No More Than A Man In A Funny Red Sheet

Kryptonite for Democracy— Real Heroes Don’t Ask for Applause

-by Jerrad Christian

Today I went to see the new Superman movie. It was the best DC movie I’ve seen in quite a while. It was funny, heroic, insightful and reflective of the times. There was even a scene with literal monkeys posting disinformation online to turn folks against the good guy.

Today, the White House posted an image of Trump as Superman.

I don’t know if it was meant as a joke, a rallying cry, or what— everything has become such a parody these days; but it says something loud about where we are in our culture right now.

We’ve got politicians pushing the idea that the president should be seen as larger than life. An untouchable, unquestionable, heroic myth in red, white, and blue spandex.

But Trump isn’t Superman. Neither was Biden. No one is anyone special who steps into that office. They’re not “chosen” ones in any sense except they got more votes. Just like a prom queen isn’t a fairy-tale princess, she just won a popularity contest, got a crown for one night and still had to catch the bus home.

Politicians are just people hired to do a job. And when they fail, it does a lot more than create a bit of paperwork, or minor inconvenience. It can lead to death, war, or the destruction of the nation that we hold dear.

When we treat our “leaders” like they’re infallible, we stop expecting them to be accountable. We excuse everything and let democracy rot while we cheer for the cape.

Let’s be honest, Trump loves the cape. He loves the spotlight and the idea of being worshiped more than he ever cared about the work. But real heroes don’t call themselves heroes. They don’t need costumes or a stage. They show up, shut up, and do the hard thing even when nobody’s watching. They hold dying hands in hospital rooms. They show up for jury duty. They teach. They march. They build. They listen.

They don’t get applause or action figures.

With all his power, Trump could do almost anything— and he chooses to cause suffering. That’s not heroic; it’s not even good. So, the social media monkeys, just like Lex Luthor’s, dress him up in a cape and tell the world that he is a hero, because they hope if it’s repeated enough times, maybe others will start to believe it.

In the end, Donald doesn’t strike me as powerful. He strikes me as a child who never got what he needed. A man still chasing approval he never got from the people meant to love him, still terrified of being seen as small.

 You can see it in his kids, the way they orbit him. You can see the fear of disappointing him in everything they say. And that generational trauma is unfolding in the halls of American history.

This country doesn’t need a Superman. It needs people who still give a damn about freedoms, education, safety and community. People who aren’t afraid to stand up and tell politicians: You’re not a god or a king. What people mistake for a cape is just a red tie— a little too long, flapping over your shoulder in the wind.The second we start believing any politician is above criticism, we’ve already handed over our power. Doesn't matter if it’s Trump, Biden, or our favorite flavor of progressive. Democracy dies in hero worship.

“Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.””

And pretending you’re a hero while denying food to the hungry, water to the thirsty, clothing to the naked, and healthcare to the sick is about as far from Superman as it gets.