quote:
This one a few weeks ago really pissed me off, because I go to the comic book discussions to get away from these partisan trench wars and have fun, and it really pissed me off that you took a fun topic about Superman's upbeat and arguably symbolically American qualities, and you felt a need to turn it sour:

http://www.robkamphausen.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=reply;f=15;t=001678;replyto=000005


quote:

Originally posted by Dave:
An adolescent power fantasy/morality play. Or, perhaps, a fantasy plot device capable of rendering the world into simplistic black and white by which all problems are capable of resolution through the exercise of effortless power. Kind of like American foreign policy. But perhaps, to be more kind, an expression of American idealism, in what was perceived to be a simpler time.
I just felt it pointless and inapropriate.
What? LOL! I was talking about how I felt about Superman!

In any event, it was an honest assessment. I don't like Superman for those very reasons.

On the other hand, just to make the point, I quite like Captain America, the powerless but courageous patriot, for different reasons - his WW2 history somehow evokes for me the gutsy and selfless American spirit of Normandy, Iwo Jima, and Guadacanal.

Superman is not brave - he is effortlessly powerful, an adolescent wet-dream of strength which I see paralleled in American foreign policy (and others - Iranians were calling the US "The Great Superman" a few years back). Captain America is noble and brave, and despite his lack of powers he commands respect from his peers and his foes. He is first amongst equals.He draws inspiration from a love of his country. (He has a cool shield, too.)

Do you see my point?

I think I've made it plain many times that I have nothing against the US, nor Americans generally. I'm rather fond of Americans, to be honest - they have a lot in common with Australians. Certain Americans (for some reason, Texans) I hold in especially high regard, especially Americans who understand and enjoy Monty Python.

But I am very suspicious of what the French call hyperpuissance, because it gives one country carte blanche to do as it pleases. I definitely side with "Old Europe" on that issue. I don't think that's unnatural, or biased against America or Americans generally.