The Observers | de France 24

Chuck Norris, American idol

Actor Chuck Norris has become quite an idol at American military bases. His posters are as frequent on camp walls as the obligatory pin-up, and soldiers at the Baghdad helicopter base have even erected an altar in his glory.

"Chuck" is admired by many but also ridiculed by others. Sites and videos that make fun of the actor are not hard to come by on the web. Chuck Norris Facts, for example, ironically lists the star's incredible abilities and feats. Our favourite: "Chuck Norris counted to infinity- twice".

The net is divided. War hero and patriot, Norris represents more a complex conflict troubling Americans: namely the Iraq war.

Contributors

Cory Williams

Ernesto Haibi

Rick Hinshaw

Chuck Norris’s tears…cure cancer

Posted on legendofchucknorris.com 2007

Chuck Norris the song

Posted 2 Feb. 08 by Cory Williams, aka "Mr Safety"

The video's author Cory Williams, 27, is a Californian specialist of "viral videos":

The song was made with a $20 microphone and a case of beer. The video itself was shot about two years later. Chuck Norris must be popular among American soldiers because he's like a Texan version of Superman."

Cory Williams

United States
Musician and new media consultant

"You have to have this arrogance when you fight, like Chuck Norris has in his movies"

Ernesto Haibi, former soldier in Iraq:

We like this kind of over-the-top and masculine image that Chuck Norris has in movies. When we train, we're trained to be overconfident. When you go in for a fight, you have to tell yourself that, no matter what, you're going to win so that the fight will be over quickly. This is so that you don't get hurt, but also so that the person you're against doesn't get hurt too much either. If you use the same amount of violence as the person you're fighting, it'll never end. Chuck Norris enters a room with ten guys and kills them all in a second.

Chuck Norris reflects a kind of "end of the world", "nothing to lose" image; I used to tell my soldiers "the day you're leaving home, just think you're not coming back, so you can do your job well. Then if you do come back, everyday is a free day".

Ernesto Haibi

United States
U.S. Army medic

"My experience in Iraq was much more like MAS*H than Platoon"

Rick Hinshaw, former soldier in Iraq:

I think there has been a growing fascination with the Chuck Norris phenomenon for the past several years- not just at military bases, but also in America at large. It's not really making fun of him- it's more like making fun of the "tough guy" persona that he used to always exhibit in his movie and TV roles. It seemed that no matter what, Chuck Norris was always beating the crap out of someone.

I can assume soldiers like him because he represents toughness and humour, which are two things that are essential for troops to embrace while deployed in a combat zone. My experience in Iraq was much more like "M*A*S*H" than "Platoon". I'm sure many soldiers would say the same thing. A sense of humour is vital in order to maintain your sanity."

Rick Hinshaw