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Martial-arts actor tells about his perseverance through bumpy youth
By By Betty Lin-Fisher
Beacon Journal staff writer
Published on Monday, Sep 29, 2008
KENT: Actor and martial-arts expert Chuck Norris on Sunday told a crowd at the weekend's We the People Fest that sheer determination would help them through their trials and tribulations.
Norris, who was the biggest name at the nonpartisan event meant to encourage political involvement, told his audience about his humble beginnings. He was raised by a single mother in Oklahoma and had fears of speaking in front of the class when he was a child.
He forced himself to assert himself and conquer his fear of public speaking. He persevered in his martial-arts career, eventually winning international titles.
He told the audience about the many challenges and failings he had getting started in his teaching and acting careers.
''You're going to have a lot of obstacles. You don't know which bump is going to be the last bump. I always kept a positive frame of mind,'' said Norris, who was also promoting a new book, Black Belt Patriotism: How to Reawaken America.
But as soon as Norris got on stage, the 68-year-old acknowledged the real reason he thought the younger people came to see him.
''I won the world title in 1968 and I retired in 1974 — a couple of years before you were born,'' he told the crowd, which was mostly college-aged students, but had older adults, too.
''Walker, Texas Ranger wrapped up seven years ago when many of you were in middle school,'' he said.
''It's probably because of the Chuck Norris Facts going around and around,'' Norris said, sending laughter throughout the crowd. Norris was referring to an Internet and pop-culture phenomenon of satirical facts about the martial-arts movie and television star's grit and toughness.
Life of their own
Norris told the crowd gathered in Cartwright Hall at Kent State that when the Chuck Norris Facts first started making their way around the Internet a few years ago, he thought they were funny and would wane in a few weeks.
''You college students, man, you gravitate toward those facts. It went right down to the middle-school kids,'' he said, adding that the facts have come from all over the world.
''I was getting facts from Africa,'' he said.
''Troops in Iraq call them Chuck-isms,'' he said.
Once, when visiting troops in Iraq in 2006, Norris said he went to an outdoor commode.
''There were Chuck Norris facts on the wall. I couldn't get away from it,'' he laughed.
His favorite one? They wanted to put Chuck Norris on Mt. Rushmore, but the granite wasn't tough enough for his beard.
Focus on background
Norris' hour-long speech mostly focused on his background and the story of his success, though he did acknowledge that he was a supporter of former Republican presidential contender Mike Huckabee, and he also believes in Ron Paul.
Norris even mixed martial arts and politics, saying he once told someone if he had one wish, it would be to go to Washington with Paul, line up all of the members of Congress and wait for Paul to point out the corrupt politicians.
''We would walk down the aisle, he points to one and says 'He's crooked,' and I grab him and choke him unconscious,'' Norris said. ''The ones that are honest stay and focus on getting us back on our feet.''
It was only at the end of Norris' speech that he said he supported Republicans John McCain and Sarah Palin, because they'd bring Paul and Huckabee into the White House.
Norris' political views didn't sway Matthew Campbell, 22, a Kent State sophomore and a fan of the martial-arts expert.
''I'm supporting Barack Obama. I'm not ready for another four years of what we've had,'' said Campbell, who said he's become a Norris fan by watching reruns of Walker, Texas Ranger.
But the speech did make Campbell a bigger fan of Norris.
''I had no idea he came from such rough beginnings. I was touched by it,'' said Campbell. ''He seemed pretty down to earth.''
Campbell said Norris didn't talk about politics as much as he thought he would.
Betty Lin-Fisher can be reached at 330-996-3724 or blinfisher@thebeaconjournal.com.
KENT: Actor and martial-arts expert Chuck Norris on Sunday told a crowd at the weekend's We the People Fest that sheer determination would help them through their trials and tribulations.
Get the full article here.
Comments
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Akron, OH
Posted 08:02 AM, 09/29/2008
Chuck is an all-right dude.
Posted 09:38 AM, 09/29/2008
How does Chuck lump a Constitutionalist like Paul in with a populist (socialist) theocrat like Huckabee? McCain is so entrenched with corporate welfare and interventionist neo-marxism/"neo-conservativism" that he wouldn't bring Ron Paul in for tea and biscuits even if he mainlined a year's worth of Zoloft and dope-dialed everyone he ever met.
Posted 10:43 AM, 09/29/2008
When Chuck Norris dives into the water, he doesn't get wet -- the water gets Chuck Norrised.
Boston Hts, Oh
Posted 11:05 AM, 09/29/2008
Chuck Norris doesnt sleep..... He Waits!
Posted 11:12 AM, 09/29/2008
Any guy who can manage a gig with Christie Brinkley is OK in my book! Unfortunately, one of a dying breed. The man is a man, and doesn't back down in the face of wimpy political correctness.
