WHAT WOULD JOHN WAYNE DO?

I don't know too much about the man John Wayne was in life but what I did find out was that he was a no nonsense tell like it is kind of guy who most likely never shed a tear in his life. As a man I look to John Wayne as the ultimate tough guy. A man's man. I wouldn't be surprise if most men look at John Wayne as the guy we men should all be like. I compare to it to what we Christians do when it comes time to make a tough decision, especially if it leans toward the negative side. We ask "What would Jesus do?"  For example a punk cut you off in traffic, gives you the finger, and now you are left to a decision. Do you just let it go or do you chase him down, crash his car, pull him out, and hang him up on a road side while he tries to figure out how to get down. So we ask " What would Jesus do?" For me I may ask "What would John Wayne do?" Probably leave them there for an hour and then let him down. If the guy showed any more disrespect he goes back up.

 

I am a straight guy in love with women. I build furniture from scratch and can clear a yard of boulders in a weekend. I swear when I'm angry, I'm honest, and I tell like it is. I say what I mean and mean what I say. I invent and I create. I'm a thinker and a doer, however, I will look to the image of John Wayne that I have seen in films and stories people have told about what he was like in life and wonder if men should be like him. If I should be like that. I realize that being a woman is not easy especially with that whole carrying a baby inside your body thing and then having to push that little fleshy bowling ball out of your tiny, well you get the point! I don't know of any man who would ever dare want that. Women have their difficulties. Men do as well. It is not easy being a man. You are suppose to act and look a certain way. If you are a straight man and dress nicely people will say your gay. If you cry during a sad scene in a movie people will say your a woman. If you don't beat the crap out of every guy who says something rude to you, you are weak. If you listen to Tori Amos, Vanessa Carlton, and Bjork your a nut-job fruitcake who needs to see if his manhood is still there and don't get me started on liking pieces of art!

 

A real man, the cliché man that has been passed on from decade to decade,  is suppose to spit in public, grab his nuts at any moment of the day, swearing is a second language, make fun of their woman in public all the while claiming ownership of her, capable of painting a house in 120 degree temperature and not allowed to complain about it, and whatever other physical activity that causes them to get dirty, bloody, and sweaty. A real man laughs when you fall and rip your arm open. Gasses in your face with no concern of how rude it is, instead just laughs. So is this what a real man really is? Let's ask "What would John Wayne do?"

 

I believe John Wayne would never swear in front of woman or in public. You would never see him spit in front of you, sure he'd spit but behind a tree. If you fell and ripped your arm open he would do whatever he could to help you meanwhile he would keep you calm. He would mow the lawn, chop trees down, get sweaty, bloody, and dirty but then would go inside shower and clean himself up. He would NEVER claim ownership of a woman or disrespect a woman in public, and not behind closed doors as well. He would never talk behind someone's back, there is no place for gossip. If he had a problem with you he'd tell you and when he says something he means it and will act on what he says not just say it. To me this is what men should strive for. Now maybe the real John Wayne was not like this but the John Wayne I saw (image of John Wayne) is.

 

Throughout centuries men were suppose to act and be a certain way. If we didn't act like that we were weak and not worthy of being called a real man. I believe things need to change and I think they have. Men are different now and that old cliché' is dying out. We should look to John Wayne as an example with a few additions. I have my faults as a human but as a man I have come to terms that I am what I am like it or leave it. I still hold doors open for woman and never burp or make any other rude noises in front of anyone.. When I say something I mean it. I do what I say. I do my best to make sure I don't swear in front of woman and in public although it is difficult. I drive a truck, mow the lawn, get sweaty, bloody, and dirty. Yes I am a man, a straight man, but then I branch off the man tree. This is when I begin to ask that question, yes, you got it "What would John Wayne do?"

 

I am man enough to admit that I'll shed a tear or two during a sad scene in a movie. "Untamed Heart" with the very hot and beautiful Marisa Tomei gets me all the time. Let's not even mention "Extreme Makeover, Home Edition." I can hardlly get through it! Too many emotions! When women talk to me I actually listen and remember what they said to me. Do mind though that I am a born daydreamer and must try hard not to allow my mind to drift away into dreamland. I'll have compassion if needed.  I care about the way I dress and make sure I do my best to look good at all times. I will tell a woman how I feel about her if she wants to know although it is tough to do.  I respect others and their feelings. I do my best to avoid physical fights even though I am confident that I can kick ass and take names later. So is this also John Wayne? Maybe not. In parts I am but in others I differ. Does this mean I'm less of a man or more?

 

Whenever I shop for clothes and make sure I would look good in them I think "Would John Wayne be this concerned?" "What, does this mean that I'm not a real man?" When Christian Slater dies at the conclusion of "Untamed Heart" and Marisa Tomei begins to cry and then I shed a few tears I think "John Wayne wouldn't act this way, hell, he probably wouldn't be caught dead watching this movie." What about music? I listen to everything. I love music. I'll go from Metallica to Alice in Chains to Mariah Carey to Tori Amos to Bjork, to Vanessa Carlton and then to Johnny Cash! Would John Wayne do this? He probably would listen to cowboy music and anything other than that was sissy stuff. I like music and I don't care who sings it or writes it. If it sounds good then bring it on.

 

In conclusion, I have spent much of my twenties and now early thirties wondering if I fit the bill as a proper man. If I fit the model of John Wayne, a man's man. Today's man has changed. A guy who sheds a tear is more accepted than in John Wayne's days. Now in some places if you hold a door open for a woman you get a slap but in other places you get a smile and a woman can know that a little chivalry still lives on in the 21srt century. Shed a tear during "Untamed Heart" and you may just bring your date a lot closer to you. Say what you mean and mean what you say and many will trust you and respect you (maybe, jury still out that- see President Bush).

If John Wayne was alive today and I was to have an encounter he probably would say " Boy you need to straighten up. Now tears is for sissy's and sad movies have no place in this world. Just slap on some jeans and a shirt and just get working. No time to waste time on nonsense like that. Now for the music son, for God's sake listen to Cash but trash that other garbage. Tori Amos? Are you a woman? Now come on boy, be a real man." I'd cock a smile and say "Mr Wayne, I am a real man." He wouldn't say word. He'd tip his hat goodbye, jump back up on his horse and ride away. As he'd head towards the setting sun he'd crack a little smile and say to himself  "Maybe that boy is a real man." and off into the horizon he would ride. Just maybe, while watching a sad love story he would ask "What would Mike do?"  and then quickly get a hold of himself, turn to his date and say "Why did you bring me to this crap? There must be some shoot em' up somewhere in this theater for God's sake!"