Why All the Fuss Over Tom Cruise ?

Over the past few years Tom Cruise has really suffered from a diminished reputation. It seems that every turn someone is bashing him, his religious choices, his demeanor or acting. It is understandable that as an actor in the public eye. However, why does the criticism seem to continually be more critical and harsh?

Recently I was reading reviews about Tom Cruise's newest movie Valkyrie. I was appalled at how many of the reviews I read were filled with criticisms and personal attacks on Cruise himself and not the film. I understand that a critic's job is to critique but to chastise and demean another person because they may not like the actor is unethical, not to mention unprofessional.

I also found it to be quit disturbing that the critic Emanuel Levy referred to Cruise as "feeble" in the Valkyrie movie. Levy further chastises Cruises acting abilities and alludes to the idea that Cruise should start considering secondary roles instead of lead roles, with the not so subtle insinuation that Cruise's career is over.

Another public display of contempt has come on more than one occasion from Bill O'Reilly. I have heard Bill O'Reilly berate Cruise because he doesn't like him and finds him to be weird or different. It was during a recent interview with Barbara Walters over the mention that Cruise was appearing on her show as one of the Year 2008's most fascinating people.

Has everyone forgotten that timeless saying about if you don't have anything nice to say don't say anything at all? Apparently so. Even Tom Cruise has learned this lesson the hard way. Cruise bashed Brooke Shields for taking prescription drugs to help her cope with postpartum depression. There was a large uproar about his insensitivity towards Brooke, and of course the fact that he is not a psychiatrist or medical doctor with any ability to say what is right for Brooke. Even more recently, Cruise came out and stated that he was in fact in the wrong and came off as a jerk. He realized that by bashing people he is only hurting himself and those who do not deserve to be treated in such a way. So apparently Tom has learned that we should lead by example, which is admirable that he seems to have learned his lesson.

I am trying to speak from an objective point of view, I don't personally know Tom Cruise, therefore who I am I to judge him? So what if he is a Scientologist, we don't mock other stars that have alternate religious beliefs. If he believes in Scientology, I say more power to him, he obviously sees something within the religion that we do not. Also should we continue to mock that which we do not understand?

In defense of Tom Cruise, he is a father, an actor and a husband and plays many other roles in his life. Who are any of us to judge him based on what we are told by the media or a few brief interviews and sound clips? Is that really enough information for us to rely on to learn about someone and who they really are? I don't personally believe that it is.