers and victims.


Kary Love, syndicated by PeaceVoice, is a Michigan attorney who has defended nuclear resisters and many others in court for decades.