February 10, 2015

CHR

Richland

NICLE

Vol. XLI Issue 5 February 10, 2015

Valentine’s Day: Pgs. 4-5 Richlandchronicle.wordpress.com

Official Chronicle Outlets

@ChronicleDCCCD

SPORTS

Thunderducks: More thunder BLANCA REYES

Richlandchronicle.wordpress.com February 10, 2015

Photography Editor

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The Thunderducks did it again beating Mountain View College 68-53 on Wednesday at Richland.

Richland completely dominated the first half, but in the second half, Mountain View caught their second wind and started to score.

It was a wake-up call for Richland, which despite being fatigued, they managed to maintain the lead to the final buzzer.

“It doesn’t matter who you are, anybody can beat you,” head coach Jon Havens said.

So far, the Thunderducks are one of the strongest teams in the conference with an impressive 23-3 record.

Havens said the coach’s job is to let the players know it’s too early to start thinking that they have been successful. It is better to take one game at the time until the season is over. “[We are] Another step closer to what we’re trying to accomplish since the beginning, but we have to keep going,” assistant coach Michael Gross said about the Mountain View game.

Gross said this year’s team has taken advantage of the returning experienced players and the new talented recruits.

“I think we tasted the defeat. We know how it feels,” Gross said referring to last season’s elimination in the playoffs.

We are the strongest team [in the conference],” guard Trey Hall said. “I don’t see anyone beating us, unless we play bad.”

Although they have played well, the Thunderducks are not over confident and are aware that they have more to do to reach the final goal.

Guard Brandon Woods said that although the last game added a win to their record, they made some mistakes that must be fixed.

Woods, however, playing his second season with the T-Ducks, trusts his teammates.

“We are way more stronger, taller and athletic,” Woods said.

Havens said the team is playing its best basketball has been at this point in the season, and even though his first year at Richland exciting, the team is still a work in progress.

Havens said because the season has been very demanding for the players, who starting to practice and play in October, coaches try to let them know that it is important not to let fatigue overtake them because it could cost them a championship.

“I think we have to do a better job of commin in with high energy and high intensity everyday,” Havens said. “We can’t be up and down. We have to be consistent.”

At press time, the T-Ducks were scheduled to play the final two games on the season before the playoffs. The first game was scheduled for Saturday against Brookhaven and the last one will be Wednesday at home against Cedar Valley at 7 p.m.

For more information about games and results visit www.richlandcollege.edu/basketball, stop

by Guadalupe Hall, Room G-120 or call 972238-6244.

Richland basketball

Wednesday Cedar Valley 7 p.m.

Saturday Conference Tournament 1st round

Richland baseball

Wednesday

At North Central 2 p.m.

Friday Kansas City CC 1 p.m.

Sunday Kansas City CC 1 p.m.

Kansas City CC 3 p.m.

Monday Kansas City CC Noon

Staff photo Blanca Reyes

T-Duck guard Trey Hall, center, reaches for a rebound against Mountain View Wednesday.

OPINION/SPORTS

Bareheaded ladies: To scarf or not to scarf MARTA PLANELLS Staff Writer

President Obama's visit to India recently left us one of those images that exploit through social networks causing tremendous media hype.

First lady Michelle Obama decided, I would say intentionally, not to cover her head with a veil during her husband’s visit to Saudi Arabia.The president and the first lady cut short their trip to India to pay their respects after the death of King Abdullah. But contrary to the dictates of Saudi law for women, Michelle Obama appeared bareheaded, which generated thousands of comments on social networks.

The picture blew up on Twitter with the hashtag #MichelleObamaunveiled, and media helped the fact with their own interpretations.

The Washington Post published an article defending the first lady’s gesture under the headline: "Make no mistake: Michelle Obama just made a bold political statement in Saudi Arabia."

However, other voices were quick to remember that Obama has not been the first woman to appear bareheaded in Muslim countries. Nor did Laura Bush and German Chancellor Angela Merkel in their respective visits years ago. In fact, the Quran applies this rule for Muslim women but not for foreigners, so the first lady did not act unlawfully. There was nothing unusual about the first lady going

unveiled.

Thus, the news boom about a possible Michelle Obama clever sign deflated within 24 hours. Then, was it news or not?

Unfortunately, yes it was, because every time a well-known Western woman visits a Muslim country, there is the uncertainty about how to act.

What would be the right thing? Wear the veil or not to wear it?

Michelle Obama herself chose veiling on a visit to Indonesia. But this time, she changed her mind.

The first lady does not choose her attire lightly. She knows that whatever she is wearing will be analyzed in detail, so she chooses her clothes carefully, considering what message she wants to convey.

Personally I applaud the unveiled gesture.

It is time for Western countries to reclaim the freedom that we provide to every human being living within our borders. America is a country where freedom of speech and freedom of religion are fundamental rights. Nobody is judged for having certain religious beliefs.

Why then are we judged in other countries?

Why do the United States and many European countries continue interacting with countries that do not respect women and human rights or freedom?

While Western nations do not require tolerance and equal opportunities, in Muslim countries, we will continue to see massacres.

Image courtesy baltimoresun.com

Image courtesy huffingtonpost.com

Michelle Obama in Saudi Arabia in 2015, left, and in 2010.

Bravo to Michelle Obama’s headscarf decision which although repeated, reminds us that

many women in the world are not yet free.

BLANCA REYES Photography Editor

Staff photo Blanca Reyes

T-Duck Eri Sanchez challenges a Bossier Parish Community College batter during the second game Friday afternoon at Richland.

The T-Ducks played a doubleheader against Bossier Parish Community College Friday afternoon, winning the first game, 5-4 and losing the second, 4-2.

Although the Thunderducks started the first game slowly and Bossier Parish’s team had a two-run lead, the T-Ducks came on strong and took the win.

During the second game the Thunderducks took an early 2-0 lead, but Bossier Parish overtook Richland in the end.

These were the third and fourth games of the season, and although it just started, the Thunderducks already have a 3-1 record.

Phil Key, assistant coach, said the team has a lot of freshmen who need to grow up fast for the season.

“They are in the fry pan,” Key said.

At press time, the team was scheduled to play at home Saturday against McClennen Community College.

The next game after that is scheduled for Wednesday at 2 p.m. in Gainesville.

For more information about the players, games and result visit www.richlandcollege. edu/baseball , stop by Guadalupe Hall, Room G-114, call 972-238-6263 or email Gsimmons@dcccd.edu.

Richlandchronicle.wordpress.com February 10, 2015

Successful season’s beginning at Richland’s baseball field

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ENTERTAINMENT

Love is a many-splendored thing Classic romance

H JEROME ROBINSON II Staff Writer

Richlandchronicle.wordpress.com February 10, 2015

“Roman Holiday” (1953) This was the one that gave Audrey Hepburn her only Academy Award as best actress wherein she was princess of a foreign land. She falls for Gregory Peck’s Joe Bradley, a newsman who hides his true identity from her.

Grade B+

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Images courtesy wordpress.com

“The Graduate” (1967) I would call this the first official stalker tale. A young spry Dustin Hoffman plays Benjamin Braddock, a recent college graduate who does not know what to do with his life.

He feels isolated, but that changes when he gets “cougarized” by Mrs. Robinson (Anne Bancroft), a woman who is married to his dad’s business partner. He meets the Robinson’s daughter, Elaine (Katherine Ross), and the pair share an almost-instant connection.

Images courtesy amazon.com

“When Harry Met Sally …”

(1989) — Great Rob Reiner flick that borrows heavily from the romantic notions of Woody Allen and features a pair of friends whose lives criss-cross over the years.

Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan play the couple in this fun movie.

A

“Ghost” (1990) Jerry Zucker helmed this romantic tale in which Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore are a couple madly in love whose fate drastically changes when Swayze’s character meets an untimely demise. Whoopi Goldberg won a supporting actress Oscar for her role as ghost whisperer Oda Mae Brown.

A—Ricky Miller

Images courtesy lessonsfrommovies.net

Images courtesy blogspot.com

JOE STUMPO Staff Writer

Does every woman want to be tied up and spanked?

Sometime in the next few years, hopefully sooner provided my financial situation improves and I can be allowed to finally get my own “man cave” before I get way too old to have one, I will have a “play room,” which I will keep locked.

Inside that room will be

Most males consider Valentine’s Day the day of Mr. Hallmark and chocolate-covered anything for purchase. It depends on what the lady likes.

Fact is, if we’ve been doing a great job at our jobs of being a well-proportioned (or should I say well-rounded?) individual throughout our particular relationship, Feb. 14 should go as smoothly as any other day.

Some women may expect extra goodies anyway. That is probably deserved by most wives and girlfriends if they are living up to their end of the relationship bargain. Stop everything! What if the relationship is full of cheating, scandal and distrust?

Would St. Valentine want you to still fulfill your partner’s wishes and dreams of champagne and a wonderful dinner? I think not.

This actually brings me to a point about relationships and how they are affected by this dynamic romantic day.

What if there wasn’t a day to appreciate your wife or girlfriend? That would mean you would have a responsibility to show love and affection every day of the week.

a few curios of expensive 12-inch movie action figures from Hot Toys, possibly all the 6 inch “Star Wars” action figures from Hasbro if they keep making more, everything still inside their wrapped boxes along with several ultimate collector “Star Wars” Lego sets on display.

I will be exactly like Christian Grey (Jamie Dornan) in that clip from the upcoming film adaptation out Friday of the first book of author E.L. James’ bestselling sadomasochistic trilogy “Fifty Shades of Grey” where he shows his girlfriend Anastasia Steele (Dakota Johnson) his “play room.”

The moment I prepare to show my girlfriend, if I have one, my locked play room, I won’t be surprised if she asks me exactly what Anastasia asks Christian.

“Like your Xbox and stuff ?”

And yet, I will not be anything like Christian Grey. True, I will be probably better off financially than I am

ENTERTAINMENT

... and so is money in the bank Valentine’s Day perspectives Is that really possible? Yes, probably not. Just sayin.’ Relationships flow just like anything else, or should I say they are like the weather; some great days, some good days and some bad days, too. The irony of Valentine’s Day from a married man’s point of view, is that whoever official made it an unofficial holiday was only thinking basically of commercial success because a relationship between two people is so complex that it warrants years of trials and restraints on your mind and soul.

But yes, a break for bliss and fun on a day which we Americans have touted to be for “lover’s only” is needed. I get that, but the reality is far from that. Those simple observations are from a married 45-year-old guy. My much younger 20-something counterparts’ perspectives are vastly different, as was mine when I was their age.

It just wasn’t a big deal if I really cared for the young lady. I would try to impress her with flowers and candy or something special.

Things are slightly different these days. Some of our youth are just occupied in other ways.

I’m not saying chivalry is dead, but some of us just weren’t guided in that direction. Does that mean romance and love are gone? Never.

There will always be ways and means to capture hearts and minds, but it simply takes more than one holiday.

now, but I won’t be a millionaire CEO of a large company. I won’t own any “toys” that one orders from those leather S&M stores off the Internet to keep one’s identity secret, like bondage equipment, blindfolds, posturing collars, an assortment of whips, crops and canes and whatever else the movie character Christian Grey has in his secret “Red Room of Pain.”

Therein lies my problem with the apparent sexually submissive hold James’ books have on women today. Maybe it’s just me, but if after a few dates I showed my future girlfriend my “Red Room of Pain,” I’d like to think she would immediately bolt out the door and never want to see me again. I mean, what woman wants to be tied up, blindfolded and spanked by her man in this era where women are taking on almost the same, if not all the take-charge roles men play?

Maybe it’s just me, but I have way too much respect for women and would not feel comfortable doing what Grey will do to Anastasia for what is reported to be a combined

CRISSY ASHLEY Staff Writer

It’s that time of the year again when it seems that everyone is either in love or breaking up.

But either way, you must determine if the person you have been spending time with is significant or insignificant in your eyes and if they are deserving of your attention on Valentine’s Day. According to the National Retail Federation’s 2014 Valentine’s Day Spending Survey conducted by Prosper Insights and Analytics, Valentine’s Day is big business. The average person plans to spend $133.91 on candy, cards, gifts, dinner and more, up slightly from $130.97 last year and total spending is expected to exceed $17 billion.

It’s safe to say, therefore, that the numbers will not change drastically for this year. Because people make such a big deal out of Valentine’s Day, it is now viewed as a contest of who will give or get the better gift. Many may resort to breaking the bank for someone who may or may not be around next year.

Others who are on a budget may want to play it smart and consider more logical options for impressing their valentines.

20 minutes of the film’s 125 minute running time.

I won’t lie and say, to quote the film’s tagline, that I won’t be “curious” to see “Fifty Shades of Grey” opening weekend. The phrase “controversy sells” goes without saying in this case, as I am fairly certain the film will literally blow away “American Sniper” (no bad pun intended) from the top spot at the box office.

Like the “Sex and the City” movie (2008), which attracted female fans of the show and guys who either have a fetish for looking at women in high heels or enjoy wearing them, I predict “Fifty Shades of Grey” will attract everyone from those who want to know what all the kinky hype is about, women and men who engage in the same sexual activities with their significant others as the two characters do in James’ novels, to women fans of James’ books who claim how much this book trilogy saved their doomed marriages and boyfriend/ girlfriend relationships behind closed doors.

As much as S&M bondage enthusiasts, however, hope

Those students who are celebrating Valentine’s Day may find that the probability of spending $133.91 on this day to be one in a million. In fact, after paying tuition, rent and other living expenses, your pockets may be as empty as a classroom with a professor who has a high failure rate and splurging will be out of the question. Instead, you may want to consider making a deal with your valentine right now that after you graduate you will owe them for past valentines. Until then, try to impress them with your creativity and justify why they choose you to be their valentine.

Most of all, you want to make sure to impress the heart more than impact the pockets, there for, here are a few suggestions you can do on a budget to impress on the day set aside for romantic couples.

Ladies, if you have only been with your valentine for less than a year and it has been great, a scavenger hunt with clues that lead to the perfect small affordable gift items would be a great way to enjoy some of the day.

If you have been with your valentine more than one year but less than three, he opens the door for you 90 percent of the time and he remembers your favorite songs then give him an exotic fruit basket and a baked cake.

Play a custom CD of all the songs both of you enjoy listening to. This would show him how much he means to you for sure. that this film will finally bring their mostly hidden alternative lifestyle out in the open and hope we “vanilla” people accept their questionable tastes the way a high number of states in America are accepting gay marriage, sadomasochistic activity is still taboo.

It is still politically incorrect and is not the kind of conversation one discusses in public.

In this era of “I am Woman Hear Me Roar!” and “Women Rule!” I don’t believe every woman wants to be sexually submissive to her man.

Even “Grey” star Jamie Dornan doesn’t believe it in an interview with Elle UK. “I can understand why people say tying a woman up and spanking her is misogynistic,” Dornan said. “But actually, more men a r e

If you have been with your valentine for more than three years and he still treats you with respect, tells you how beautiful you are and you think he might pop the question, then a romantic home-cooked dinner with candle lights and a heartfelt card that expresses how he makes you feel and a memory box of all the good times you’ve enjoyed over the years would really set the mood.

And if you are married, cleaning up the house and washing the clothes and dishes would make either gender fall deeply in love all over again.

At the end of the day, let’s ask ourselves, do we really need to contribute to the $17 billion in buying the velvet red hearts and caloriefilled chocolates to express the admiration we feel all the other days of the year?

Well, yes, but thankfully, despite those things, the love and romantic feeling for your sweetheart doesn’t change regardless of the amount of money you spend.

Men and women equally love to be given something special. It gives that little something to look forward to. So if your wallets or purses are tight, give your valentine an IOU. for Valentine’s Day. Your loved one will appreciate the honesty and desire to give them their part of that $17 billion special day, even if it is in the future.

submissive than women. Very powerful men.”

I have a feeling he may be right. Sorry, guys.

Spread design Isai Diaz

Richlandchronicle.wordpress.com February 10, 2015

Hers

His

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OPINION

Concealed or open carry on campus?

Senate Bill 11: Debate still under way

Richland

CHRONICLE STUDENT MEDIA LEADERS Editor-in-Chief Layout Editor Photography Editor Entertainment Editor Copy Editor

Melanie Brandow Kisten S. Chetty Blanca Reyes Ricky Miller Joyce Jackson

ON THE COVER Valentine’s Day is here

COVER AND FONTS Staff ilustration Quan Tran Certain cover fonts are provided by the following: http://www.nymfont.com - http://www.bvfonts.com

STUDENT MEDIA STAFF

Photo illustration courtesy huffingtonpost.com

JAMES SHRADER

Richlandchronicle.wordpress.com February 10, 2015

Staff Writer

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As we near Valentine’s Day, there is a more pressing matter to be considered on our college campuses than Cupid’s arrow: the filing of Senate Bill 11 on Jan. 26 in the Texas state legislature.

This bill, also known as the Campus Personal Protection Act, which would enable concealed carry by licensed gun owners on college campuses, has been considered in the past.

According to reporter, Lauren McGaughy, in the Houston Chronicle’s Austin bureau, in 2013, Dr. Francisco Cigarroa, chancellor of the University of Texas, wrote to then- Gov. Rick Perry on the possible dangers of a bill like that being passed.

According to The Texas Tribune, Cigarroa said, “I believe that, on balance, the permitted presence of concealed weapons will contribute to a less-safe campus environment.”

This is not however, the view of everyone involved, such as Sen. Charles Schwertner, who said on January 28, “No one should be forced to surrender their God-given, constitutional right to self-defense just because they

set foot on a college campus,” in his article in the Austin-American Statesman. “This bill is simply about ensuring that licensed, responsible and law-abiding adults have the right to protect themselves on the campuses of public colleges and universities,” he added I am a veteran, having served four years in the United States Marine Corps with an hon-

“It was fairly easy with no criminal record.”

— Aaron Valdez

orable discharge. I believe that I have a unique view on the subject. I have been trained in the use, cleaning, and the safety of multiple firearms. That being said, I believe that safety certainly is the most important concern in this much larger issue. In order to give another perspective, I asked a friend and fellow veteran at Richland, Aaron Valdez, who also happened to be a Devil Dog (Marine), for his thoughts on the bill. Valdez was also honorably dis-

charged from the Marine Corps as a Corporal (E-4) and obtained his concealed handgun licence( CHL) approximately a year ago.

“It was fairly easy with no criminal record,” Valdez said. He also said that while in the Marine Corps, along with other weapons training, he also received handgun training.

Valdez said the process to obtain his concealed handgun license required him to complete six hours of classroom experience. Then he completed range time for the shooting portion of the training. He said that he did not think the training was adequate and that he would have preferred “more extensive time on the range.”

Valdez also said he was concerned about how misinformed the general public is on the matter of concealed carry. He thought that people would most likely be more receptive if they had more information regarding the process of obtaining the CHL license.

“It is not the firearm; it is the person behind the firearm,” he said.

Taking this information into account, I think the people of the Texas need to research the requirements of the CHL license because, sooner or later, Senate Bill 11 could possibly become law. a reality.

Current CHL criteria: Applicants must be at least 21 years of age (unless active duty military) A first-time CHL applicant must: Complete four to six hours of classroom training Pass a written examination Pass a proficiency demonstration (shooting) The standard fee is $140 for first-time CHL applicants and $70 for a renewal. The CHL license is valid for four years.

Currently, the places where a CHL holder can not bring firearms includes hospitals, churches, high schools and colleges, still being illegal per statute 46.035, Texas Penal Code.

Isai Diaz Audrey Morton Augustine Mukoka Jerome Robinson II James Schrader Crissy Ashley

Quan Tran Pete Shannon Joe Stumpo Lydia Nigussie Marta Planells Jonathan Johnson

STUDENT MEDIA ADVISERS Erica Edwards Jack Fletcher David Goodloe Tim Jones

Steve Noviello Larry Ratliff Marshall Siegel

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CONTACT INFORMATION

El Paso Hall, Room E-020, 12800 Abrams Rd. Dallas, 75243 Newsroom: 972-238-6079 E-mail: richanchronicle@gmail.com Advertising: 972-238-6068 E-mail: advertise@dcccd.edu Fax: 972-238-6037 Staff meetings: Monday and Wednesday 2 p.m. in E-020 Letter Policy Letters to the editor may be edited for space. They will be edited for spelling, grammar and malicious or libelous statements.

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Editorial Policy The Chronicle is the official student-produced newspaper of Richland College. Editorials, cartoons, columns and letters are the opinions of individual students and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of other individual student writers, editors, advisers or the college administration. © Richland Chronicle 2014

OPINION

Governor honors hero Chris Kyle JOYCE JACKSON

Upcoming Events Today

Copy Editor

11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.

Gov. Greg Abbott declared Feb. 2 “Chris Kyle Day” in Texas on the second anniversary of the Navy SEAL’s death.

Abbott made the announcement at the Texans Veterans of Foreign Affairs Mid-Winter Convention in Austin Jan. 30.

I think that it was quite an admirable thing to do.

I must say, I’m glad I voted for Abbott last year, and I think he will make Texans proud. I believe he’ll work well with our legislature, too.

Recognizing an American hero in the public eye is something few other governors would do.

“We thank Chris Kyle and all of you for your service and sacrifice,” Abbott said at the convention. “And we rededicate ourselves to a cause greater than ourselves – to freedom for our children, their children and for generations yet to be born. May God bless you and all who wear the uniform of the United States of America.”

Kyle is buried at the Texas State Cemetery in Austin, where people have come to pay their respects. Some people left mementos and a few even shared a beer at the gravesite according to keyetv.com.

Abbott hosted a ceremonial signing Feb. 2 that creating “Chris Kyle Day.” An effort is underway to make it an annual event.

For the record, Kyle was born April 8, 1974, in Odessa and was a member of SEAL Team 3.

The Pentagon claims he shot and killed more than 160 enemy combatants . He was awarded two Silver Stars, five Bronze Stars, a Navy and Marine Corps Commendation medal and two Navy and Marine Corps Achievement medals.

Kyle was honorably discharged in 2009.

Kyle died Feb. 2, 2013, at a shooting range

Sabine Hall, Room 118

“Race, Gender and Privilege”

12:30 to 1:30 p.m.

Richland College Instrumental Faculty Fannin Performance Hall, Room 102 Free and open to the public

Eastwood before production began that, “Disrespect my son and I’ll unleash hell on you.”

Officials in Los Angeles had to take down a billboard promoting “Sniper” in January after a vandal scrawled the word “Murder!” in large red letters near Bradley Cooper’s image. Cooper portrays Kyle in the movie.

Some in Hollywood have spoken up as well, with filmmaker Michael Moore in another one of his idiotic rants calling snipers “cowards” in a tweet and Seth Rogen comparing the film to Nazi propaganda. Moore seems to think that snipers aren’t heroes because they’ll shoot their targets in the back. I can’t imagine what he expects them to do.

I have yet to see “Sniper,” but I probably will. I do think it’s a shame the way Moore and others like him can twist the meaning of a movie. War is hell. There’s no doubt about that.

Anyone brave enough to serve in our military, especially in Iraq and/or Afghanistan, should be respected. We should all be thankful that someone out there is fighting for the freedoms we all enjoy here in America – especially free speech.

Staff Writer

I’m going to be honest with you. I had no desire to see “American Sniper,” Oscar-winning director Clint Eastwod’s pro-war biography of “legend” Navy SEAL Chris Kyle, whose confirmed number of kills while serving four tours in Iraq totaled 160 but could have been as high as 255.

I didn’t want to see “American Sniper” (warning: spoilers ahead) because I didn’t want to see a movie when I already knew how it would end, which was tragically.

I found it depressing enough to watch clips of Kyle’s funeral service, which was held at Cowboys Stadium on Feb. 11, 2013.

Against my better judgment, I saw “American Sniper” and exhibited a number of reactions watching the film. I clung to the sides of the chair I sat in, for example, as I watched Kyle, as played by Oscar-nominated actor

Bradley Cooper, as he sets his sights on an Iraqi mother who hands her son a rocket propelled grenade to throw at American troops.

Fine! Call me a baby killer if you want (I’ve been called worse and still sleep well at night), but I sat there silently yelling at the big screen telling Kyle to “Get him!” regardless that the kid may have been about the age of my two nephews, 6 and 12. I said the same thing when the Iraqi mother, who upon seeing her son shot and killed, grabbed the grenade she had given him and tried to throw it at American forces on the ground. Kyle got her, too. American lives were saved.

I had other emotions as well. I shed a tear or two when Kyle’s son was born. Then there was that inevitable ending I knew was coming, which felt like something was eating away at my insides.

I again wanted to yell at the IMAX screen telling Kyle to stay home and play a computer game with his son instead of going off to a gun range the morning of Feb. 2, 2013,

to help 25-year-old U.S. Marine veteran Eddie Ray Routh, who reportedly suffered from post traumatic stress disorder. Routh allegedly shot and killed Kyle and Kyle’s friend, Chad Littlefield. Jury selection began for his trial on Thursday.

What “American Sniper” accomplished was what “good” movies are supposed to do; make us cheer on the good guy, feel the pain the lead character is going through and, in some cases, make us shed a few tears.

I have often heard it said how America does not have enough heroes to look up to anymore. Kyle was a hero whose sniper rifle saved a number of lives.

To quote a former wounded soldier in one scene during the film, “Your dad [Kyle], he’s a hero,” the soldier tells Kyle’s son. “He saved my life. He helped me get back to my little girl.

A lot of guys wouldn’t be here without him.”

I am sure any number of military veterans who knew Chris Kyle can attest to that.

Noon to 1 p.m.

Artist talk/reception: Anne Lee Wagoner Brazos Gallery

2 p.m. and 6 p.m.

Movie screening: “Dear White People” Wichita Hall, Room 115 - free

Friday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Spring Club Fair El Paso Hallway

3:30 to 4:30 p.m.

Entrepreneur Club Meeting Wichita Hall, room 103 4 p.m.

Dr. Willilam Nericcio

“Mextasy” artwork exhibit

Sabine Hall, room 118

Feb. 16

11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Black History Trivia Game Show Cafeteria

Feb. 17 Chronicle Issue 6 on newsstands Noon to 1 p.m.

Lunch Concert Series: Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Improv Ensemble Concert stage in Cafeteria

Free and open to the public

Richlandchronicle.wordpress.com February 10, 2015

at Rough Creek Lodge in Glen Rose, where he and friend Chad Littlefield both were killed while trying to help veteran Eddie Ray Routh cope with post-traumatic stress disorder. At press time, jury selection was under way in Routh’s murder trial, where his lawyers are expected to present an insanity defense.

Kyle served four tours of duty in Iraq and was credited by Pentagon officials with the most sniper kills in U.S. military history — 160.

His job was to stop the enemy from killing fellow U.S. service members. His autobiography, “American Sniper,” became a best seller and the movie, currently still drawing crowds at theaters, has become a blockbuster hit. As of Jan. 31, it had earned $248.9 million, making it the second-highest grossing R-rated film ever, according to The Hollywood Reporter by Pamela McClintock on Jan. 31.

In spite of the praise and financial rewards “Sniper” has been getting since it opened in January, war movies and heroes don’t always fare well in the press or with a small percentage of the population. Controversy has been brewing over the film.

In an article published in The Dallas Morning News, Kyle’s father told director Clint

My thoughts after seeing ‘American Sniper’ JOE STUMPO

Wednesday

Staff illustration by Quan Tran from image courtesy media.nbc.com

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Richlandchronicle.wordpress.com February 10, 2015