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Everyone buckle up bc I'm in one of my moods and I'm about to start talking about how great Superman is.
I fell down a mental rabbit hole thinking about Superman (as is my habit) and thinking about why he's special, why he resonates with some (and not with others), what he means, and what he means to me.
The first and most important thing to understand about Superman, and this cannot be overstated, is that he is good.
That's it.
That's the underlying, unshakable pillar of both the character and the idea of Superman.
He's not perfect.
He's not a god.
He's just good.
That's it.
That's the underlying, unshakable pillar of both the character and the idea of Superman.
He's not perfect.
He's not a god.
He's just good.
And he's good because he cares.
Caring is good and it's good to care.
How does he show he cares?
He helps.
However he can.
He helps because he cares and it's the right thing to do.
Caring is good and it's good to care.
How does he show he cares?
He helps.
However he can.
He helps because he cares and it's the right thing to do.
I used to get mad when ppl would say they didn't like Superman/he's boring, he's too powerful, etc, but the older I get the more my heart breaks for those ppl bc I suspect that for a lot of them, something happened in their lives that makes it hard to believe someone can be good.
And I get why that's really hard for some people to swallow.
Superman expects nothing and asks nothing of us.
He just tries to help as best he can and hopes the best for us.
To buy that requires believing.
Believing requires faith.
And faith requires trust.
Trusting is hard.
Superman expects nothing and asks nothing of us.
He just tries to help as best he can and hopes the best for us.
To buy that requires believing.
Believing requires faith.
And faith requires trust.
Trusting is hard.
And I think that's a big reason why you see so many young Superman fans.
Kids have an easier time believing the most powerful dude in the world would not only want to help, but could actually care about them and everyone else bc life hasn't taught them to be distrustful yet.
Kids have an easier time believing the most powerful dude in the world would not only want to help, but could actually care about them and everyone else bc life hasn't taught them to be distrustful yet.
A lot of us are given good reasons throughout our lives to be very wary of trusting people.
It makes us think up phrases like "too good to be true".
And Superman is good.
So good.
Too good?
It makes us think up phrases like "too good to be true".
And Superman is good.
So good.
Too good?
Superman is so good that even though he's just a made up character that none of the other real world rules apply to, some ppl still think he's "too good to be true".
And I think this is why you get some ppl loving Superman in a black suit or w/angry red eyes or turning evil.
And I think this is why you get some ppl loving Superman in a black suit or w/angry red eyes or turning evil.
But just like how the real world rules of gravity and physics don't apply to Superman, the real world rules of being petty and cruel and untrustworthy and shitty bc it's easier do
not apply to Superman
He helps.
He cares.
He's good.
not apply to SupermanHe helps.
He cares.
He's good.
Now that we've got the first part settled, the second thing you've got understand about Superman, and this is even crazier than the first one, is this:
He believes in you.
He believes in you.
He believes in all of us.
He has faith in us.
He has faith that, more often than not, ordinary people like you and me can be trusted to do the right thing too.
(I told you this one seems crazy.)
He has faith in us.
He has faith that, more often than not, ordinary people like you and me can be trusted to do the right thing too.
(I told you this one seems crazy.)
Sure, there's something special about what he's able to do to help, but this sweet, wonderful, nigh-omnipotent farmboy doesn't think there's anything special about how he thinks/feels/believes.
He has faith that if we were in his shoes, most of the time, we'd do the same thing.
He has faith that if we were in his shoes, most of the time, we'd do the same thing.
I'm getting sleepy and my brain is slowing down, so I'll have to pick this back up tomorrow, but don't worry, I still have lots more thoughts about Superman!
Take care of yourself and help where you can, that's the way to Superman!
Take care of yourself and help where you can, that's the way to Superman!
