Today’s prompt in the Ultimate Blogging Challenge is to talk about a favorite superhero from childhood. All of the questions about the superhero are phrased in the past tense. My favorite superhero, however, was and is Batman. That has not changed because, in the world, we need Batman now more than ever.
It was the Gotham Police Department that turned on the Bat-Signal, which was a searchlight with the Batman emblem that brightly lit up the sky. That was Gotham City’s distress call.
In our “real life,” it is time to turn on the Bat-Signal and to request the type of help that only Batman can provide. His solutions, however, were not permanent. He wasn’t the savior for all time. He was summoned to fix problems. He did his job and then left. Usually, he drove away in his Batmobile. Batman was helpful and supportive of Gotham City, but he also needed a great deal of alone time. Apparently, Batman is an extreme introvert.
Our world is strugging with wars, out of control violence, revenge seeking, earthquakes, tsunamis, and hurricanes. The usual platitude of “thoughts and prayers” are insufficient. We need action, not empty words. Batman provides that action. He acts as both a superhero and a vigilante. He operates outside of the law and his protection is immediate. He also offers emotional support and empathy to people who may be living in dangerous circumstances.
We need Batman now. We need his strength and his strong moral code to help us find our path back to truth and justice. We are suffocating with fear. Many of us look at horrific human rights violations against those we term “the other” as acceptable. “The ends justify the means” seems to have become the principal by which certain governments operate. When you’re not willing to believe that you can justify anything, including cruelty, to get the goal that you want, you’re going to find yourself feeling shocked and horrified constantly.
Hence, the need for Batman. Although he operates outside of the law and, although he is a superhero without super powers, he does, nevertheless, offer a path for us to follow. He leads us away from leaders who justify cruel excesses and he helps us find the courage that lives inside of us. We desperately need to find our courage to protect all humans, including the ones that the powers that be are using as scapegoats, blaming them for all of the ills of society. Because all humans have value and all humans deserve protection.
It’s time to shine that Bat-Signal. It’s time to ask for help. As humans, we like to think that we can solve our problems ourselves. Sometimes, we just can’t, and that’s what super heroes are for: to help us find that courage that we don’t remember that we possess. To be that shining example to us. Right now, Batman is my shining example of courage at a time when we believe that all hope has fled.
Who is your super hero?
Yes! We need a Batman figure right now! The world has become such a scary place. More so than ever! People have lost sight of humanity. We need empathetic leaders who actually care about the people they are serving. I hope that leadership shows up soon.
That is so true! Who would out Batman be? When I was young it was my dad but now in this crazy world, we should all become our own batman, don’t you think?