Cross-posted at Clark Community Network.
I admit, I'm no comic book junkie - I haven't bought one in decades. But the loss of Captain America today makes me sad. Cap was not only a fantastic artistic creation, but his was the story of America itself.
Labeled an undersized "weakling" and turned away from service to his country during World War II, Steve Rogers persevered. Unwilling to go away meekly, Rogers agreed to a "Super Soldier Serum" injection. The substance gave him the physical strength to match his ironclad will and his wealth of patriotism.
Armed only with his shield, his smarts and his humanly devices, he was America. Or I should say that he was what America was. Born under the thumb of those more physically imposing than he, Captain America grew strong and fought for the good in the world. He fought for truth, justice and the formerly American way.
While Americans of all political stripes embraced Cap over the years, it should be noted that Captain America never fought for unchecked cutthroat capitalism. Not for cronyism. And certainly not for torture or kidnapping. In Captain America's day, these were not American principles. In Captain America's day.
I suppose it's fitting that he has passed today. Born under the threat of Nazi fascism and passing under the threat of a new American version. It stands to reason that his only Kryptonite would be the loss of the thing he loved the most.
America.