Before I do this, I want to explain myself. I know I will
reviled by some. I just want to say upfront I am not outing Superman for the
money. I get nothing for this.
But I am a philosopher at heart. And a utilitarian. For
those of you not familiar with the term, it is a branch of philosophy that says
we should always act in ways that is in the best interest of the greatest
number of people. This sounds easy enough to agree to, but it does mean that
hard choices have to be made.
If revealing Superman’s real identity may help people to
learn and understand more about how to live and promote good, then this
supersedes invading the privacy of Superman. It means anonymity is no longer an
option and, as a result, Superman may never be the same. I know all this and can live with it. I
think.
Here are some facts. Superman is a hybrid. Yes, it is true.
The blood within those veins flows differently from you and me. Let me explain.
Superman is from Asia. Yes, it is true. Some already suspected this I think.
There have been rumors.
But in trying to be specific about this, things get complicated.
Things go far back to China, and after that Thailand and Japan. This is shy
Superman and many other too, do not quite understand how a term like Asian can
be useful except in a very abstract way. Each country and culture is unique and
incredibly different and yet we tend to see Asian as term of description rather
than one of geography.
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| Kana : Collage |
A mix of cultures in one body is getting less uncommon but
then to add the US experience to the mix is rare, exceptional. As Superman said
in the entry yesterday, it is the ability to fly to different parts of the
world and communicate that is a superpower few have. To cross cultures as easily
as borders and time zones is something we would all love to have. Maybe
someday.
But now the suspense is over. Superman’s name is Kana Kent.
And Superman is a she. Really. You
should not be shocked. The evolutionary biologists out there have seen that the
need for a big Alpha male to worship is an outdated paradigm. Instead, the new
heroes are bridge builders, those consensus builders who can simultaneously
hold multiple points of view and reconcile them. It is this skill that belongs
to peacemakers and artists. (Aristotle said it is the mark of genius.)If this
is not a superpower I don’t know what is.
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| Man Ray |
Kana is comfortable talking physics, talking Manga and
Superman comics, and Japanese traditions, Thai cuisine, and the US educational
system.
And she is an artist. The collages in the post
yesterday are examples of her work. There are a few more up here today. To see
more, you should go to her website: Her vision is unique, a blend of many
influences. Her admiration of Superman comics is something she and I have
talked about. In a world where heroes are dark or invisible or non-existent, it
is Superman who represents truth, justice, and yes even the American way. While
she may not be a US citizen she represents the values we put forward with
pride. So does she. She is a student,
but she is also one who can teach all of us how to value education,
imagination, and ethics. We could all learn from her. Her site is a good place to continue your education:
I want to thank Kana for letting me profile her. Her images,
her blog and her actions will inspire others to try to become a Superman
too. That is why I revealed her
identity. And, in the end, I am glad I did.
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| Kana: Collage |
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