Detective Comics 590

America's under a lot of global scrutiny these days, and it can be tough to understand what's going on, what with a war being held and gas prices rising to uncountable numbers. It's my generation that's going to have to deal with all this Middle Eastern strife, and who better to explain it than Batman?

Alright, alright, he's looking at Big Ben on the cover, but don't let it deceive you--good ole Bats is after a Syraqui diplomat that was able to manipulate himself into the status of diplomatic immunity. Just what does Hassan plan to do? After having a carfull of minions gun down 'Nam veterans at a bar, Batman learns from the commissioner that Hassan is in England for the Fifth of November celebration, and we all know what that spells.

After finally apprehending Hassan, Batman questions him as to what his goal is--to blow up Parliament, just like Guy Fawkes set out to do all those years ago. Obviously Batman prevents the even from taking place, but it was Hassan's speech that got my attention:

"You Americans--and your British kin--you think if you should loudly enough, if you enough, you will always get your way! It is time you learned the world does not dance to your tune! Have you ever wondered why we fight you? Why we hate you? Why peer and beleaguered peoples the world over count you as their enemy? No! You're too blind--too arrogant--to see the misery your power politics and greed have caused! You exploit the weak--you rape their lands with your plastic technology--you corrupt their people with your almighty dollar! And then you dare to look so aggrieved--so innocent--when we strike back!"

After preventing from Parliament from being blown to bits and handing over the criminals to the authorities, Batman reflects on Hassan's words:

"I couldn't forget Hassan's words: 'Your country--it does not murder? It does not bomb women and children? It does not prop up a dozen tyrants who brutalize and persecute their peoples?' Fanatic he may have been, but it seemed so clear-cut to him. Could it be true? Could my country--my America--be so guilty? There has to be an answer, but I don't know it."

Batman, the penultimate symbol of justice in comics (I'd liken Superman to moral good over justice) can't seem to grasp the situation, at first glance at least. Within Batman's reflection, he answers his own question--it is cut and dry. Regretfully I wasn't able to get my folks' scanner working, because one panel of the issue explains my next point perfectly: we don't see the whole story, the other side of the coin.

There's nothing wrong with having faith and enthusiasm for your nation, but when you become blind to the truth and believe in made-up visions of righteousness and justice (as heard-core right-wing might have you believe), you become what your enemies assume you to be. On the flip side, however, you can't explode supposed "reports" about other parts of the world out of proportion. We have no idea what life is like their unless we have become a resident of that area.

The important question we must ask, and the cut and dry part of this whole thing is, what is right? What is wrong? If the net result of something is wrong, then it in and of itself is wrong. If we assume there is no gray area when it comes to morals, then we must live by that definition.