The blockbuster of the summer so far has been Man of Steel. The movie tells the original story about the legendary character of Superman. It placed a lot of emphasis on fatherhood and displayed excellent examples of fathers’ showing sacrifice. Superman is on a constant quest to fight justice and give hope. But do we have to be from the planet Krypton to be Superman?”
Poet Carl Sanburg once said of Abraham Lincoln. “Not often in the story of mankind does a man arrive on earth who is both steel and velvet, who is hard as rock and soft as a drifting fog, who holds in his heart and mind the paradox of terrible storm and peace unspeakable.” Abraham Lincoln showed how it was possible for a person to possess an iron will but also a heart of tenderness and be a real “Superman.” He didn’t have super human strength or x-ray vision. This man of steel had something even more important—courage, honesty and integrity. In the midst of great opposition during the Civil War, he did what was right, he did it with truth and he did it with strength and unwavering resolve.
Lincoln was also a man of velvet. He consistently displayed humility, sympathy, empathy and compassion. In fact, when Robert E. Lee was surrendering, Lincoln sent a message saying to him saying, “Tell your men they may keep their horses; they’ll need them for plowing,” and “Tell your men they may keep their rifles; they’ll need them for hunting.” When Lee read those words, he wept.
Lincoln proved that we do not have to be from an alien world to be Superman on this earth. Men, we may never be able to fly like Superman, but we can be Superman in our own homes by being men of steel and velvet to our wives and kids.
Here is a short clip from the movie Lincoln which displays his man of steel and velvet character.
