Comments on: Superman: Truth, Justice, and . . . all That Stuff

By: Amel Piznarski

Amel Piznarski — Thu, 06 Jul 2006 21:28:30 +0000

In all versions of Superman's origin story, Jonathan and Martha Kent adopted Kal-El (Superman) and gave him the name Clark Kent.
He may not be a natural citizen, but they did adopt him which made him a U.S. citizen. He has always stood for the American Way! If the film maker didn't think 'The American Way' in the dialog would sell overseas, he should have just left the entire line out. No one would have missed it - and more imporatantly, no one would be offended by the change. It's just too bad the film maker was worried more about overseas sales than staying true to the story (and this great country.) God bless the U.S. and the American Way!

By: Sean Richardson

Sean Richardson — Wed, 05 Jul 2006 20:22:40 +0000

"No, I suspect itâ??s political and it has nothing to do with the difference between America 1945 and America 2006." The line wouldn't have been said in 1945; it was created in the mid-50s for the Superman TV show, where Superman *was* limited to America (unlike every other medium's Superman before or since). "â??Truth, Justice, and the American Wayâ?? was said at least once (very clearly) in the 1979 version. He said it very seriously and with no shame." That's a half truth; he says it without shame, but he's immediately mocked for saying it.

By: Emily

Emily — Mon, 03 Jul 2006 00:48:45 +0000

Okay.

That's just wrong.

If they were worried, why not just "Truth and justice" or something...?

By: Jettboy

Jettboy — Sun, 02 Jul 2006 04:58:06 +0000

"Truth, Justice, and the American Way" was said at least once (very clearly) in the 1979 version. He said it very seriously and with no shame. Interesting how that movie still made a whole lot more money than what they thought internationally. I am very mixed on if I want to go see this thing. Maybe on DVD after I borrow it from someone. Very few movies are worth going to the theater or financially supporting these days.

By: Random Yak

Random Yak — Fri, 30 Jun 2006 21:46:44 +0000

Yak of the Week - and all that stuff...

As always, another Friday brings another installment of the Yak of the Week Awards, dedicated to honoring the two-legged Yaks among us - the ones whose actions, ways and means demonstrate, beyond a shadow of a doubt, what it means to be equidistant fro...

By: Paul Lowe

Paul Lowe — Fri, 30 Jun 2006 15:07:44 +0000

The writers could have avoided the fuss by simply leaving out the entire line. Would anyone have noticed that no one said "Truth, justice and the American way." had it been omitted completely. I sincerely doubt it, I don't recall the line in any of the four Superman movies produced in the 1980s, but then if it was in them I wouldn't have necessarily noticed it. Changing it makes it remarkable. Thus, the change was made clearly for political reasons. Keep in mind that the movie was financed by Time-Warner the owners of CNN. Free publicity never hurts though :/

By: CEE LEIGH

CEE LEIGH — Fri, 30 Jun 2006 12:52:51 +0000

JUST TIRED OF DEALING WITH THE ANTI - AMERICAN WAY. THIS MOVIE HAS LOST $ 16.00 FOR MY HUSBAND AND I $36.00 FOR MY GRAND CHILDREN WE WOULD HAVE TAKEN AND THIS MEANS WE DON'T PURCHASE DVDS OR GAMES ASSOCIATED WITH MOVIE. SHAME ON SOME OF MY FAVORITE ACTORS FOR PARTICIPATING IN SUCH A BLATANT PUN ON AMERICAN. I THINK ITS TRUE THOSE WHO CHOOSE TO DESTROY OUR BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY WONT NEED TO SEND BOMBS, MISSILES IT WILL COME FROM WITHIN FROM ALL THOSE PEOPLE THAT HAVE ENJOYED THE AMERICAN WAY. SO SAD

By: Bodog

Bodog — Fri, 30 Jun 2006 01:08:22 +0000

You know why Superman needs to stand for the American Way? Because he's an American creation that succeeded in American capitalism and created a whole new American literary form...comic books. The very concept of Superman is American. I hope that it was an economic decision, though it's easy to get around that. I mean, by the time the bad press hit the states, they would have made their money off of us. No, I suspect it's political and it has nothing to do with the difference between America 1945 and America 2006. Man, this made me so mad, I made a shirt...

By: legion

legion — Wed, 28 Jun 2006 17:12:54 +0000

James,
Yes, it seems they took the worst of all possible options with that - changing something that could have been subtle and then ensuring a controversy by drawing attention to it. But perhaps that was intentional, in the old "there's no such thing as 'bad' publicity" line...

By: James Joyner

James Joyner — Wed, 28 Jun 2006 14:48:50 +0000

legion: True. But they didn't just edit out the line--they took out "the American way" in favor of "all that stuff."

By: legion

legion — Wed, 28 Jun 2006 14:38:40 +0000

Meh. I see it as a purely economic decision. If they'd left 'American way' in, nobody in the US would have noticed, but it would get loads of bad press in any overseas market. Then they'd have to decide whether to even keep the line in the overseas releases or edit it out, and that would just generate bad press back here. I would've kept it, myself, but I can the quandry the writers were in...

By: Christopher

Christopher — Wed, 28 Jun 2006 05:07:11 +0000

Well, the American way is peace, freedom, and prosperity. So why wouldn't he be for the American way? Why wouldn't ANYone? LOL! I guess liberals wouldn't!

By: TLB

TLB — Wed, 28 Jun 2006 04:06:32 +0000

Of course, what's actually important here is that this is proillegal immigrationpropaganda that will be seen by millions of people. Those who are crooked enough to support illegal immigration probably have no qualms about supporting this propagandaa.

By: esoterically.net/weblog

esoterically.net/weblog — Tue, 27 Jun 2006 23:48:34 +0000

Superman...

James J. says “Apparently, Superman is not an American anymore” and links to this New York Post gossip column.
Okay, I confess… I really just wanted an excuse to post this picture…

......

By: just me

just me — Tue, 27 Jun 2006 23:19:22 +0000

Well since he was sort of adopted by American parents, he probably is an American, he just can't run for president.