Superman & The Ten Commandments

Truth, Justice & The American Way

Mottos can brilliantly reduce complex matters into a simple phrase. With just a few words, a great motto captures the essence of a person, a place, or a thing.

Mottos are ubiquitous. Around Los Angeles, “to Protect and to Serve” is emblazoned upon police vehicles. Once upon a time in cyberspace, Google’s ethos was “Don’t Be Evil”.

Mottos’ complexities make them worthy of forensic evaluation. Each word is an onion layer ready to be peeled.

Motto usage traces back to at least antiquity. A number of Hebrew Bible Prophets offered master classes in the art of the motto. Thus, it is to no surprise that some of the Prophets’ catch phrases have been either re-purposed or re-configured in modernity. It is contended that the comic book superhero-Superman- borrowed one from the Prophet Jeremiah.

Superman, who first appeared in comic books in 1938, possessed the motto “Truth, Justice & The American Way” for a significant period of time. This motto bears similarity to a particular passage from the Book of the Prophet Jeremiah. Superman also borrowed his origin story from the Hebrew Bible.

Superman, for decades, was uniquely an American myth. Superman, in recent years, however, moved on. He now is apparently a man of the world.

In the beginning, the “Man of Steel” character of comic book, cartoon and live action movie fame served as a mascot for the United States. As the country went to war, so did Superman. He presented as a clean-cut caped version of Uncle Sam. He was the alien from another planet who embraced his role of being part of the unique political experiment called the United States.

Superman’s origin story is Mosaic. His life, like Moses’, was imperiled at birth. With Superman’s home planet, Krypton, set to explode, his family intentionally cast him off into space in hopes that he would find adoptive parents on another planet.

In Exodus, Moses’ sister Miriam cast the future Lawgiver off onto the Nile river.

Superman, like Moses, found supportive adoptive parents. With this adoption, he received an emblematic name- Clark Kent. It is about as American as Moses’ name is Egyptian. While Clark Kent was labled as mild mannered reporter for the Daily Planet, Moses was recognized as the world’s most humble human being.

Superman’s actual birth name also serves as another breadcrumb leading one to biblical origins. His birth name Kal-El bears much similarity to a traditional Hebrew way of naming. Often, the Israelite Deity’s name was often included within names. “El” can be suggestive of one of the Deity’s names, “Elohim.”

In Truth, In Justice and in Righteousness

A possible source of Superman’s motto is likely the Prophet Jeremiah’s “in truth, in justice and in righteousness.” Jeremiah 4:2. Jeremiah, like Superman, was on a mission. He was trying to save his people from themselves.

The Lesson?

Comparing the two mottos offers a great jumping off point to explore the meanings of words. How can we compare mottos that were crafted over two millennia from each other? While nearly identical, are they of the same substance? What belief systems were intended be to promoted by each respective motto?

The “Truth”

With respect to the truth, is it possible that Jeremiah’s truth was different than Superman’s?

As opposed to the modern sense of truth, the biblical sense of the truth may have leaned toward fidelity towards the Israelite Deity and the belief in monotheism.

This assertion can be buttressed by the fact that “justice” is the second word employed by the Prophet. Justice, I would argue, consists of the Ten Commandments and the laws of the Torah.

Within the Ten Commandments, truth is addressed by the Commandment to not bear false witness. Thus, truth, unless it meant something else, is arguably redundant within Jeremiah’s quote.

When looking at Superman’s motto, was the truth intended to be something more than the truth? Or, is the phrase simply more resounding with it included? Or, was the truth within Superman’s motto envisioned as people practicing honesty towards others?

Looking at Superman’s occupation, a mild mannered reporter for a newspaper, honesty may have been the value. Clark Kent, fortunately, was a reporter before the advent of “fake” news.

The American Way

The term “the American Way” is something philosophical in nature. Mr. William Herberg is credited toward advancing this subject. He opined that Americans have a common religion which is stronger than their religious differences. He advanced the notion that there are a set of ideas, rites and symbols that defined a civil society and an “overarching sense of unit”. Per pluralism.org, these included concerns of democracy, free enterprise, egalitarianism, individualism, idealism and moralism.

Thus, it is worthy of exploring how “righteousness” compares to “the American Way.” Righteousness, in biblical times, most likely was an expression of addressing the social needs of the society, i.e. the needs of the widow and the orphan. Thus, absent the notion of democracy, Jeremiah’s words bear some commonality with modern thought.

Superman’s Updated Motto

As noted, Superman moved on from being a national superhero. In 2021, per Snopes, his motto changed to “Truth, Justice and a Better Tomorrow.” This was an attempt to be global; an attempt to be more inclusive.

In the end, we are left with the question “What does a “Better Tomorrow” mean?

Jeremiah Revisited

The motto from the Book of Jeremiah was extracted from a bigger passage. Chapter 4:2, in entirety “and you will swear, As the Lord lives, “in truth, and in justice, and in righteousness, the nations will bless themselves with him and boast about him.”

The Commentator Rashi notes that the nations will bless themselves with Israel. One can argue that there are certain values that are transmitted via Judaism to others- the universal notions of monotheism, justice and righteousness.

Thus, how does either Superman motto measure up to the greater meaning behind Jeremiah’s saying?

With the American Way, there is an idealism that can reach beyond the borders of the country. There are American values that are portable. It is possible that these values could be embraced by other nations.

In terms of philosophy, however, the phrase “a Better Tomorrow” is vague. It is an empty rudderless phrase. Certainly, one particular person’s better tomorrow may actually be another person’s nightmare.

The Deeper Message from Jeremiah

The Book of Jeremiah goes further to address the motto: “For if you truly amend your ways and your deeds, if you truly execute justice one with another,  if you do not oppress the sojourner, the fatherless, or the widow, or shed innocent blood in this place, and if you do not go after other gods to your own harm,  then I will let you dwell in this place, in the land that I gave of old to your fathers forever.” Jeremiah 7:5-7.

The text goes further:  “Behold, you trust in deceptive words to no avail.  Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, make offerings to Baal, and go after other gods that you have not known,  and then come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, ‘We are delivered!’—only to go on doing all these abominations? ” Jeremiah 7:8-10.

Clearly, truth, justice and righteousness of ancient times was a motto that meant for saving a nation from collapse. Adherence to the nation’s values and beliefs was existential.

Sum

In sum, mottos- simple short phrases- can actually be exceedingly complex. Word’s meanings over time change and word’s intended references change. Likewise, words may be so vague that even in a particular time period, they offer no distinct message; no clarity.

Likewise, mottos from the past may still resonate but for different reasons or rationale. As language often changes over time, scripture and literature often become open- ended as far as interpretation. With that, it is fair to that a motto’s meaning may be in the eyes of the reader?

Be well!!

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