The Real Acts of Valor

Over the weekend, I went to see the new movie, starring real Navy Seals, "Act of Valor". After watching the movie, I first and foremost recommend this movie to everyone in the class, even though the acting in the non-action scenes isn't Oscar winning, the plot and overall message of the movie more than makes up for it. While watching this movie, I was not only thinking that this could be the most badass movie I have ever seen, but it made me think of something I glanced at on Facebook about a week or so prior to watching the movie. The image below compares the idea of legacy between to heroes within or society, Whitney Houston, and Lt. Michael Muphy. I posted a blog on legacy a while ago from the athletic standpoint, about Sidney Crosby, "Fall From Grace", but this idea of who is remembered kept nagging me.

Now in no way am I saying that singing legend Whitney Houston doesn't deserve to be remembered, but a Medal of Honor winner, a man who fought for our country, a man who gave his live for his squad, a man who sacrificed everything for the United States of America, is just simply forgotten. Why? What does it take to be a household name? Isn't it enough for you to give your life for this country to be remembered? I feel that in the society we live in, only Hollywood is glorified, and the type of media in which we receive our news pushes heroes like Muphy to the background. Whether it be magazines, television, or the internet, it is hard not to find news on Hollywood celebrities. What about Muphy? Without previously knowing about his tragedy, could you find it, or does he just slip through the cracks?