So, my friend, Gustavo Silva, has started a new series about superheroes. No, not like in the comic books, but how much of how they perform is really based in science. I even recommended he check out a book that I read a long time ago (The Physics of Superheroes) to help bolster his case. (That book is really developed to help explain principles of physics to “Everyman”, not to discuss Superheroes, though.) And, it got me thinking…
Parents are worried about the safety of their child. Should they keep the child with them, where he would be virtually certain to be killed? Or, should they send him away to be cared for by others, where he would be virtually certain to reach adulthood? They decide to pack him up in a vessel and send him on a journey- to where, they really don’t know. Where the seemingly innocent find the child, raise it as their own, and provide it with love, food, and education to help the child become an asset to society. As an adult, this individual has a mild-mannered side, unless and until he encounters evil- to which he immediately responds. Before you jump the gun, consider two scenarios.
The first one involves Yocheved and Amram. In ancient Egypt, where it has been decreed that all male children shall be killed. They place their infant, Moshe [Moses] in a small ark, and let him (and it) float along the river of life (the Nile). To be found by Bitya (the daughter of Pharaoh, the ruler of Egypt), who raised Moshe, providing him with an education fit for a king. (Why not? She was a princess!) Moshe becomes one of the ruling class, until one day he sees an overseer whipping a (Jewish) slave. And, renders justice.
Scenario two. Two parents, Jor-el and Lara, know their world, Krypton, is about to be destroyed. (By the way, Amram means exalted nation, Jor-el means G0d will lift up; Yocheved means shining light or G0d’s glory, as does Lara.) So, they pack up their son, Kal-el (the voice of G0d), send him off in a spaceship to who-knows where. Where he lands in Smallville, and is found by the Martha and Jonathan Kent, who love and raise the boy as their own. (Martha means mistress- which is reminiscent of the fact that the name of Pharoah’s daughter is not provided in the second book of the Tora; Jonathan means G0d’s gift). Clark (the name they provide Kal-el, similar to the name-giving Bitya provided the boy she found) becomes the fighter for justice (and the “American” way).
This borrowing from the bible is not so original; after all, many authors have done so over the ages. And, given the fact that the creators of Superman were two mild-mannered Jews, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, it’s even less surprising.
But, the fact of the matter is that we don’t have to read this as fiction. We can all be “Superman”. No, we don’t need super-powers. But, we can help make this world a better place, spreading our light wherever we go. No need for x-ray vision or flying; just noticing and focusing.
Love this post, Roy. You are a super hero my friend. On a side not, I had a very wise man tell me that a lot of the Christmas songs written were also written by Jews…hmmm…. 😀 A lot of talent in that lot!
Lisa Brandel recently posted..Going Home by Lisa Brandel
One second, Lisa… I’m busy in the phone booth right now!
Oh- and yes- many of those Xmas songs were, indeed, penned by those who never participated…
During WWII parents in England sent their children to live with strangers in the country away from big cities. My own grandfather left the Ukraine in the midst of the Bolshevik revolution as a young man. In the story of Solomon and the two babies, the real child’s mother was willing to part with hers rather than have him cut in two. Parents, for the most part, try to do what is best for their children even when it is painful. This is a forever reoccurring theme in life. That is why Superman’s story resonates with people, even children who have just and goodly parents and those who don’t but dream.
Ann Mullen recently posted..Choosing A Caregiver—Your Road Map
Touche, Ms. Mullen. Great other examples.
I love the backstory on this. Thanks for sharing your light, Roy. 😉
Cathy Miller recently posted..Resuscitate Business Writing’s Throw-Away Words
Glad to oblige, Cathy…
Speaking of super heroes and physics, a professor once told me that the reason ants could lift many times their own body weight was because their exoskeleton provided more leverage than our endoskeleton. In general, our system of muscles and bones is not as efficient as a bug in a hard shell. And the reason bugs never got as big as a cat is because the exoskeleton would be too heavy. Just tell that to your local tortoise and see what he says.
An exoskeleton does provide more leverage, George. But, it does limit the size to which one can grow…
This was good. You know I had never put the connect together before reading this today. Thanks.
shawn recently posted..Direct Mail Is It Dead?
I’m glad that this was informative for you, Shawn!