Heroes in Suburbia

What happened to the heroes?

Heroes in Suburbia 

It was the year Kennedy was assassinated, six years before walking on the moon. It was a time when comic book heroes were still relevant and valiant. A time when children were free to be who they dreamed of, idolized, believed in without getting monetized, sexualized, or politicized. In other words without the innocence of their youth being socially weaponized. 

Enter the tract-home, suburban hero. Homemade, handmade, fearless and true, believing in all things possible. A mild mannered school student by day, and an evil vanquishing van guard by late afternoon. Isn’t it now strange to think that’s how simple life was, could be, and how perfectly clear right from wrong was- even a child could see it. 

All the stories, myths and legends began like this, were born from a clear, innocent belief, imagined, play-acted, and believed until it became reality, truth, momentarily never to be doubted or dismantled. Across the mowed lawns of suburbia, in the hearts and minds of children, truth and justice reigned. To become strong and persevering, children need heroes that aren’t brand products, created to sell lies and darkness for profits. 

Long ago, I lost most of my innocence, stopped believing whole cloth in the pulp heroes, even succumbed to advertised national propaganda dreams- but even through my disillusionment, seeds had been planted during my innocence. Seeds of mighty, hardworking, brave men whose lives were not always sung in hallowed halls. Very much like the heroes of myth and legend, their lives protected the imaginary dreams of youth and passed the legacy down to those hearts and souls willing to take up the mantle, don the trappings and following the light. 

If this once happen in mundane suburbia, it can happen any time, anywhere. Its time to shed our secret identities, and roar like lions.  

…Yeah…. That’s how I used to think. Maybe somewhere deep down I might still pretend to… but after almost seven decades mixed with all I’ve done and seen and experienced….I’d have to say, those thoughts, those words are mostly ones of delusion. Life, all of it until you die, is messy. My feelings toward fighting the good fight, vanquishing evil….well, there isn’t much grey area left. Of black and white, there’s more black than anything else. Along with my Innocence, I’ve lost any tolerance I might have said-  lied that I had. No patience, no tolerance, no innocence, and no breaks. I no longer live in suburbia. I currently live in an area of the country where people still mind their own business and respect the business of their neighbor. Any disrespect ends communication, further than that, trespassers are shot… not will be shot…just shot. That action, as blunt and brutal as it sounds puts an end to bullshit, saves court costs, and reinforces the truth in the law of consequences for not taking responsibility and not respecting yourself enough to respect others. 

Some concepts, like right and wrong, should be instinctually clear, and if not, should be taught from cradle on. It was once said schools should stick to teaching the 3 R’s: readin’ ‘ritin’ and ‘rithmatic….I think what should be taught in both families and schools are these 3 R’s: Respect, Responsibility and Repercussions. If this concept isn’t perfectly clear to you….then why we talkin’ ?  

Author's Note

A kind of yin/yang essay… story, something. Mostly a seed of something. It is what it is.
Critiques and comments welcomed.

Reviews

[Samuel Dickens]

Although our beginnings were quite different, I embrace your thoughts on this. Perhaps it has more to do with the era than the location, with tv and news events affecting us similarly. It's not easy to maintain yesterdays mores while living today, but we each try in our own way. The other 3 r's--i like that. An enjoyable read.

[emmajoygreen]

'. Across the mowed lawns of suburbia, in the hearts and minds of children, truth and justice reigned. To become strong and persevering, children need heroes that aren’t brand products, created to sell lies and darkness for profits.

Long ago, I lost most of my innocence, stopped believing whole cloth in the pulp heroes, even succumbed to advertised national propaganda dreams- but even through my disillusionment, seeds had been planted during my innocence. Seeds of mighty, hardworking, brave men whose lives were not always sung in hallowed halls. Very much like the heroes of myth and legend, their lives protected the imaginary dreams of youth and passed the legacy down to those hearts and souls willing to take up the mantle, don the trappings and following the light.

If this once happen in mundane suburbia, it can happen any time, anywhere. Its time to shed our secret identities, and roar like lions.'

Being reared within tradition - thought of as old
fashioned - is both decent and complex at the same time. Running riot is, more often or not, a falsehood that comes to the light as time and fashion dictate!
As you suggest, those three Rs should or could happen - whoever the being who wants them inside and out. What can be learned when young is more than often the right way.. if it is not, convert!

[Philip Gaber]

Very nice and gripping. A tale of growing, needing, believing, sort of belonging.