For me, Superman is and has always been America’s hero. I had an uncle who was a weight lifter. When I was 5 or so, I remember asking my mother if my uncle, John, was really Superman. She looked at me and very seriously told me that she couldn’t tell me because ‘no one was supposed to know’. That sealed it for me. From that day on, my uncle was Superman and I was now entrusted with this knowledge. I mean, after all, he carried my sister and I up three flights of stairs using nothing but the palms of his hands. Who, but Superman, could do that? But the real reason he was Superman was that he stood for what we believe is the best within us: limitless strength tempered by compassion, that could bear adversity and emerge stronger on the other side. He stood for what we all feel we would like to be able to stand for, when standing is sometimes the hardest.
We could all use a little Superman these days, couldn’t we? And we could all use a lot more TV shows like this one that you could watch with your kids and be reminded of its message. So, on the nights when you can’t sleep, and during the times when the darkness of uncertainty presses in on you, find a couple of these old ‘Adventures of Superman’ episodes. They’re a reminder that hope must lead the way. They’re a reminder that courage is the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can’t practice any other virtue consistently. Take it from me, because, you see, I was related to Superman.
The Valley Viewpoint 