Bruce Willis is my hero!

[FunClown]

Bruce Willis is my hero.

 

He went over to Iraq to support the troops. He said on E.T that if he was a bit younger he would be over their fighting to.

 

I don't know about you guys but I've seen armageddon, pulp fiction and fifth element. Bruce Willis is one very tough guy. I've seen him go out in space, and be a boxer and face Marcelous Wallace.

 

He's even fought with bad guys on a distant planet.

 

What's Iraq to this guy?

 

One thing it's a lot less pay. Secondly, he doesn't get any luxury caravan.

 

Thirdly, I don't think he realizes there are no stunt men there to take his place.

 

In reality, I think its a real shame he go over there and make out he's this real big hero. He's not the one putting his life on the line.

 

I don't think actors who've starred in voilent movies should take credit for what others have done. And go over there as their own publicity stunt.

 

Anyone else think people like him are really just losers?

[Jubatus]

Although this topic could be made into a more serious debate, i.e. how celebrities hollowly abuse their character images for publicity stunts, or how they're abused by officials as same, this does not qualify as Senate material in my oppinion and I hereby motion for its relocation to the Swamp.

[FunClown]

how celebrities hollowly abuse their character images for publicity stunts

 

This is what is about.

 

Big wigs trying to get some of the glory off the 'little guys' who actually put their lives on the line. Trying to get publicity and praise by making themselves look the hero.

 

This guy had so many soldiers surrounding him it wasn't funny. I didn't see Bruce Willis going out on a patrol through Baghdad or Trikrit (sp). Instead he basically says he would be out their fighting with them. But its really easier to say than to do.

 

This is why I sarcastically call him and people like him my hero. Arnold Schwartznegger did similar also.

 

Two voilent film stars trying to make themselves into real life hero's. But really there taking credit for other peoples sacrifice.

 

Sorry to make it sound like a rant, but I was wondering if anyone else sees through these guys.

[SkinWalker]

I think that being a celebrity, particularly a movie star, creates a situation where the actor can make some differences if he/she does so creatively. Going to Iraq is a tremendous boost for the morale of the soldiers there... I can tell you from first hand experience.

 

I was able to meet a couple of celebrities and major journalists... Christianne Amapour, for instance.

 

Bruce is an interesting figure and I think he has a genuine care for the things he comments on. I recommend renting Tears of the Sun and watching the Bonus material of the DVD... he and a few others basically wanted to make a movie that tells the story of plight in Africa. They did a phenomenal job, in my opinion.

 

There are a lot of celebrities who took various sides of the Iraqi conflict, and I have to applaud them for the most part. Having celebrity status can get your message (or the message of others you care about) noticed in ways that you or I couldn't. Tim Robbins, Susan Sarandan, and Janeane Garofalo are good examples. Hell, Bill Maher got fired for doing what he was hired to do: be politically incorrect.

 

I think the only fault a star like Willis has when they take the side of the "right" wing, is that it can come off like he's trying to boost popularity since many of his characters mimic the conservative mold. Tears of the Sun easily balances this, however. I highly recommend the movie if you haven't seen it.

[FunClown]

Skinwalker, I can see where you are coming from. I guess having major celebrities would show support for the troops.

 

However, to the guy like me watching them from home, it seems like they do it more for publicity then anything else. Since my concern is the exploitation of the troops in this endeavour to gain publicity.

 

However, as for journalists, they can do whatever they want. I prefer them to say it as they see it rather than be politically correct (if you could say that). Journalists shouldn't be peons.

 

BTW the only celebrity I've actually heard of that you mentioned is Willis.

[Kurgan]

From the point of view of troops it's a good thing, they're like "wow, my favorite movie star or rock musician thinks I'm a great American and I get to meet him!"

 

But of course politically speaking, what makes a famous or rich person's political opinion more important?

 

It's not like they're any smarter or "in the know" than your averge schmo. They just happen to be a celebrity.

 

Of course they have the luxury of sharing their opinion with millions, because they are already in the public eye, but that doesn't make them anymore likely to be right or wrong about things.

[Cosmos Jack]

Hmm I have never really understood why people choose actors as heroes or roll models. A few you can pick out that have done some really good things other then acting. For the most part they are actors and even off the screen some of them act the part they want you to see.

 

If your going to pick someone to be a hero pick someone that has made accomplishments other then pretending to be someone else. I'm not saying Bruce isn't genuine; however, if I were a actor and wanted to keep my popularity. I might go visit the troops and stuff as well. So people can think "I'm a real life nice man and go see my movie."

 

Personally my hero "if I had one" is Bill Gates. Not because he has done anything good for people; however, oddly enough he has. He was a dork and he still is a dork, but a dork that is worth several billion dollars. So we can call him a dork all we want he still is the richest man in the world.

[amadeus]

Whether it is right for people to idolize celebrities or not, people do, and I bet that having Bruce Willis out there is probably boosting a lot of people's moral. While I'm pretty liberal myself, I think it's great that Bruce Willis goes out and supports them.

[Cosmos Jack]

I never said that it was a bad thing. I'm sure allot of troops are happy to meet their favorite actor or semi fav actor. It does boost moral.

 

Why is he doing it; though, for the good of the troops or himself?

[FunClown]

Why is he doing it; though, for the good of the troops or himself?

 

Could the answer be similar to a bloke who just won a state election on the other side of the pond?

[amadeus]

I'm not sure. People's motives are often very mixed up. I'm sure he was doing it partly for himself, even when regular people do charity or whatever and let themselves be recognized for it, they're thinking of themselves in some way. I guess we can't really know his motives for sure, but it's nice to think that our soldiers are probably benefiting from it.