The American Spectator

br> — P. Aaron Jones br> Huntington Woods, Michigan /p> p> NOT YOUR FATHER’S SUPERMAN br> Re: Carol Platt Liebau’s Swallowing the Kryptonite : /p> p>As I was checking out your website, thinking of subscribing, I came upon the article by Carol Liebau on the new Superman film. The fact that the “American Way” was but a relative small offense. The fact that Superman, hero to millions, had sex out of wedlock, produced a bastard child, then left that child and mother with a live-in boyfriend who thinks the kid is his… Now that is seriously disturbing! Unfortunately, not to America… Bad enough that Christopher Reeve noted the color of Lois’s panties in his first Superman film… What new worlds will our hero explore next chapter? br> — Ron /p> p> Although I would have liked to seen “truth, justice and the American way” in the Superman movie, I think Ms. Liebau’s reaction to its absence is completely overboard. For one, that phrase was not used with the original Superman, but only appeared during the Second World War, after which it was dropped for several years. More importantly, what is surprising about this Hollywood film is that it goes against modern liberal sensibilities. Superman is analogous to Jesus Christ; Lois Lane declares that “the world doesn’t need a savior, and neither do I.” This is exactly what many intellectuals in Hollywood and elsewhere believe, but Superman softly retorts her statement, telling her that he hears people’s cries for help all the time. Those watching the movie hear Superman’s father, Jor-El tell him that human beings can be and want to be great, but they .”.only lack the light to show them the way. For this reason above all — their capacity for good — I have sent them you, my only son.” This parallels words from the Gospel of John (8:12, 3:16). Superman also suffers, dies (in a crucifixion pose) and is resurrected. It is a powerful parable. No, Superman in this movie is not quintessentially