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Quote: ...and really, my first reaction to hearing the thing about Superman renouncing his US citizenship was "Dont let the door hit you in the ass on the way out."
My first reaction was "Dear God, this must be what CSFB! feels like every moment of the day since "Spider-Man: Chapter One" came out!
Quote: I know some folks were thinking only Fox News fans would have an issue with it, but while I'm not phased in the least by dropping the phrase "...and the American way", renouncing his citizenship is another thing altogether. To me, it sends the message that an American cannot have the greater good of the world in mind... That to do that, one has to distance oneself from this country. That's bullshit. What's more, it strikes me as Superman distancing himself from the country that raised him because it's easier in an age where America is polarizing.
Pretty much my feeling as well (though I am put off by the dropping of "the American Way" from Superman's mantra). The story tries to spin it that Superman does it because he doesn't want the world to see his actions as "instruments of US policy", but there are certainly less controversial and downright insulting ways to accomplish this without renouncing your citizenship.
Another question: if he's renouncing US citizenship does that mean Superman isn't subject to American law?
Quote: Superman can be American and still differ in opinion from those in charge of the country. That's part of being an American, and standing up and offering an example of that is valuable. But hey, if it's too inconvenient for him, then I understand. I wouldn't want him to strain himself or anything.
It's just stupid and silly. Why is Superman, of all people, attempting a PR stunt to improve his public standing in a world he's saved about a million times? Wouldn't he look like less of a pussy if he just told the world that being an American citizen doesn't necessarily mean you agree with everything its government does?
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Obviously, Time/Warner feel that they're going to lose the court case with the Shuster/Seigel copyright claim, so they're doing everything they can to sabotage the character before DC loses the right to use him.
More seriously, WHAT THE HELL is wrong with Americans that suddenly they seem to be ashamed of their country? I mean, sure, we Brits enjoy mocking you for your colonial eccentricities, but what's this new spirit of apologetic pandering that makes you forget all the good stuff you've brought to the world. Why is it suddenly wrong to be patriotic? Why are you forcing us Brits to say nice things about you in breach of the usual traditions?
Why is it bad to belong to a country that values freedom of speech, democracy, self-determination and human rights so much that it fought terrible wars to win them and framed a great constitution to preserve them? Why is it bad to be part of a nation that's fought tyranny at substantial cost in pretty much every major conflict that's really counted in the last century? And why is it bad to be part of a nation that actually questions and re-evaluates its values and practices all the time and learns things like slavery is wrong and segregation is immoral?
And what stupid politically-correct politically-naive thinking has led to DC's Superman decision? What's wrong with defining the American way as the people who first coined that phase did, meaning democracy and the personal liberties and personal opportunity? Or is Superman not for those now?
And speaking as a comics fan, there is NO WAY that a smart savvy journalist like Clark Kent would be dumb enough to make the kind of decision his dumb writers just did. And if he tried Lois would kick his ass all the way to Smallville.
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