This came from a thread about Superman.
The story of Superman is the story of the American Immigrant.
He comes to the heartland of America, the Midwest. He is adopted into a family of farmers; people of the soil who love him as if he were their own , & raise him in their values.
He discovers that he has something unique to give to others. He gives this gift, unselfisly & unstintingly; asking nothing in return, other than the chance to help others in need.
He can never go home again-- but , although he remembers his “old country”–Krypton–he is home.
He wears his costume, not merely to conceal his identity, but to become a symbol of hope to those in need. His Clark Kent glasses could be viewed as a mask, worn for the sake of modesty as much as disguise-- he is humbly living a simple life as Clark Kent. He does not wear his costume to be famous–he is , at heart, a simple man (simple doesn’t mean stupid) whose goal is to live in the service of others.As a reporter, he is dedicated to Truth. As Superman, he is dedicated to Justice. As a man is is definitively what Americans wish they were (well, most of us).
On our good days, we occasionaly come close. (I don’t ignore or deny the days when we don’t even try–but they are outside the scope of this thread.)
Yes , Superman is a hero. And a very ordinary man. Perhaps he is the realization & the symbol that ordinary men can do extraordinary things, if they try.
Repost your very best here!
Welcome to the SDMB, and thank you for posting your comment.before and after the text of the URL).
Cecil’s column can be found on-line at this link:
The column can also be found on pages xxx-yyy of Cecil Adams’ book, something something Straight Dope
moderator, «Comments on Cecil’s Columns
Meatros
December 12, 2002, 12:58am
3
Uh…I don’t know if I have a “best” work…
I liked my little story about “Meatros”, the famous Greek Hero, but…
AskNott
December 12, 2002, 2:36am
5
There was a thread claiming that a new cure for dyslexia was on the way. I posted:
“Prise Dog, I hoop sew. Lysdexia socks!”
All but one word would have made it through a spell-checker.
–Nott
Monstre
December 12, 2002, 3:55am
6
Well, I posted what I thought was a pretty good song parody fairly early in this thread .
