Growing up, I always knew Superman as a super hero that was fighting for “truth, justice, and the American way.” DC Comics has sparked controversy with a new slogan for Superman. The Man of Steel will now be fighting for “truth, justice, and a better tomorrow.”
Fox News has reacted to the dropping of “the American way.” Host Harris Faulkner told viewers that she believes the new slogan is teaching people not to love America. One story on Fox News referred to the new slogan as “truth, justice, and the woke way” and blamed the change on cancel culture.
The uproar over Superman now fighting for “truth, justice, and a better tomorrow” and no longer fighting for “truth, justice, and the American way” may simply be the result of a divided America where there is no longer a commonly recognized “American way.”
What is the American way in 2021? If you talk to one group, you’ll get one set of standards and goals while another group will have a different definition of the American way. Republicans and Democrats both have very differing ideas of the American way.
Superman’s slogan, “truth, justice, and the American way” began in the 1940s during World War II as a way of rallying the country, but we live in a different America where the American way is defined by political ideology. This is not a moment we should celebrate. But it is a moment we must accept as a real reflection of how divided we have become as a country.
As defined by Wikipedia, the American way means adhering to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The idea of achieving the American Dream is the centerpiece of the definition of the American way.
Today, the promise of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness is not a concept that creates a universal image. Many Americans have proven that they are not interested in supporting or even recognizing pursuing happiness if the pursuit is contrary to their political ideology.
Where was respect for supporting life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness when it came to the debate over same-sex marriage?
We may not want to admit it – but there is no longer a common idea of the American way.
And there is another big change in the image of Superman that you might have missed. Jon Kent, the love child of Clark Kent and Lois Lane, is Superman and is bisexual.
As a kid, I always thought Superman had a big crush on Lois Lane, but I didn’t think much about the sex life of Superman. I assume that the changes in the character of Superman are an attempt by DC Comics to reach new young generations that have a more open and diverse attitude toward human sexuality.
Are you outraged that Superman – a super hero – is bisexual and is now fighting for “life, liberty, and a better tomorrow?” Are you less likely to follow the life of the new Man of Steel? People will always freak out if there are changes to product images that no longer fit their preconceived attitudes, but often product images are changed to attract and hold the attention of a new set of consumers.
When traditional things change, there will be those who suddenly feel left out; and that feeling is usually met with anger and resistance.