Magneto: The Ends Don't Justify the Means

“I wear red, the color of blood, in tribute to their lost lives. And the harder I try to cast it aside, to find the gentler path, the more irresistibly I am drawn back. I should have died myself with those that I loved. Instead I carted the bodies by the hundreds, by the thousands, from the death house to the crematorium, and the ashes to the burial ground. Asking myself now what I could not then—Why was I spared?”-Magneto, Uncanny X-Men #274

Holocaust victim, mutant outcast of an unforgiving society, terrorist: all these words describe one man: the controversial Max Eisenhardt (a.k.a. Magnus, Erik Lehnsherr, Deus Maximus, and of course, Magneto). As a small jewish child, Max and his family were captured, lined up into a trench, and shot by Nazi soldiers. Although his parents were killed, Max's mutant powers over magnetic fields emerged just enough to deflect the bullets from himself, he was later recaptured and taken to Auschwitz, one of the most notorious Nazi concentration camps. After his release, he married, and had a child, who died during a fire. Trying to save his wife and child from the fire, he found about his mutant ability and was able to save his wife, however his daughter died when Max was attacked by a mob who saw him use his powers. His wife, pregnant with his twins (whom he later found and tried to take care of), left him, fearing his abilities, and Max was continually discriminated against for being a mutant.

The next time he appeared in the public eye, he was wearing red and going by the name of Magneto. Because he had been mistreated so badly by the humans, he intended to extinguish the species of homo sapiens to "free" and bring up the species of "homo superior" (mutants). This is what I want to talk about. Magneto has been mistreated his entire life, whether because he was a Jew or because he was a mutant, and I can see why someone would want to try to right those wrongs. What the Nazis did to the Jews is, in my opinion, unforgivable, and what some humans were doing to the mutants were horrible as well. I mean, all Magneto wanted to do was make Earth a better place for his fellow mutant right?

Although I agree with the idea that Magneto had, that mutants deserve to be treated just as well as humans (if not a little better since they have superpowers), but the way Magneto went about it was not only wrong, but also, in the end, had an extreme negative consequence for mutants. First off, Magneto did not just have public demonstrations, his idea of a demonstration was to attack politicians and other human areas regardless of innocent bystanders. He even formed a "Brotherhood of Evil Mutants" to help him fight against his old friend Charles Xavier's X-Men. It's not like there weren't other groups trying to do the same as him but in a better way either. Charles Xavier and other well-respected mutants were often in Washington politically fighting against any anti-mutant agendas (often inspired by Magneto's terrorist acts). However, Magneto's past and his hate for humans has blinded him to all other ways to advance mutant kind, so he makes himself a villain. In an attempt to help their father be happy and love them (Magneto had often neglected his children in as his goal of mutant domination consumed his life), Magneto's son, Pietro (a.k.a. Quicksilver) has his twin sister, Wanda (known as the Scarlet Witch, able to create alternate realities), create a reality in which Magneto was the ruler of the mutant nation of Genosha. Although all was essentially well, it was not the true reality, and when the X-Men realized that none of it was real and attempted to put a stop to the Scarlet Witch, Magneto angered her to the point that she took away 98% of the world's mutants' powers, including Magneto's.

In the end, Magneto's attempt to get his way through force failed miserably. Not only did the world hate him, but he forced his agenda to a point where there were almost no mutants left. This shows a key moral. Sometimes, things must be done to change the world for the better. How this change comes about, however, is almost as important as the change itself. Magneto tried to destroy human kind to help the mutants, but in the end destroyed the mutant species. As we go about our lives trying to obtain different goals such as a good career, a good family, a good life, we must make sure that the way we do it is also good. There's a famous quote: "The road to Hell is paved with good intentions." Just because the goals is a good goal, that does not mean that the goal justifies any means.

For further insights into the lessons taught by Magneto, please check out http://www.magnetowasright.com/. It has other lessons, quotes, biography, etc. Also, as with all my posts, I'm always open to feedback, so please let me know any thoughts, ideas, or even arguments.

Spider-Man: Responsibility, Confidence, and the Difference between Right and Wrong

"With great power comes great responsibility." -Uncle Ben

WOW! I just realized that it has been way too long since I've posted on here, and I would just like to apologize to anyone who was looking forward to this sort of mini-series I mentioned in my last post, about 3 months ago. Hopefully you didn't all forget about me and are still interested in my thoughts.

Anyways, I thought that I should start off this comic-based mini-series with one of the most popular superhero of all: Spider-Man, the radioactive spider-bitten teen geek gone super hero. He has the proportional speed, strength, and agility of a man-sized spider, as well as a helpful "Spider-Sense" that allows him to sense impending danger in time to avoid it. Through reading of his comics and watching his movies, I have learned quite a bit about responsibility and sacrifice, humility and confidence, and the difference between what may seem right and what is right.

The first point is sort of obvious. The famous line from any Spider-Man comic/slash movie is "With great power comes great responsibility." This line is very true. Peter Parker (a.k.a. Spider-Man for the un-initiated) learns very quickly that when you are put in power, you have a responsibility to help those who don't have power. In an attempt to get back at a greedy T.V. executive who cheated him out of money, Peter allowed the executive to get robbed. The robber, looking for a quick ride, car-jacked and killed his Uncle Ben, who had raised him like his own son. Realizing that he could have easily stopped this from occurring if he had only put forth the slightest effort, Peter decided to quit using his abilities for selfish monetary gain and start using them to better the lives of those around him as the crime-fighting Spider-Man.

This is where the story gets sad. Spider-Man more than any other comic hero exemplifies how being a masked crime fighter can almost ruin your life. Having to be able to disappear and change into hero mode at any instant makes it almost impossible to hold a job or a relationship for very long. The job he has is as a photographer for a newspaper whose job it is to make Spider-Man look like a menace. One of the only steady relationships he has had (Gwen Stacy) was ended when the Green Goblin found out that she had a relationship with Spidey and threw her off a bridge. In his attempt to save her, Spider-Man shot some webbing to stop her fall, but ended up instead causing a whiplash effect bad enough to snap her neck, killing her. The other relationship ended when Spider-Man had to choose saving the world over his marriage to actress/model Mary-Jane Watson. Alone, working for a crappy newspaper company, and hated by the city, why continue to fight crime when a better life could be found anywhere else? It's because Spider-Man has learned what many of us have failed to: when we have the power to help someone, no matter how much it inconveniences us, we are obligated to help them, no matter what.

The second point comes from many of Spider-Man comics. Spider-Man is not the most powerful, fastest, or even coolest superhero in many people's opinion, including his own. In many instances, when faced with a seemingly impossible task, he will attempt to call in more powerful heroes than himself. Of course, the Avengers are always out fighting aliens or some other planetary threat, and the Fantastic 4 are always in a different dimension, so he ends up having to rely on his own smarts. One of my favorite things about Spider-Man is how similar he is to me. We both love a good laugh, and we're both decently smart, although we don't always see it. Spider-Man often does not believe that he is good enough for certain things, but always pulls through no matter what. In one issue of The New Avengers, Spider-Man felt as if he had nothing to bring to the table. All of the Avengers are high-powered heroes, and he's just a webbed-up geek. However, Captain America pointed out that one of his best qualities was one that wasn't super. He reminded Spider-Man that although he might not have been a Reid Richards (Mr. Fantastic) or a Tony Stark (Iron Man), he was very intelligent and that sometimes the way you can help best is by using the gifts that God gave you. This shows that although humility can be a good thing, you also have to look at the abilities that you have and have confidence that you can get over any struggle.

The final point came into play the most during the Civil War of the Marvel Universe. Super heroes are fighting over a law that has passed stating that all heroes must give their identities to the government and become licensed or they will be arrested. Unsure of which side was right (Spider-Man has probably one of the ferociously guarded secret identities), he was convinced by Tony Stark to become the figure head for the Registration Act and unmask himself on national television. After doing this, Spidey helped round up his former friends and send them to a special prison just because they were fighting crime illegally (ironic? Yes). This continued until he discovered that the Pro-Registration side was enlisting the help of notorious super villains (including the Green Goblin). Although Spider-Man wasn't completely sure of what was right, he knew what was wrong. He knew that using super villains to round up super heroes would end up not working out. He also knew the consequences of going rogue and teaming up with Captain America on the Anti-Registration side, but he did it anyways. In our lives we come to points where all choices seem to be good. However, when we see something that we know is wrong, we absolutely know it, and we must never choose to go against our morals, even if it would be the easier choice.

So that is what I have learned from reading Spider-Man comics. Keep checking in for the next installment of the Super Hero Mini-Series. I promise to get it in this month!

Introduction to Some Interesting Philosophy...

So, I was in Books-A-Million the other day when I saw a book entitled Iron Man and Philosophy. I thumbed through the pages and, although I did not buy the book (I left with a book called Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter), I came up with a great idea. Over the past year and a half I've been an avid reader of Marvel comics. Now, if you ask my girlfriend she will tell you that I have a knack for for finding, or making up, a deeper meaning in something that seems lacking in that area. So I've decided that the next few posts will be about different Marvel characters and the lessons that can be learned from them. However, since I've already written about Captain America, I won't be rewriting about him. I hope you enjoy!

Batman: Not a Superhero

That's right, I said it, I don't think Batman is a superhero. Now, I know what you're thinking, "Eli, how could you say that? Batman does so many great things and helps so many people, plus, he could easily kick you're @$$!"

I agree. Although now-a-days I strictly read Marvel comics, the first comics I really read with zeal were Batman comics, so Batman holds a special place in my heart. However, I can not consider Batman a superhero, and here's why:

The dictionary on my Mac defines a superhero as "A benevolent fictional character with superhuman powers, such as Superman." I added the bold for emphasis on superhuman. To be a superhero you have to have abilities that are impossible for a human to obtain, i.e. flight, super strength (not strength you can get from working out all the time), super speed (not speed you can get from running everyday), heat vision, etc...

Now, pro-Batman-as-a-superhero people would say something like "Batman is super intelligent." Not true! Batman is intelligent, yes, but any person can be as intelligent as him if they study enough, Reid Richards (or Mr. Fantastic) can be considered super intelligent because he can literally stretch his mind to allow for more intelligence, more memory capacity, and more retained information than a normal human can. Tony Stark (Iron Man) can only barely be considered a superhero when he integrated his body with the Extremis program, allowing his mind to become literally a computer, so he made himself into a superhero. A man with a suit with fancy gadgets does not make him a super hero, it makes him a hero with super gadgets.

Other's will say "he's super cunning." Again, not true, any person with enough training can become super cunning, just look at snipers and special agents, although they are definitely heroes, they're not super heroes by definition.

Now, I am NOT saying that this makes Batman less of a hero. He saves lives and fights bad guys, he just doesn't have any superhuman abilities. Super abilities, sure, but not superhuman, so in conclusion: hero yes, superhero no.

Now, since I hold these standards to Batman, I have to admit, the new Captain America (Bucky Barnes) is not a super hero. He is solely a man with a robotic arm, but he is definitely a hero, personally one of my favorites, but again just a man.

HOWEVER! The original Captain America (Steve Rogers) is a superhero. He has the peak condition in every aspect of himself. Although, from my understanding, it is the optimum strength, speed, agility, and reflexes of man, he is still super. Why? Because of the combination. It's fact that the strongest man can't be the fastest man or have the best reflexes or be the most agile, our bodies don't allow that. The fact that Captain America is the strongest, fastest, agilest, and has the best reflexes of any man (not including specialized superheroes) makes him a super hero.

I would like to hear other's thoughts on this so please tell me what you think.

God and Science

"What a thrill it is, then, to discover that the scientist, too, can legitimately believe in the existence of the spirit."-Wilder Penfield

First off, I would like to apologize for not posting anything in a while, I've been pretty stressed with school stuff lately, but I hope that this is a post you will enjoy.

As you may know, I'm a college freshman majoring in Biology and minoring in Religious Sciences, crazy mix right? My first classes in biology seemed to try to do everything it can to tell me that creationism is wrong and that life appeared through random processes and that intelligent life was formed through random natural selection from single-celled organisms. An interesting thing to think about is that originally, science was seen as a way to understand God, a window to look in at His creation and understand how awesome He is. However, recently there have been huge debates between theologians and scientists. Scientists say that science disproves God, Lee Strobel did some research to see whether or not science actually does that.

The Case for a Creator is a very interesting book in which a former atheist interviews brilliant scientists to see if science actually disproves God. An interesting thing I noticed was that many of the scientists interviewed were atheists, but after long years of study they realized that there was just too much scientific evidence for creationism. In this post I'm going to go through some of my favorite points and add some thoughts of my own. If you find some problem with what I'm saying please let me know, I'd love to have a conversation about it.

WARNING: THIS MAY GET SCIENTIFIC

Biology

So, this book started with my subject of choice: biology. Many biology professors will tell you that evolution is a proven fact. That's not correct, it's just a theory, there's just as much evidence against evolution as there is for it. Now, while I agree that there is proof for natural selection and descent with modification inside a species, I find it very hard to believe that intelligent life came from a single celled organism that crawled out of some primordial ooze, but maybe that's just me.

In Principles of Biology II, we learned about a period of time called the Cambrian Explosion. During this time, millions of different species of organisms suddenly appeared. My professor told us that this is due to increased oxygen in the atmosphere or allopatric speciation (which means different environments formed because of Pangea splitting up and different organisms evolved from the adaptation to different niches). He did not tell us, however, how sudden it was. "Okay, imagine yourself on one goal line of a football field. That line represents the first fossil, a microscopic, single-celled organism. Now, start marching down the field. You pass the twenty-yard line, the forty-yard line, you pass midfield, and and you're approaching the other goal line. All you've seen this entire time are these microscopic, single-celled organisms. You come to the sixteen-yard line...[t]hen-boom!-...all these other forms of animals appear." This quote, from Dr. Jonathan Wells, PHD, PHD describes how sudden the Cambrian Explosion occurred. This completely contradicts Darwin's slow process of evolution. In fact, there is a lack of any intermediate fossils between the Cambrian fossils and the single-celled fossils. So that's one thing.

Another point: in the book it states that we have 98% of the same genes as monkeys. That shows evolution right? Actually, that would mean that this difference between us and monkeys is in 2% of our genes, however, the 2% of our genes that are different don't have anything to do with anatomy, so why aren't we covered in fur?

Another point that I really like: the similarities between wings, flippers, legs, and hands. Looking at the bones of these limbs, there is a definite similarity. Undeniably, we have the same bone structure in our hands as dolphins in their fins and bats in their wings. However, the similarities can be explained through Darwinism and Creationism. Darwinists say that it shows how although outside there are differences, the insides just show a common ancestor. Creationists state that the similarities are just like the way an architect uses the same design for different buildings. In fact, the original person to discover this said that it was a testament to God's creativity, interesting right?

There was a lot more in biology but I want to move on, if you want to learn more ask me or go find the book.

Cosmology

So, apparently, scientists say that the "big bang theory" actually does point to Creationism because it implies a finite beginning to the universe. The reason a finite beginning implies a creator is proven in something called the kalam argument. The kalam argument has 3 points:

1. Everything that begins to exist has a cause

2. the universe began to exist

3. the universe has a cause.

I thought that was pretty interesting, and it makes a lot of since. The universe has to have a beginning because through some mathematical thing described in the book it's impossible to have an infinite amount of happenings, I didn't really understand that part because it was all math stuff. Then it's very difficult to find anything that's created without some cause, in fact it's impossible. Therefore, through the transitive property of mathematics, the universe has a cause.

Now there is a lot of evidence in other scientific disciplines, but I decided to go ahead and publish this post, so if you're really interested in more than let me know and I publish some more about it, and again, if there are any problems with anything I've said then please let me know!

Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland: Becoming Who You Are

SPOILER ALERT!!!!

This post may reveal key parts to the plot of Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland, if you have not yet seen this movie I suggest you do so before reading this post (and don't be cheap, see it in 3D, you won't regret the extra two bucks).

Cheshire Cat: What do you call yourself?

Alice Kingsley: Alice

Cheshire Cat: THE Alice?

Alice Kingsley: There's been some debate about that

Cheshire Cat: I never get involved in politics

Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland had a very interesting idea to it. It's almost ten years after her adventure in Wonderland (which you later find out is actually called "Underland," not so hot on that part, but it can't be perfect right?) and she has forgotten all about it, dismissed it as a dream. Through a series of events she finds herself back in Underland, led there once again by the White Rabbit. The White Rabbit takes her to an opium-smoking caterpillar named Absolem who will tell them whether or not she is the "right Alice." When they get there, the White Rabbit also tells her that her return was prophesied and she must slay the Jabberwocky (a monster from an Old English poem Alice tries to read in the book Through the Looking Glass). Alice refuses to believe this so they consult Absolem who grimly states that this Alice was "not hardly" the right Alice.

The White Rabbit and his group of talking plants/animals immediately leave in disappointment. Alice couldn't care less. This was the weirdest dream she's ever had! Talking animals, prophesies of her slaying some sort of mythical dragon, and all sorts of utter impossibilities, she was going to wake up soon and that's all that mattered.

Of course, she doesn't wake up soon, she meets the Mad Hatter, the Red and White Queens, and all sorts of other characters as she goes through all sorts of shenanigans. Eventually, she starts realizing that she's stuck here, things have become less impossible to her, and when the White Queen asks her if he will slay the Jabberwocky she....runs. She ran to a porch where she sees Absolem wrapping himself into a cocoon. She tells him of her predicament, everyone wants so much from her and she's not even the "right Alice."

But then Absolem tells her something. He tells her that what he said was that at that moment she "[wasn't] hardly Alice," but now she's "almost Alice." He then goes on to tell her how he thought she'd take things in Underland better since she had been there before. This totally trips Alice out and she goes into a flashback and realizes that she's not dreaming. Underland is a very real place with very real people who expect HER, not some other Alice, to bring an end to a terror that's haunted them for a very long time. She goes to the White Queen and tells her that she will slay the Jabberwocky.

So I'm not completely sure if I described the events perfectly, but here's what I'm trying to say: Alice came to a place she didn't understand and through a series of events became who she was meant to be. I've always believed that who we are comes from a series of events that have shaped our lives, and that's exactly what this movies is saying. Alice was in surroundings that seemed completely impossible, her best friend was a Mad Hatter, and she was given a responsibility that she could never do. With this outlook she really wasn't hardly Alice.

Evaporating cats, flowers that talk, and creepy hatters with too much make up, impossible right? It has to be a dream, no way this could be real. Have you ever been in circumstances that you just can't understand? I know I have. When everything comes at you at once and you don't understand what's happening, it's terrifying! These sort of times can really shape who you are though. You're actions during these times, who you look to for help, and how you get out of them are all things that can shape you for the rest of your life, but the first thing that you have to do is realize the reality of what you're going through. One good quote from the movie was "sometimes I believe in as many as six impossible things before breakfast," and sometimes that's what you have to do.

Friends are possibly the most important things in developing who you are. The Hatter instantly knew Alice was THE Alice. He was willing to do anything to protect her and guide her to her purpose including lose his head, which he stated had already happened. The Hatter believed in her when no one else would, and when Alice had doubts about slaying the Jabberwocky he even tried to step in for her. It's friends like these that are so important in times when everything seems impossible. I've been so blessed in my life to have some amazing friends to get me through my tough times. In the trailer for the movie, the Hatter stated that "there is a place. Like no place on Earth. A land full of wonder, mystery, and danger! Some say to survive it: you must be as mad as a hatter. Which luckily, I am." There's no better helper than a friend who's been where you are.

Finally, there are those times when you're given too big of a responsibility. Mother Teresa once said "I know God will not give me anything I can't handle. I just wish He didn't trust me so much." Alice had to first steal a special sword from an insane large-headed monarch and then save a land full of talking plants and animals from some sort of crazy dragon thing, not your average chore. Everyone has had these times, when there's no way we can do this, it's too big, too tough, too scary. But then you learn that you'll never know what's possible unless you do that which is impossible. Alice cut that Jabberwocky's head off and freed Underland from the Tyrannical rule of the Red Queen. She was a hero! which just goes to show, when you think you can't do it, try anyways, then you'll realize there's more to you than you thought. When Alice said that it was impossible to kill the Jabberwocky, the Mad Hatter gently said "only if you believe it is."

And that's it I suppose. Alice finally became "The Alice" she was supposed to be. She went through impossibly strange conditions, made some impossibly awesome friends, and lived up to an impossibly big responsibility and became the person she was supposed to be. So I guess what I'm saying is do the impossible and find out who you're supposed to be.

To "Gumby"...

All right, this is going to be an interesting one. In a response about my post on writing, a good friend of mine who goes by "Gumby" asked me about my thought on Norman Osborn's rise to power. Hold onto your hats, this is gonna get crazy.

Let me paint you a picture: Captain America's dead. Super heroes have spent a great deal of time fighting each other about whether or not super heroes should tell the government their secret identities. The "Super Hero Registration Act" was passed, forcing any heroes who refuse to give up their identities to be criminals, with Tony Stark, a.k.a. "Iron Man," heading up the mission to stop any underground heroes and bring them to justice. Heroes fighting heroes? How can things get worse?

This is where it gets worse. While the heroes were busy attacking each other, and the nation's hero was killed while he was trying to make things right. A shape shifting alien force intent on taking over the earth, the Skrulls, have found a way to completely infiltrate the ranks of super heroes. Once the heroes find out, trust is broken, heroes are fighting heroes even harder now. When the climax hits, and the Skrull king is exposed, one man takes the shot. That man, Norman Osborn, becomes a national hero, given control of S.H.I.E.L.D., the organization that polices super heroes, and his first act is to exert his power to his full extent.

Here we go: Norman Osborn, a.k.a. "The Green Goblin": murderer, psychopath, schizophrenic, took control of a group called The Thunderbolts, an organization made to reform super villains. In reality, Osborn used this power to advance his own corrupt agenda under the guise as a legitimate reformer of super villains. Once he takes that shot and kills the Skrull king, Osborn essentially rules the world. Osborn makes his own version of The Avengers, using super villains with similar powers as the original Avengers, and he modifies and dons confiscated Iron Man armor under the name of "The Iron Patriot." Their role was to make sure that the super heroes of the world don't do anything and that the super villains of the world are free to reign.

So there are multiple things that kill me about this. First off: Captain America's role should not be taken over by a murderer! It's not right! It's just not right! Come on!

Sorry, that got out of hand, I'll try to compose myself, I apologize. Any ways, second off: I understand that Osborn did save the world, but that one act should not put him in a position where he is in control of any one, and I think this will be the focal point of this post.

A few times in my life, I've seen people who have done some pretty bad things, not nearly Norman Osborn things, but bad still. These people have done something that's good, either renounced there bad deeds, asked for forgiveness, or something of this sort. Many times, these people are forgiven, which is great, as a Christian I'm all about forgiveness, but when these people are given some sort of reward for asking for forgiveness, that's when I have a problem. Now, this could be jealousy, because I hear more of people being rewarded for asking forgiveness than people being rewarded for never being good. And maybe this is very wrong of me to say, but I feel like if someone hurts you, you should forgive them, but based on the amount of hurt, you should watch them before giving any sort of reward. I do believe in forgiveness, but I don't think that one instance of good should make you forget a large amount of hurt. I guess what I'm saying is forgive, but wait before you forget, because if you immediately give some one a reward for asking to be forgiven, it's possible that they will misread this reward and misuse it.

Finally, please, if you think that this is extremely wrong, then let me know, I'll appreciate it.