"With great power comes great responsibility."

That phrase is the underlying mantra of many a comic book superhero. In the case of pop culture’s popular fictional medium, normal human beings somehow gain extraordinary powers that place them in some sort of genetic level far beyond regular people. As the tales develop, these superhuman’s find themselves at the mercy of greater responsibility and their conscience, their accursed powers ultimately becoming a gift they call upon to save the day when all other methods of police force or military might can no longer protect society.

For as long as mankind has stood erect, fiction, be it in the form of spoken word or print, has served as a means to entertain while at the same time teaching a moral lesson. Comic books are no different and society can learn from the development and rationale of superheroes. And it has: The United States of America is a superhero incarnate, at once possessive of higher powers and obligations. Through generations of continued development and success, the US has represented the best that progress and modernization can offer. We can talk a good game and back it up with considerable financial and physical might. Fully capitalistic, ever creative, and technologically- and militarily-advanced more so than any other nation, our country is the complete package. Taking this all into account, the United States is the single most powerful nation on the planet.

Because of this, our nation is respected globally more often than not. We are looked at as a hero, if not as a role model of what all great nations should be. In cases where the US is disrespected, such spite finds its roots in jealousy over our higher status. So, much like Superman had his enraged nemesis Lex Luthor always attempting to bring him down, our powerful country has legions of anti-west Islamic fascists attempting to topple us.

Adding to our unbridled power and respect, our peoples’ character makes us a force to reckon with. Our nation was founded upon personal liberty and the drive to continuously better ourselves. This strong belief system has created a level of pride and responsibility in our leadership that compels us to extend our values beyond our borders, appropriately influencing others. By finding ourselves more advanced than others, we feel compelled to flex our muscles and protect the oppressed. There truly is a higher calling in "truth, justice, and the American Way".

This great power and the subsequent great responsibility have forced us to come to the rescue of millions of weaker individuals over the course of history, becoming a hero to all. We jumped into strictly European frays in the two World Wars, turning the tables and quelling evil. Later in that same century we used our powers in two Asian battles, the Korean and Vietnam wars. We have subsequently taken it upon ourselves to change the political landscape in the Middle East, dethroning despots and trying our hardest to make that region a breeding ground for liberty and freedom.

We are very much destined to come to the rescue of the masses yet again. Due to inaction from the global police force known as the United Nations, Iran is positioning itself to become a nuclear super power. Most nations fear Iran and believe that its leaders are bordering on insane. Nuclear devices do not belong in the hands of such evil. Our leaders have come to the realization that neglect will continue and evil will be victorious unless we do something. So, the Bush Administration, with unusual blessings from Republicans and Democrats alike, looks poised to take matters in its own hand sometime in the near future. Once again, our nation looks to act where all others fail.

A great many of our citizens - such as peaceful anti-war zealots or those who promote a sense of closed borders – decry our global actions and deployment of military and political might. Their self-serving protests completely ignore the fact that oppression and political slavery in far-flung lands can only be beat by outsiders such as we, outsiders possessive of powers beyond those of mortal nations. Our super-power brings with it a moral requirement to make this world a better place. It is an honor and obligation we should never forget, because with great power comes great responsibility.

You can learn a lot from a comic book.