I am Iron Man.
At least that’s the fictional character I relate to in the big screen box
office blockbuster called “The Avengers.” And, least you think I ventured to
the movie theater this past weekend to bathe myself in fantasy to escape the
realities of my life, you’d be right. Partially.
I connect most to
Iron Man, versus other heroes in the movie (at least the ones I’m familiar
with), because he is basically a man in a mechanical metal suit. It’s an
amazing suit but a suit nonetheless. The other superheroes, like Captain
America and the Incredible Hulk, have special chemical elixirs or gamma radiation
that give them their powers. In the case of Thor, he’s from some other planet
or something.
What helps me
identify with Iron Man is that he’s flawed as a person. That makes him more
human – and therefore more real. Yeah, he does amazing things (like save the
world) but he also is burdened with less than flattering ways of thinking and being.
Captain America seems too perfect; the Hulk is out of control; and Thor, well he’s
just out of this world.
In addition to
escapism, my affinity to the Iron Man character relates to my social justice
work in the community. See, like Iron Man’s alter ego, I think of myself as a
philanthropist – just not in the million-dollar check-writing sense of the
word. I liken the work I do as a calling, much as adventure heroes are called
to fight the forces of evil.
Of course, I’m
no billionaire business industrialist or high tech engineering genius. Nor do I
have movie star looks (though like Iron Man, I do sport a Van Dyke, possess
somewhat of a boyish charm and claim a reasonable wit). The main thing I share
in common with Iron Man, versus the other Avengers, is that I am a person with
flaws. And, like movie heroes, I consider myself one who makes an active effort
to promote the human welfare of others.
We all have
personal gifts; special powers that have been bestowed on us. Some are natural;
others are learned. My power? I don’t wear an iron suit that lets me do cool
things like fly and blast bad guys. However, I do carry a smart phone and sport
special glasses that emit a benevolent ‘Empathy Ray.’ When I use it on folks,
it helps them see and sometimes accept differing points of view. It doesn’t always
work but when it does, it can enable people to work together who might not
otherwise.
In
the course of my community volunteer work, I run with a numerous folks I
consider superheroes, except they’re ordinary people. They care about others –
enough to get up off the sofa and do something about injustice they see going
on around the community. Each one possesses special powers – skills they bring
to the ‘fight’.
Like the
Avengers, the folks I’m partnered with come from all walks of life. Rich, poor,
young, old, and they come in all shapes, sizes and colors. If they were in the
movies, they’d have hero names. Moving forward, I think I’ll call myself
Empathy Man and wear a green and white suit. But I won’t wear a mask. I invite
you to join the team. Just identify your special powers and start using them. A
superhero name and suit is optional; the desire for social justice is not.
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