Maybe there are superheroes among us.
No, we don’t mean in the metaphorical sense, although the police and fire departments deserve respect.
We’re talking normal people donning capes, bulletproof vests and, in at least one case, a ballistics cup in an effort to clean up their neighborhood’s streets.
While we want to be logical and tell people like those in the Rain City Superhero Movement, a costumed group patrolling the streets of Seattle, to remove the bed sheets tied around their necks and just call the cops, we can’t help but love them.
It’s admittedly refreshing to see people trying to make a positive impact in a society that fosters apathy.
Maybe these people are intervening in muggings to emulate movies. Perhaps they’re doing it to feel empowered, to help their community or to give law enforcement officials eyes where they seem to have none.
Whatever the reason, the movement is spreading.
A website, aptly titled “The Real Life Superhero Project,” documents the personas of wannabe crimefighters and provides a reference manual for fledgling crusaders.
Sure, some will probably get hurt and maybe even killed in a scuffle when they could have called 911, but all of us have a little hero inside.
While we’re not about to don capes and patrol Midtown on Fridays nights, we can all aspire to the noble goal of righting the wrongs in our daily lives.
After all, we Gators still believe there’s a Superman.
