Rename street for Chuck Norris: California’s own American icon

There will be many proposals to replace Cesar Chavez’s name on streets and buildings in the months ahead.

One of the most deserving suggestions thus far is Hollywood and martial arts legend Chuck Norris.

Political activist Stephen M. Pinto made the proposal — and it is already picking up steam online.

Norris grew up in California, moving with his family from Oklahoma to LA when he was 12. 

Chuck Norris speaks with the media during a press conference prior to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series AAA Texas 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on November 6, 2016 in Fort Worth, Texas. Getty Images

He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and served in South Korea, where he honed his martial arts skills. He launched his competitive fighting career on his return to the United States, and became an international champion.

Norris began working in Hollywood and soon found himself opposite the equally legendary Bruce Lee.

While Bruce Lee died tragically young, Norris continued acting and practicing his craft well into his twilight years.

He starred in action movie; was featured in a cartoon, and he inspired his own line of karate-themed toy action figures as well.

Late in his career, his television show, “Walker, Texas Ranger,” was an international sensation.

His strength and tenacity were so legendary that he inspired a whole subgenre of humor, known as “Chuck Norris jokes.”

A few examples: “When Chuck Norris lifts weights, the weights get in shape.”

“Chuck Norris can unscramble an egg.”

“Chuck Norris beat the sun in a staring contest.”

“Chuck Norris doesn’t wear a watch; he tells time what time it is.”

Norris respected the cultures of the Far East, and mastered them with his own flair.

He came to represent true American grit, and was always a patriot.

Chuck Norris and Clarence Gilyard Jr. in “Walker, Texas Ranger.” Courtesy Everett Collection

During the Iraq War, Norris visited U.S. troops in the heart of Iraq, in Camp Fallujah.

He gave words of encouragement to Marines on the front lines of a war that many were questioning at home.

Too much emphasis, perhaps, is placed on naming — or renaming — landmarks after heroes, especially political figures.

And the case of Cesar Chavez is a reminder that heroes can sometimes hide deep flaws.

More than monuments, what matters are values.

But the values for which Chuck Norris stood are timeless. Strength, honor, respect, and love of country.

And as a Hollywood star who was unashamed in his patriotism, Norris followed a familiar but rare archetype — that of John Wayne and Ronald Reagan.

They starred in Westerns. Chuck Norris brought martial arts to the fore, and made them a truly American pastime.