Superman and the Culture War

[Torog]

Superman and the Culture War

By: Bill O'Reilly for BillOReilly.com

Thursday, Jul 06, 2006


The culture war has tugged on Superman's cape, and it is not pretty. In the new film "Superman Returns," Daily Planet editor Perry White responds this way after being told the man of steel has come back after a five year absence: "Does he still stand for truth, justice and all that stuff?"

And all that stuff?

The original line, of course, was "truth, justice and the American way." But no way the "American way" gets in the film.

That's because Warner Brothers, the studio distributing the movie, doesn't want to tee off any foreign viewers with pro-U.S. sentiment. It's bad enough Superman was raised in the Midwest; we can't be having the hero actually standing for the American way, now can we? Some jihadist in Pakistan might throw popcorn at the screen.

You don't need x-ray vision to know that things have changed drastically in America in the past five years. When Superman left to go visit the planet of his birthplace, the USA was not engaged in a terror war; the country was merrily drifting along, hoping that rap music would follow Monica Lewinsky into obscurity.

But that was then. Now, America is a divided country. We are fighting a fierce war on terror overseas, and an intense culture war at home. No longer is the "American way" something to be proud of; today, forces abroad and at home believe we are a deeply flawed nation that is a danger to the world.

According to a Pew Global Attitudes survey, almost 30% of Americans believe that America's presence in Iraq poses a greater danger to world peace than Iran's quest for a nuclear weapon. In Turkey, 65% of the people feel that way. This kind of muddled thinking reflects the sentiment of the anti-American press worldwide and here in the USA. It is also the product of the rise of a well-funded and well-organized secular-progressive movement in America.

The secular-progressive philosophy would rattle even Superman. Led by moneymen George Soros and Peter Lewis who have bought enormous internet access, the secular-progressives are selling the theory that the USA needs radical change, a complete overhaul. Think about it: Almost every day, the secular-progressive press bombards us with messages that America violates human rights, that it is bigoted against gays and other minorities, that the rich control everything and don't pay enough tax, and that the rights of women are trampled if any restrictions are placed on abortion.

And the secular-progressive scribes are becoming increasingly emboldened. Writing in The New York Times, David Nasaw, a professor at the ultra-left City University of New York, made this comment about the charitable gifts of Bill Gates and Warren Buffett: "While we can only applaud the decision by Mr. Buffett and Mr. Gates to give away so much of their fortunes ... is society served by permitting (italics mine) so much capital to be accumulated by so few?"

Fifty years ago, Professor Nasaw would have received an invitation to appear before the House Committee on Un-American Activities. Today, he is a lion in the secular-progressive movement which seeks to have a large centralized government decide who can earn what.

That's not the American way Superman used to uphold. This is a brave new world that threatens even superheroes. The old ways of respect for the basic nobility of America, the capitalistic free enterprise system, and the Judeo-Christian philosophy of personal responsibility are all under siege by stealth forces more powerful than a locomotive. They can even exorcise a classic pro-American line from a movie about a traditional comic book hero.

Please tell Perry White there is no justice in eliminating the American way. And that's the truth.

Torog Reviewed by Torog on 07-07-2006. Superman and the Culture War Superman and the Culture War By: Bill O'Reilly for BillOReilly.com Thursday, Jul 06, 2006 The culture war has tugged on Superman's cape, and it is not pretty. In the new film "Superman Returns," Daily Planet editor Perry White responds this way after being told the man of steel has come back after a five year absence: "Does he still stand for truth, justice and all that stuff?" And all that stuff? Rating: 5

[graymatter]

I heard Bill O'Reilly is gay... Nope, sorry, let me check my facts. I meant to say blow hard...

[XTC]

Ya, being too "PC" is flat out stupid and way out of control. We might hurt someone's feelings. Awwww and we don't want to do that.

[jamstigator]

"...America violates human rights, that it is bigoted against gays and other minorities, that the rich control everything and don't pay enough tax, and that the rights of women are trampled if any restrictions are placed on abortion."

I think there's some element of truth to all of that. American soldiers raping and murdering Iraqi civilians -- it happened. Do the rich pay too little in taxes? Depends on who you ask, but Warren Buffet says yes, he pays too little, and calls it "welfare for the rich". When the second richest man on the planet says he pays too little in taxes, I'm inclined to believe him. Are we bigoted against gays? Well, 45 states are, certainly, which is a large majority. Are the rights of women being trampled on? Well, depends on where you are. In at least one state, it's now illegal to get an abortion EVEN IF THE WOMAN WAS RAPED, and the conservatives are pressing this issue elsewhere too.

So, all-in-all, it looks like the secularists actually do have some points to make.

[Great Spirit]

Thats because Amerika is no longer what it used to be. It is now a warmongering nation. It is the new Nazi Germany.

[Bong30]

Torog...........To hell with that Movie...........All that stuff...please

I vote with money....... i just wont go see it

[Breukelen advocaat]

Isn't Superman really a god? He has powers far beyond the normal man, and the villain's name, Lex Luther, even sounds like Lucifer.

Hereâ??s more about the similarities of the first two Superman movies, and the bible(s).
http://www.unomaha.edu/jrf/Vol7No1/unholy.htm


My verdict: Up with secularism, and down with religion. The hell with Superman. He sucks. So does Batman.

O'Reilly can take a hike. I can't watch that idiot anymore. His statement, "the Judeo-Christian philosophy of personal responsibility are all under siege by stealth forces more powerful than a locomotive." is a laughable.

[Marlboroman]

O'Reilly can take a hike. I can't watch that idiot anymore.

Wow, I actually agree with you.

[birdgirl73]

As do I . . .

[halo]

Dammit!

I guess they won't make a Captain America movie now will they??
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