Friday, May 13, 2011

Superman takes his foot out of his mouth - he remembers what the American Way is.

If you think that nothing can top liberté, égalité, fraternité as a mantra, is because you never thought of American Way, or if you did it, you were sure it was about something related to reckless consumerism and waste of resources. The noisy and rude apostasy of Superman, as depicted in the Action Comics # 900 issue didn't help, either. Superman may have had a crisis of confidence and a lot of bad judgment to match it, but it seems that the only unalterable rule for superheroes is “make always a big comeback”. Heck, even Don Quixote had his second tome of adventures, after an evil doppelganger incarnation known as Quixote de Avellaneda threatened to tarnish his reputation.

Not to mention some sci-fi heroes that came back from the dead to save the day.

Superman redeems himself – he explains what the American Way is, and for those with a mindset in full American-imperialism-hate mode, a poignant definition of the American Way by none other than the man of steel:

“That’s what America is about, really. That’s the American way. Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness – and second chances. None of us are forced to be anything we don’t want to be. When I was young I know that I would be someone different when I grew up. I would leave home and make a new life for myself. A new start, a second chance. When I first went to Metropolis, it was full of people who’d done the same thing. People from all over America – from over the world - who went to the city to live the lives they anted – to be the people they wanted to be. That’s the idea that America was founded on, but it’s not just for the people born here, it’s for everyone. And it’s for people like me and Livewire too.”
Freedom to be yourself, no matter your gender, sexual orientation, background, race… you name it. In a country without oppressive authorities micro-regulating your life from sunrise to sunset, having to ask permission to follow and fulfill your dreams. Most immigrants like the progenitors of supes’ real-life same sex-parents (Jerry and Joe) came to America for a second chance denied by their homelands.


The best Superman stories have always been about his personal values, not his superpowers.

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I hate these days. People are telling you to STFU. Just say it, no matter how stupid or offensive it is.