I saw the new Superman movie and it was so cathartic for me..
To see a main character who is a man be loving and genuine to everyone around him; to have such a great love for humanity, even if he himself is not biologically human. What makes him human is that he feels, he loves; he dares to consider others in an inconsiderate world. Clark isn’t afraid to be vulnerable. He doesn’t view it as unmanly or a weakness, but a way to connect with the people around him and show them there’s hope.
People were going to die!
I keep thinking about this scene with Lois and this line and its delivery in particular. It’s not that Clark didn’t think about the consequences when interfering in an international dispute; he knew that there would be some ramifications to his actions. But would that mean he let a genocide happen? No, obviously not. The frustration he feels when his actions are challenged, as if any other way would’ve prevented or slowed down the progress of evil, is so valid.
Does that make him idealistic? Perhaps it does, but in a world as cynical and as hateful as ours has become, isn’t it so refreshing to see a character be allowed to trust others and see the good in everything? Isn’t it refreshing to see them do good to the maximum amount? Like when did it become so radical to be nice to others?? And when did it become cringe to be earnest and genuine about your feelings or about the things you believe in?
I’m so glad kids, especially boys, get to look up to this new Superman because they can learn that it’s okay to be kind and to express themselves, and stand up against the atrocities committed against their fellow humans.
That it’s punk rock to be kind.