Recently, in an Op-Ed for the New York Times, Angelina Jolie talked openly of undergoing the procedures to remove her breasts due to the occurrence of the BRCA#1 found on her genetic testing results. The words 'brave' and 'beautiful' are being splashed alongside pictures of the glamorous actress as she becomes the new poster child for breast cancer. And therein lies the problem: she did not actually have breast cancer. But that all seems to have been lost in the glare of Hollywood lights, as fans roll out in support of the actress calling her their hero.
While most are commending her decision, some see this as merely another symptom of a fearful, insecure society. A culture that has embraced even the most extreme preventative measures for what the future might actually bring. Because the future is and will always be, uncertain. This is a society living with science at the helm, and not putting our faith fully in God's plan for our life. A society that removes portions of their bodies out of the fear of the unknown. Without God there is no certainty of what may happen when the body breaks down. Angelina used many resources to have these procedures done on a body that did not have cancer, only the genetic capability for it. Instead of using the knowledge to remain vigilant of her health, she let fear lead her.
Fear is not heroic. The woman who is actually battling breast cancer and who decides to have a double mastectomy is heroic. The highly paid actress having expensive procedures done on a healthy body is not brave or beautiful, it is unnecessary and maybe a serious cry for attention. She did not battle something and then live to tell the tale, as many women have done. Yet now she is, for the moment, seen as a survivor of a cancer that was never there. A hero's journey that was never undertaken. She never spent months on chemo and radiation, watching her hair fall out, barely able to crawl out of bed, and feeling sick to her stomach every day.
As this story makes its way through the media, may we remember the real heroes, the women who did not have unlimited finances and dealt with breast cancer on God's terms.
