question for older people who remember Chuck Norris in his prime

[RobertPlant]

I was born in '91 so I was too young to remember his days as an action-movie star. I know him as a RW idiot who posts on WorldNetDaily. But was he always like this? Did he ever speak out on his religious or political beliefs back in the day or is that something that he has recently become interested in?

[Hawkeye-X]

1. I have zero respect for Norris

He's the dude that got his neck broken by Bruce Lee. Now that's a hell of a man.

[dems_rightnow]

23. Not as often as

Wile E. Coyote got pwned by the Roadrunner. And I still like the coyote.

[Bitwit1234]

2. No because he was in a TV show

he probably thought that if he spoke out they would cancel his show. Only after it was canceled did he got republican nuts.

[BootinUp]

4. He did several films before his TV career. nt

[BootinUp]

3. If he did speak out in the 70's and 80's, I never

heard about it. Course I was into other things at the time and yes I was a fan of any martial arts film that had even a whiff of realism when it came to the action sequences, which his usually did.

[HopeHoops]

5. He must have been. He studied Tang Soo Do under Grand Master Y.U. Min years ago.

You don't survive under him without humility. He also was wonderful in the movie "Sidekicks", and it is just plain a great movie. If anything, that would be considered a "liberal" movie. Frankly, that's the only movie I've seen (or seen parts of) with any merit. I prefer Jackie Chan's approach to movies.

FYI, my eldest (of 3) daughters is also 19 and she's a 2nd degree black belt under Grand Master Min (as are the other two). My wife just tested for 3rd degree.

[Greyhound]

6. He was an insecure little guy with great concern over the stature of his penis.

He went on to learn karate in an effort to bolster his perceived inadequacy and became some kind of champion. Then, much like Robert Conrad, discovered that the camera can make you look bigger than you are and people will not laugh at you when you're a tiny little guy acting tough on their sacred screen.

Unlike his contemporaries, he can/could really fight at least.

[Dappleganger]

7. No, he wasn't always like this...

but most of his controversy surrounded people in the fighting world (more of an attitude thing). I don't recall him going batshit-crazy with the religion or politics until Bushie came to office.

BTW, thanks for reminding me that I'm old enough to be your mother. Our first child was born in '91 and is about to graduate. Ugh.

[lunatica]

8. He was an action movie hero

He won the World Karate Championship six times in a row, more than anyone else. He was the first westerner to get the title of Grand Master. Bruce Lee liked him and got him into his movies as the bad guy. He came across as very noble and a fighter for the underdog and in his movies as action hero he portrayed saving Vietnam prisoners of war and villages against the evil Communists. He was liked and admired at the time.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

9. His movies were mostly RW idiot movies too. -nt

[BootinUp]

13. his movies were not about politics

in any discernable way from my recollection. He was a hero figure molded in the typical Hollywood fashion.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

17. For those who might be reading here and don't know who's right, look up "Invasion USA" (1985)

And then, in another movie of the same batch, when discussing the looming menace, the Israeli good guy says in a meeting (I paraphrase): "We'll be vulnerable to the Communists. And you know what Communism thinks of countries that have religion." (Someone help me remember which one that's from.)

Yep. Thoroughly apolitical.

[BootinUp]

19. Good grief

These are fictional stories designed to attract males or anyone that likes war/action flicks. At the time it was written it would not be unusual for such a story to talk about the US vs Communism. Don't take it so seriously. It was designed to make money first and foremost.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

24. I calls 'em like I sees 'em. -nt

[pinboy3niner]

28. Norris WAS serious about the POW/MIA issue

Perhaps he was sympathetic to the issue because his brother was killed in action in Vietnam, but I recall him being involved with POW/MIA advocacy groups, and, IIRC, he may have even testified on the subject before congressional committees.

His POW movies were more than just entertaining action films to him; they were an extension of his political advocacy on the issue.

[Bryn]

10. I thought that Chuck Norris was one of the most spiritual people

and was shocked that he went nuts and became ugly. Maybe he has dementia, has some brain inflammation. I still find it so hard to believe he's like this now.

[OHdem10]

11. In the 70s and 80s, the few apperarances I saw, he seemed to be

just a genuinely nice person.

I am with you --in last few years he seems to have RW Nutty.

[proud2BlibKansan]

12. He was a bad actor who starred in bad TV shows

I paid zero to no attention to him. Don't know if he was outspoken politically back then but I don't remember him being the right wing asshole he is today.

[BootinUp]

15. He is a terrible actor.

He makes Ahnold look like a genius acting talent.

[Warpy]

14. His mouth grew in inverse proportion to his career

When he was a hot property in Hollywood, either he didn't think about much of anything or he didn't have time to.

Now that his career has been on the skids for some time, he's bitter and angry and those are perfect qualifications to become a right wing nut.

[pinboy3niner]

16. Apart from the POW/MIA issue, his activism began very late

Norris served in the Air Force, and his younger brother, Wieland, served in the Army and was KIA in Vietnam in 1970.

I remember being at the Wall (the Vietnam Veterans' Memorial) in DC one day in the late '80s when Norris showed up there. I didn't want to intrude on his privacy, but others approached and talked to him, and he didn't seem to mind. As I recall, he spent some time talking with POW/MIA activists who had demonstration tables set up on the approaches to the Memorial. That is the only issue he was actively involved in then, and he addressed it in some of his films.

[Joey Liberal]

18. I hate Chuck Norris

And his martial arts schools suck too.

[JVS]

20. Chuck Norris had a prime?

[elocs]

21. Chuck Norris had a prime? I must have missed it, or was taking a nap

since I am an older person.

[Ex Lurker]

32. dude was a legit martial artist in his day

in the same ballpark as Bruce Lee. Perhaps a shade better.

[mikehiggins]

22. He was okay, and pretty much non-political

When I first heard of him getting involved I sort of assumed it would be on the liberal/progressive side of the table. When I realised what he was actually supporting I was shocked! Shocked, I say!

Maybe he took one kick too many to the side of the head?

[Ex Lurker]

33. here's what I think:

he's a relatively unsophisticated person who never gave political issues much thought. At some point, someone he liked/respected got to him with a RW aganda, and he said, "yeah, that makes sense!" It could just as easily been a progressive, and he'd be on our side. Just a theory.

[butterfly77]

25. I have watched him in movies over the years..

but not texas ranger but I didn't realize how illiterate and ignorant he was until this President was elected then I realized he lost his mind like,Chuck Woolery,pat boone,jon voight,wayne newton,Tony orlando and many others.

I could understand them being angry about losing an election but they have pure hate base on nothing but their assumptions. Now, me HATING bush is another thing, I have somethings to base it on that are true and substantial.

A lot of these people have been blaming Obama for everything before he was sworn into office they have been waiting for any little thing so they could pounce and then compare him to bush. Some are just being irrational thinking he could do everything when they wanted it and how they wanted.

[RobertPlant]

26. Boone's political beliefs, even in 1955, were probably obvious n/t

[safeinOhio]

27. I always cheered for "superfoot" Wallace

in the 80s.

[WeDidIt]

29. Me too.

Wallace was superior to Norris most of the time.

[Warren Stupidity]

30. He had a prime?

Norris was awful from day one as far as I can tell. And yes he has always been a rightwingturd.

[NNN0LHI]

31. Billy Jack used to kick his ass good