Wanted: Hero

In the wake of the current economic crisis is it any wonder that we look to someone, anyone to save us from the impending gloom that greets us daily in the news. It is astounding to think that this crisis would effect one man to such a degree that he would literally kill himself, and his entire family (Los Angeles Times Article). What perceptions would lead this man to believe that death, and putting an end to the life of himself and his family would be a better course of action than making the most of what he had? In times like this our fears and perceptions can eat in to our souls like demons and distort our view of reality. At one point in our lives, I am fairly sure that all of us have felt despair, perhaps even to the point were the very desire to live was lost. If you look back upon those moments now, you can see that the response was warranted, and as bad as things may have been, they were never as bad as you feared; the storm passed, the sun arose, and you lived to experience a thousand small moments that made life worthwhile.

Two of our greatest fictional hero’s, Superman and Batman, were born of a time much like our own when the economy seemed to be spiraling out of control and our time honored institutions seemed to be in decay. In an interesting article simply titled “Superman and Batman”, Cliff Jacobs points out in great detail how each of them represent both our ideals (Superman) and our fears (Batman), and discusses the heroic manner in which each are dealt with. In times of crisis, feeling as though we have no control, it is only natural that we would look to a hero to free us from the dire consequences of our own fears. Superman and Batman are of course fictional characters, but everything they stand for exists within us. Like the words in the song “People as Places” by Modest Mouse, the journey for answers leads back to us:

“To answer a question
It’ll probably take more
If you’re already there
Well then you probably don’t know
Well we were the people
That we wanted to know
And we’re the places that we wanted to go
It’s hard to get hold of
And hard to let go
Always something we look for
From the day we were born
Instead we’re the people that we wanted to know
And we’re the places that we wanted to go
Yeah we’re the places that we wanted to go
We’re the places that we wanted to go”

You might feel that the course of world events is outside of our hands, your congress person, or senator, may not have the foresight and integrity to listen the emails they receive from you and their other constituents (if this is the case, keep trying, and vote them out of office if they can’t seem to get the idea that they work for you). Unscrupulous charlatans will use your fears against you, they will offer to save you from your fears in exchange for more power. They will relieve you of your responsibilities, and much, much, more. We should support those among us who can raise to the occasion of histories great challanges, and help us to overcome the adversity that passes through time like the dark clouds of a powerful storm, but never at the price of our own power. We are the Knight in Shining Armor, We are Superman, and together we will confront the challenges of history while holding fast to our rights, our liberties, our freedoms, and our power.

The fact of the matter is you do have control, but “the impossible” might take a little while. What you do have control over right now, is your own ideals and fears. You can choose to stand by your ideals, conquer your fears, and fight for what is right no matter how long it takes. Or you can entrust the task someone else at the cost of your own power, and hope they don’t use it against you in the end.

You can be Batman!

You can be Superman!

What is the greatest thing you can do to stand by your ideals, and conquer your fears?