Bruce Willis plays the part of the 'everyman' with perfection.  From the Die Hard series to 16 Blocks, he reminds us of one of our friends' fathers or the guy who lives just down the street.  I'm not really educated on the social or religious views of Mr. Willis, but that doesn't really matter for this discussion.  All we need to say is that he is (on screen, at least) the classic working-class hero.  He was even graceful when Planet Hollywood went under...he just got up on stage and played Bruno with the harmonica blowing out a soulful blues riff. 

When we watch a Bruce Willis movie, we can easily see ourselves in his shoes - the guys at least.  Ever the reluctant hero, we wonder what we would do if we were placed in a situation where international terrorists were trying to take over a building or an airport.  We wonder what we would do if our nation called upon us to fly to a meteor and blow it up.  If we were the small town sheriff, would we go into the locked-down house to try to save the kids?  We see Bruce Willis and we want to be him, at least, we want to be his characters.  

-NOW-

Tom Cruise, on the other hand, is the complete opposite from Bruce.  Politial and religious views aside (because it's just tooooo easy to pick on a ultra-liberal follower of science fiction fairy tales), he is just too 'slick' when it comes to his portrayal of his characters.  Did anyone really buy that Tom Cruise was a working-class guy reluctant to save the world from invading aliens in War of the Worlds? No, Tom Cruise is the Misson: Impossible ultra-suave special agent.  He is Jerry Maguire, freakishly shouting "SHOW ME THE MONEY" while getting the girl...at least he wasn't jumping on couches then, huh?  Now, alas, Tommy has been abandoned by Paramount and is left to dangle in limbo wondering from where his next meal is going to come.  Poor Tom.  Maybe we should start the Tom Cruise Foundation, collecting money for the future survival of Tom Cruise and Tom Cruise related memorabilia.  (Plus, he grew up in Louisville, KY and went to St. Xavier High School, yet he never makes mention of THAT during his couch-jumping rants.  I'm ashamed to say that I'm from Louisville.)

Why do we focus so much energy on those who are in the media?  There are everyday heroes in our churches, in our neighborhoods, even our homes.  It's not the guy who plays hero who deserves our praises.  It's the firefighter, the teacher, the mechanic, the police officer, the preacher, the drive-thru window guy, the factory worker, the car salesman (well, maybe not the car salesman - just kidding) - the TRUE heroes who are deserving.  We should praise those who go to work everyday and come home to love their families without fanfare.  (And YES, being a stay-at-home mom is going to work, it's probably one of the hardest jobs out there.)

And remember this: (my favorite bumper sticker)

            If you can read this, thank a teacher.  If it's in English, thank a soldier.

Don't like it?  Well, you have that right...

God Bless,
Doug

"Men go abroad to wonder at the heights of mountains, at the huge waves of the sea, at the long courses of the rivers, at the vast compass of the ocean, at the circular motions of the stars, and they pass by themselves without wondering." – St. Augustine