Let's take a closer look at Sarah Connor herself.....

Sarah Connor - A quick bio:

Name: Sarah Connor
Born: 1962 Approx
(although actress Linda Hamilton was born in 1956)
Height: 5' 5"
Weight: 125 lbs.
Eyes: Green
Hair: brown
Occupation: Waitress
Destiny: Mother of Future Leader and World Saviour


Background Information: Sarah Connors life took a dramatic turn in 1984 whilst she was waitressing in an LA fast food diner. She worked with her flatmate Ginger Ventura and had little on her mind but annoying customers and the day to day goings on at work and home. It was then that a serial killer going through the phone book hunting down women named Sarah Connor struck, turning her life upside down forever as the truth of the situation became more and more apparent. This was not just some serial killer, Sarah Connor was the key in a plot to ensure mankinds future, the killer was a machine, a cyborg, a 'Terminator' sent back in time to do away with the mother of the as yet unborn resistance leader John Connor.
The twist in this tale obviously comes in the form of Kyle Reese, sent back in time to warn Sarah Connor of her fate and ensure she survives so that future generations have a fighting chance. It is Reese who is to become the father of future resistance leader John Connor, unbeknownst to both of them.
We wont go into time travel semiotics because lord knows the whole thing is a messy little paradigm of unparallelled proportion, so let's try and concentrate on the woman herself and what makes the character of Sarah Connor so special.

Weakling Waitress Saves the World:
One of the fantastic things about the character of Sarah Connor is her weakness. She is not a born leader, in her own words she states she is the sort of person who can barely balance her chequebook (checkbook US). She cries, she hides and is 'normal' reacting in ways that a regular woman would react given her situation, she's scared and vulnerable and it is these traits that add to the overall character giving her many facets as opposed to a one dimensional meathead.

Characterisation Personified:
Anyone having watched the first Terminator film (1985) couldn't help but feel for the innocence of the character of Sarah Connor (portrayed by Linda Hamilton) who goes from wailing weakling to soldier in the period of a couple of hours. The film itself has become a classic not only with sci-fi fans but movie fans overall because its message is a simple one, even those of us who feel our lives are insignificant may have a huge bearing on the future.

From Wuss to Super Soldier:
Although the character of Sarah Connor appeared weak for quite a lot of the first film she clearly had great strength and adapted to new situations with a fair degree of ease and by the finale of the first film the character of Sarah Connor had become not only a fighter, but a winner.
The transformation between the first two Terminator films of this character was astounding, although some may argue Sarah still remained the 'victim' given her incarceration and apparent mental state, none could argue that her resolve was truly amazing.

Eloquent Hope:
As mentioned previously the Terminator series of films convey a deep and eloquent message. Sarah Conner is a tool in many respects to show that everyone has some purpose and that you never know what your existence might mean in the future. Sarah Connor herself states "there's no fate but what we make" which also adds philosophical debate within the films structure.
Sarah connors realisation that she herself has taken on the role of the machine who tracked and existed to kill her is a powerful moment within the film and once again shows a message of humanity.

Gun Toting Peace Message:
Ok so the Terminator films are indeed an explosive and somewhat violent take on the future, we're not violence toting nutters here at Thumb Bandits and it is the overarching themes and message within the first two Terminator films that we're celebrating along with the key to those themes, the character of Sarah Connor.
Realisation is a wonderful thing, Strength too but most wonderful of all is hope and the belief that you control your destiny. Sarah Connor is an ambassador of female strength, humanity, compassion and mercy.

So there we have it, another entrant into the Honorary Oakley Hall of Fame and we once again hope it was for all the reasons the Honorary Oakley stands for. Sarah Connor, mother and messenger of hope and all round kick ass female ..... We Salute You!!

The luxury of hope was given to me by the Terminator.
Because if a machine can learn the value of human life... maybe we can too