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Wednesday, June 28, 2006
Capillas: The world needs heroes, not saviors
By Stephen Capillas
The Lowdown
FIRST off, belated happy birthday to Pastor Cedar Bibliota of the Bulua Baptist Church in Barangay Bulua this city from your family, church members, fellow pastors and workers in the Lord Jesus Christ and friends.
May you have many more birthdays to come and more opportunities to serve the Lord. Now on to the show.
* * * * *
"THE world doesn't need a Superman and neither do I," so wrote Lois Lane in a Pulitzer prize winning article that serves as one of many emotional undercurrents in the film "Superman Returns."
And she does have a point; even Superman -- or at least his animated version -- agreed with it as shown in a scene from his TV series Superman: The Animated Series.
In one episode, a silently grieving Man of Steel was shown standing in front of a burial ground of a police officer named Dan Turpin who sacrificed his life during an alien invasion.
In paying his solitary tribute to Turpin, who at first was suspicious and then became friends with him, Superman said "you (Turpin) showed that the world doesn't need a Superman; just a brave one."
And for most of us who may not be called upon to save the day or (gulp) sacrifice their lives for the survival of all humanity, a brave face may be all that we need to make the world or at least the part of the world we live in, a better place.
Fortunately the world doesn't lack for a number of heroes in our midst though sadly they only gain public recognition during times of national emergencies. In other days they are just like you and me, an Everyman or Everywoman just trying to make it through the day in one piece.
They may not wear colorful tights, spin webs or brandish razor sharp adamantium claws but they save the day just the same for their loved ones and their communities. And just who are these people?
They are the police officers, the doctors, the nurses, the firefighters, the soldiers, the engineers, the teachers and others. These are our parents, friends, loved ones who go to work not only to earn a living, but to serve people the best they can.
As "Superman Returns" is scheduled to be shown today in the country and in other parts of the world, I am reminded of how the late Christopher Reeve, the original movie Man of Steel defined superheroes or heroes in particular in a magazine interview.
Reeve said heroes are selfless, yet ordinary people who display extraordinary courage and grace under pressure. His words may very well describe the men and women who worked tirelessly during the rescue operations for the World Trade Center bombing or the Hurricane Katrina tragedy.
But even before, Reeve would display that same courage under pressure when he suffered a spinal injury that he bore with dignity until his untimely death in 2004.
Also during that same year in the movie "Spider-Man 2" the character Aunt May told a depressed Peter Parker/Spider-Man that there is a "hero in all of us", that makes us noble, keeps us honest and teaches us "to hold on a second longer" and "die with dignity."
But being a hero isn't a walk in the park since, as Aunt May, said "by doing the right thing it means being steady and even willing to give up the things we love the most, even our dreams."
That, in a nutshell, may be what makes ordinary people become heroes. The rescuers who plow through the dirt and wreckage just to save one human life and even dying in the process; a handicapped person trying to overcome his or her limitations to make something of themselves. Just like Reeve, not just like Mike.
That is what the world needs, not people with a messianic mindset -- one hears echoes of US President George Bush in this one, go figure -- who think they are destined to set the world on fire and bring light to those they deem in need of saving.
Corny as it sounds, the world needs heroes, not saviors. Leave that second job to God.
For questions and comments, please send to sunspot12002@yahoo.com or warpath1232@yahoo.com
(June 28, 2006 issue)
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