OK, maybe not THIS Batman! ;P

*Deep breath* Ok, I’m hearing talk out there that Batman is not a Super Hero because he does not possess super powers.

*Exhale*

As calmly as I can, please allow me to put this argument to bed.

Batman is the one super hero you could actually be. You’ll never be rocketed to Earth from Krypton. You’ll never happen to be standing by certain chemicals when they’re struck by lightning. You’ll never be given a ring that projects your will. You won’t be bitten by a radioactive/bio-engineered spider. As far as we know, Gamma radiation just causes cancer. In some instances, Gamma can be used to treat cancer, but it’s also the deadliest radiation released from atomic bombs. So forget all that.

Ah, that's better!

You could, however, buy an armored car, go through intense physical training, put on a mask and fight crime. You could. Right now.

Why Batman is Important

Batman is one of the very few self-made super heroes. He had to build himself from the ground up in order to achieve his goals. He is a role-model that you can look up to. He is the epitome of ‘You should be the change you want to see in the world.’ -Ghandi

Batman sees a need and does what he feels he should to right the wrongs of Gotham City. It is often argued that he brings some of Gotham’s torment on himself. Would there be a Joker if there wasn’t a Batman? Probably not. But before the Batman, the police force was corrupt, organized crime ran the city. People were afraid to step outside and felt that there was no one out there looking out for them. Batman inspired men like James Gordon and Harvey Dent (pre Two-Face) to stand up and take their city back. Gangs were brought down. OK, you got your Jokers and Scarecrows out of the deal, but people suddenly found themselves not as scared to step out of their homes.

Batman can hang out with the Justice League not because he was the victim of some genetic experiment gone wrong, but because he EARNED it. Who else can hang with or even go toe to toe with Superman without the benefit of super powers, hm?

My point is this: Batman is one of the few fictional characters that I can say that I’ve truly looked up to my entire life. And it’s because he shows us that we can be whatever we set our minds to be. He’s just as important to expose to kids as Elmo or Dora, in my opinion. Some parents worry about the violence, but I think with proper guidance, and episode choosiness (i.e. I’m not going to show my two-year old The Dark Knight, but I did let her watch ‘I’ve Got Batman In My Basement’ from Batman: TAS) a child can really grow to understand the importance of hard work and determination to achieve your dreams.

And all this comes from a Super Hero without super powers! 

This economy's hitting everyone pretty hard... This cartoon is © Aislin, inc. See more of Terry Mosher's work at aislin.com

This Christmas season is seeing a lot of folks either out of work or pinching pennies so hard their fingers hurt. Up here in the Vail Valley, it’s no different. With continuing news of layoffs and cutbacks, sales are down at Wal-Mart and elsewhere. If you just stand at the front of Wal-Mart and watch the carts go by, one thing is immediately apparent: they are full of groceries.

I believe there is a trend spreading, and it’s not necessarily a bad thing. People are basically forced to getting back to the basics. All the cheap, Chinese-made goods may just be left on the shelves on Dec. 26 this year. Now, don’t get me wrong, the Nintendo Wii is as hot as ever, as well as it’s contenders, but that child may only be receiving the Wii and a couple of games instead of the endless list of action figures, etc.

People will be making this holiday season memorable, but it will be memories spent with their families around a home-cooked feast. Come Hell or high water, there will be Christmas this year!

As for me and my family, my wife and I have agreed that we will not buy each other a single gift. We bought a few for the kids, but we even returned a few gifts in order to make the meal as memorable as possible. I don’t bring this up to recieve pity. Actually, quite the opposite. I have a loving, understanding family that I am proud of and will be with this Christmas. (At least until 8PM, when I’ll have to work overnight to reset the store. Raise a glass to the founder of the feast!)

My point is, although many years past there have been similar pleas; this Christmas season, whether you’re rich or poor, please spend it with the ones you love and remember that it’s not about how many baubles you give and receive. It’s about counting your blessings and spending time with your loved ones. I only hope that the ‘back to basics’ trend continues when the economy bounces back.

Peace and Good Tidings,

-Justin

“Have a Merry, Merry Christmas. And a Happy New Year. Let’s hope it’s a good one, without any tears.” -John Lennon