11 Marzo 2014
First time I heard of the term BAMF was more than 12 years ago when I first joined the service. The term was actually BAMFP which is the acronym for "bad ass motherfcker on post". The term signifies those crazy soldiers that everyone looked up to (or when referred to sarcastically, the total opposite aka ridiculed for trying hard to be BAMF) for being totally ultra cool---epitomize masculine attributes that impressionable young males could aspire to. We all have idols; people we look up to and worship as heroes. However not all heroes are historical and real. Sometimes even some historical people are more fictional because its easier to attribute greatness with legends; rather than be dismayed by the meagerness of reality. We deify them above us, so we can use their traits, virtues and qualities as something we can yearn and eventually acquire.This post is about who I consider BAMF's crafted from fiction.
1. Lando Calrissian. Who wouldn't think Lando is a BAMF? Though he's only a supporting character in the Star Wars universe, in canon 'history' Lando once owned the Millenium Falcon and learned the high flying stunts from Han Solo himself. Lando, despite being the only black person in space---at least for the first two movies---(thank Lucas he's badass, otherwise he'd just be in a long list of forgettable token characters) expounds the roughcut urban swagger of a Blaxploitation protagonist with the smooth movements of an American pimp (I mean just look at him, complete with sweet do, lady killing 'stache and a popped collared cape). His sweet demeanor, esp. shown towards Princess Leia, definitely makes him someone you don't want next to your girlfriend. He's the ultimate hustler: a gambler, a seedy entrepreneur, one of the best smuggler pilots in space, scammer and a con-man. He is the equivalent of the appeal of a Mafioso intermixed with that of a lone cowboy. He's a man who made a name for himself with his virtue and he's not afraid of loving himself and himself only. Those are antiheroic qualities that would have made Machiavelli and Ayn Rand sing in unison. He's also the mayor/ruler of Bespin's Cloud City, so despite the years of being a criminal (mostly as a spice smuggler aka drug dealer), he's become too legit to quit. Yes, Lando is a stereotype that many African-American/American males in general would like and many PC people would hate (because according to some, propagate stereotypes of black males). Who cares? It's fiction people and most guys, despite his racial background, thinks he's one of the best characters in modern cinema. I mean despite all that and the events that transpired in Episode V, he redeemed himself by doing the right thing and endeared himself even more amongst fans by jumping in line with the rebs. All these qualities make Mr. Calrissian not only a BAMF, but one of the more complex characters in modern fiction.
2. Bruce Wayne. In Batman Begins, Rachel concluded that it was Bruce Wayne that was Batman's mask (instead of the other way around). Whoever really is who, we can say that both personalities are BAMF's. Though I like the gritty Batman himself, I like his alter ego better. Bruce is a party loving gazillionaire who dates super models. If anyone in DC universe that could 'make it rain' it's this dude. He's like the fictional version of George Clooney (handsome forever bachelor---no homo) but way cooler and far richer. As a tycoon, heir-socialite who also took up crazy amount of wisdom ranging from science to detective work, he exhumes the crazy spoiled genius of JP Morgan intermixed with the industrial self-made aura of Vanderbilt. I mean homeboy fell out of radar to learn martial arts from the baddest mofos of the East so he can come home to kick villains' asses in a chaotic dystopian city of Gotham (which probably is only a slight different from the real New York City). Almost all superheroes got their physical powers given (alien boy Superman, merman Aquaman, magical rings of Flash and Green Lantern) Mr. Wayne got his the old fashion way: unpaid internship to a circle of apocalyptic ninja monks, where for years in a remote 3rd world monastery got his ass kicked on a daily basis, doing daily grueling survivalist workout Bear Grylls would have nightmares about. On top of that, he also learned Houdini escapist skills that's why no one could hold on to him for very long. Outside of Chuck Norris-like moves, he's also got a brilliant mind. His derivative Sherlock Holmesian brain is a vast encyclopedia making an improbable IQ mix of a super sleuth with that of a Nobel Prize winner (on all categories---specifically chemistry, science, biology etc.) On a regular basis this guy is figuring out scientific breakthroughs that help him combat villains and save people in distress (how many times did he save Gothamites by figuring out various cures, antidotes and antivenins?) Bruce also got a heart of gold, a philanthropist by day and spends his nights endangering himself on a corrupt town that most heroes would've given up on. He's got a mansion, a man cave (real one), his ride can valet park itself and his other ride definitely is a jet. For connections, he's BFF's with chief of police and the district attorney, so don't expect him to spend a day in jail---not that he would ever need to. What sealed his baller status though is his ancillary. You're not that rich unless you got a butler. Now even P. Diddy have a nerd follow him around, but Bruce has got Alfred. Not only is he British, but he's also a total BAMF himself (no your minion can't fly planes, fix supercomputers, fight villains, quote Shakespeare and do gardening I don't think). Only thing that is totally uncool about Bruce Wayne is the fact that he seems to like keeping scantily tight clothed costume wearing juveniles unreasonably close to him.
To be continued...
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