dagblog - Comments for "In an Era of Super-Villains we need Super-Heroes"

Hmmm. Doesn't sound at all

Ramona — Sat, 09 Jul 2011 13:14:41 +0000

Hmmm. Doesn't sound at all like real life. Too bad.

The thousands were drawn

MrSmith1 — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 21:44:22 +0000

The thousands were drawn together simply by the shared desire to do what's right and good for America. (This is a Capra movie, isn't it?) A bunch of common working Joes and Jills, who love this country and are willing to give their all to help their neighbors because they know that we, as a country, don't truly succeed unless and until we ALL succeed ... (cue the fade-in of patriotic music, which swells as we cross-fade to a full screen image of the American flag waving against the bluest of blue skies. Hundreds of US fighter jets fly by in formation as the music swells and climaxes as the camera pulls back from the individuals to reveal that they are the mosaic that makes up the American Super-Hero, who is standing triumphantly astride the 21st century, his (or her) eyes fixed on the bright future that lies ahead for America ... and his (or her) left foot standing on the throat of the defeated oligarchy of evil corporate interests ... and ... fade to black. On the black screen a slogan in white lettering fades in: "We the People are the Super-Heroes we've been waiting for!" ) (Sounds of cheering crowds and the Liberty bell ringing in the distance.)

The End.

Beautiful image. But what

Ramona — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 12:15:09 +0000

In reply to I think a Super-Hero can also

Beautiful image. But what (or who) drew those thousands upon thousands of people together? They had to be motivated, they had to be organized. Sometimes it's a single voice starting out as a whisper and growing into a righteous howl , as it was with MLK, and sometimes it's a concerted effort to focus and energize, as it was with Gompers, Mother Jones and the Reuthers, who had the ability to convince workers they deserved better..

And at least once it was a president who pledged to help the people he signed on to represent and did the right thing, however reluctantly, as it was with FDR.

I think a Super-Hero can also

MrSmith1 — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 04:26:28 +0000

In reply to Yes, and they need to be

I think a Super-Hero can also be like a Chuck Close painting. You see it from a distance and it looks like your typical Super-Hero, then as you get closer, you realize that the Super-Hero is made up of thousands upon thousands of ordinary individuals making contributions in any way that they can.

That looks like Janeane

cmaukonen — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 03:03:52 +0000

In reply to That looks like Janeane

That looks like Janeane Garafalo holding Karl Rove's skull.

Oh we can only dream.

That looks like Janeane

Ramona — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 03:00:20 +0000

In reply to The Bowler Or The Blue Raja

That looks like Janeane Garafalo holding Karl Rove's skull. I know for a fact she's on our side. The guy with the forks scares me. I'm not following him. No way.

Yes, and they need to be

Ramona — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 02:47:22 +0000

In reply to Super-heroes come in all

Yes, and they need to be recognized And applauded. And helped in every way possible. We need to make heroes out of everyone who gets it and does something about it.

The Bowler Or The Blue Raja

cmaukonen — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 02:17:41 +0000

In reply to It could work. What's my

The Bowler

Or The Blue Raja

Trumka does have potential if

Ramona — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 01:34:39 +0000

In reply to Rich Trumka has some

Trumka does have potential if he could get past the image of union leader and become the leader of all labor.

In Michigan we had Virg Bernero, Mayor of Lansing who was a Progressive's dream and labor's choice, but lost the gubernatorial election to Rick Snyder, Republican, who is now in the process of dismantling the state and turning it over to private interests.

Bernero had no money and Snyder had the Right Wing GOP machine behind him. He never had a chance. But that was then and this is now. Now the people who missed supporting Bernero are champing at the bit to recall Snyder, but they can't do it until next year, according to Michigan law.

But Bernero is on FOX NEWS as their token liberal, still trying to get the message out. I can't watch Fox News so I admit I haven't watched him there, but I've blogged about him several times and I could see him up front as a potential leader.

Howard Dean, as well.

What they all have going for them is a deep understanding of the pain millions of people are going through because their needs are not being met in the ways that once separated America from Third World countries.

T, I think you've

Ramona — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 00:31:43 +0000

In reply to I believe that you are in

T, I think you've misunderstood my meaning here. Or I've muddied it for you. Of course we all have to do this together, but the fact is, we're not able to do it, no matter how hard we try. I can't do it alone and neither can you. And neither can any of us individually.

My theme here is wishful thinking, perhaps, but I'm thinking of past moments of unbelievable change, such as the labor movement and the civil rights movement. They were as successful as they were because charismatic leaders were able to take the people to places of power. The people were inspired and took it from there. Every movement needs leaders. Someone has to organize and motivate. There is power in numbers but it has to be organized. We can't all flounder around, fighting for the same things but never joining together in any effective way. There has to be direction and concerted effort.

Otherwise what happens is what's happening now: All sound and fury, signifying nothing.

I HATE that I said that. I really do. That's why I wouldn't make a good leader. Cliches are my bugaboo. :(