Superman Didn't Give Up On America
Superman is giving up his American citizenship (Whatever that means for a fictional guy born on the planet Krypton. Talk about troubles in getting a birth certificate).
Don't worry; the iconic character hasn't really given up on truth, justice and the American way. The real story here is that America has given up on those old-time American values; particularly, that pledge to "pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, in order to assure the survival and the success of liberty."
Comic books have always been overtly political and this Superman storyline is only a more publicized example. Captain America, the Sub-Mariner and the Human Torch all went toe-to-toe with Hitler's goons in the war years. The Hulk smashed communist villains for most of his early run. Iron Man's origin has been retconned in recent years to include Al Queda terrorists. The medium poses larger-than-life contests between the forces of good and evil, infused with contemporary political themes that even children can understand.
So, this month Superman reportedly decides in Action Comic issue #900 to renounce his citizenship. The story is clearly pulled from the latest headlines covering the unrest in the Middle East. The Man of Steel shows up at a protest rally in Iran. The regime in Tehran isn't too pleased with what they perceive as American interference and intimidation:
Superman for 24 hours stands silently, bearing the brunt of gasoline bombs, taunts and threats but also receiving cheers and roses from supporters, as the more than 1 million-strong crowd protests but isn't fired on before the demonstration ends peacefully.
Returning stateside, Superman gets harangued by the USA's national security advisor for causing an international incident -- for the offense of taking part peacefully in a pro-democracy rally among citizens bravely standing up to tyrrany.
The fictional scenario recalls the USA's craven response to the Green Revolution protests in Iran in 2009-2010 and the more recent round of demonstrations. The Obama administration's decision to stay aloof then and now, born of an understandable fear of making things harder for the opposition ("See! I told you these protesters were American agents! Off to Evin prison with the lot of them!"), was and is the wrong decision. The American leadership characterizes their tepid response to other protests sweeping the region as measured, respectful and realistic; that, it may be. It is also cowardly. It is pessimistic. And it is un-American.
No one (well, not anyone with an especially powerful constituency) was asking Obama to order the American mechanized forces still in Iraq to drive next door and knock over the mullahs. If regime change is going to happen, everyone knows it's going to come from the indigenous opposition.
All that was required were words; something unequivocal, to the effect of "the regime in Tehran stole the election, but it was not a real election to begin with. Iran's democracy is a fraud. It is a tyranny. And God willing, these brave Iranian protesters will overthrow their rulers... their captors. And they will taste freedom."
Something like that, anyway.
Those words didn't come during the Green Revolution. They still haven't come, even as Egypt's revolution founders against an entrenched military authority, Moammar Gaddafi clings to power with bloody fingernails and Syria's Assad has massacred hundreds for the crime of wanting freedom.
America is about freedom. And Americans and citizens of the world came to expect big words from the nation's representatives. Inspiring words -- not always backed up by action. Even at its apogee, America has been constrained by realpolitik and the machinations of its enemies and competitors.
But at least the words were always there. Until now.
It's disgusting. And I get the feeling that Superman's writers are disgusted, too. This is the closest they can come to making their point about the American administration without directly accusing Obama of turning his back on what America stands for.
Already, far-right commentators are accusing DC Comics of doing this to poke Americans in the eye. "What, now Superman is ashamed of the USA? Are no American icons safe from these traitorous left-wing wussifiers?"
They're barking up the wrong tree.
Unless I miss my guess, Superman is not about to become some kind of omnipotent, musclebound Noam Chomsky. He'll still fight the good fight against evil tyrants and villains. He'll fight for truth and justice. And he'll fight for the American way, even if he can't say so -- and even if America isn't America anymore.
Jonathon Narvey is the Editor of The Propagandist
