Imagine going to a movie where the credits begin to role and the entire theatre is completely silent.

Many people have tears in their eyes and no one moves.

This is the exactly what I experienced Saturday night after watching ‘American Sniper.’

‘American Sniper’ is a movie about Chris Kyle, played by Bradley Cooper, who is a Navy SEAL with 160 confirmed kills after four tours in Iraq after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Based on a true story, the film follows Kyle through his life on and off the battle fields.

The movie doesn’t hide the stressful moments of his deployment and it does not shy away from showing the Post Traumatic Stress Disorder that attempts to destroy his home life with his family.

Director Clint Eastwood was able to portray the trials and hardships that military men and women face on a daily basis.

As college students, myself included, we are blind to the mental, physical, and spiritual pain these people experience.

I never thought about joining any branch of the military, but this movie is the perfect reminder of why I am able to sit in the comform of my living room, knowing that I will wake up tomorrow not having to worry about a war at my door step.

I urge every student, no matter what academic degree, to see this movie, and remember why they are able to do so.

This movie is a reminder to students that there are much bigger problems in life than the test we have tomorrow or what class to take next semester.

We are able to take that test and whatever classes we want because of the men and women overseas fighting for our freedom.

We are able to walk from class to class, bar to bar and home to school knowing that our safety isn’t an issue.

We don’t have to worry about whether or not we will see our family again or if we will die in the middle of the night because of a bomb.

Bottom line: someone somewhere is going through something much more challenging than you.

This movie reminds us that our brave military members are facing these challenges so you don’t have to.

‘American Sniper’ isn’t for the light-hearted.

It has violence, death and scenarios that we can’t even imagine, but it must be seen.

This movie will inspire you to work hard and make you realize there is a whole other world than the one we live in.

Chris Kyle was an American soldier who put his life on the line for us.

The least we can do is see what he went through to make sure we were safe.

Cayla Maurer is a senior journalism major.
She can be reached at 581-2812 or ccmaurer@eiu.edu.