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Why the world doesn't need Superman

When you read a romantic novel, or watch a blockbuster movie, or even something as mundane as a soap opera, the girl always gets her man. She always leaves another man, less worthy than this Superman. He invariably beat her, or never had time for his kids because he was too busy with his job, or carried on affairs with someone from his office, or any one of a dozen or so standard reasons. But, she leaves him because she found her true love, her Super Man. In any case there is this unworthy ex that we as the audience find despicable in some way so that her leaving him is justified and the right thing to do. This is a metaphor, of course, but what happens to all those unworthy? Are they as bad as all that, or do they just serve as a mechanism that allows the plot to permit this behavior of hers?

So who are these nameless unworthy? In fact they do have names and personalities, and I'd wager they are not quit as bad as made out. Why? Because I am one of these, and as a member of the "other man", I have never ignored my children, beat my girlfriends, been an alcoholic, or cheated on any, but for some reason I'm eternally the member of the cast given a juicy role and the hope of future success as a result, and invariably consigned to a supporting cast member, playing the part of the bad man she leaves for her Super Man.

What is there about an "ex" that we humbled few must wallow as a memory in their past? Do we choose these roles or are they chosen for us? When I see a gal in need, I am drawn to her, because I want to help her out of her distress. I want to be her Super Man, but I am ever the transitional man that helps her and strengthens her so that she can move on to the next stage. I, as a member of the "ex's" are ever the supporting cast, a memory to fade with time, having corporeal form for a brief instant, fulfilling my design, my fate, before disappearing into the blackened void and anonymity of the night.

No, I do not need Superman. When he arrives, she will always yearn for him more, dream about him in the night, think of him during the day. I know I cannot keep her, for she will grow to resent me, and given the strength with my assistance, she will eventually go to him. If hope were Kryptonite, it would be my hand that fashioned it into a pill and shoved it down Superman's throat, so that he could for once taste the helplessness that we, the humbled few, live with every day.

Comments

Q said…
A world you create...that doesn't have to exist. Quite a powerful blog...written nearly 5 years ago. Fascinating, really.
May 8, 2012 at 11:30 PM
Q said…
And yet, it doesn't have to be this way...you have created this world.
May 8, 2012 at 11:32 PM
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