Michael Moore, the famous “documentarian,” posted a controversial tweet about snipers, apparently in response to Clint Eastwood’s American Sniper, and then quickly explained his first comments in a subsequent Facebook post (what a social media maven):
“Lots of talk about snipers this weekend (the holiday weekend of a great man, killed by a sniper), so I thought I’d weigh in with what I was raised to believe about snipers,” Moore wrote in his post. “My dad was in the First Marine Division in the South Pacific in World War II. His brother, my uncle, Lawrence Moore, was an Army paratrooper and was killed by a Japanese sniper 70 years ago next month.”
Apparently, his initial comments were not specifically a condemnation of American Sniper, and he went on the record to say the movie had great acting, editing, and costumes.
His main reason for making the comments? It’s hard to say. Some famous people just like commenting on things in a controversial way every so often to make sure the masses don’t forget they exist.
Whatever your opinion of snipers, they have become an integral part of modern warfare, and calling them “cowards” is probably not the best way to win friends and influence people.
Sgt. Nick Irving, author of the book The Reaper, served as a sniper with the Army’s Third Ranger Battalion. His skill earned him the nickname “The Reaper” among his peers, NYPost reports.
In an interview with Fox and Friends on Monday morning, he wisely noted how we should all react to Moore’s attempt to be inflammatory:
“Well, I don’t think he deserves the breath that I’m about to give, but I’ll just say, Michael Moore, he wasn’t there in Afghanistan and the last time I checked, he’s never shot anybody with a scoped rifle. So I don’t think he deserves the breath that comes out of me right now for that statement.”
I think Michael Moore is entitled to his opinion, but what I don’t understand is how he thinks war should be waged these days. I imagine drone warfare is out. Land mines are also out. Missiles from planes and bombing? Right out. Does Michael Moore want us to return to lining up soldiers on a battlefield for hand-to-hand combat? That’s about the only style of warfare that seems to fit his narrow ideals. I’m sure if we returned to that chivalrous medieval model that Michael Moore would be the first to sign up for battle with a claymore or a pike in his hands. Or not.